The NPSL’s Brooklyn Italians survived a slow start and advanced with a four-goal second half performance against the PDL’s Jersey Express at the J. Malcolm Simon Stadium on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ.
The 4-2 road victory earned the Italians the right to face the NASL Soccer Bowl champions New York Cosmos in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Brooklyn’s turnaround started early in the second half with a goal by Jiro Barriga, followed by a goal from a penalty kick by Salvatore Barrone, and two goals after the 80th minute by Yvener Guerrier.
Italians coach Lucio Russo, a former Jersey Express assistance coach, credited an increase in his squad’s intensity level for the reversal. “We had to match through intensity,” said Russo. “ came out really strong, knocking the ball around and we were basically just watching them.”
The first half belonged to the Jersey Express who looked the better side as they worked the ball up the right flanks and sent the occasional long ball to their target striker Joseph Ovenseri, who sat in the center channel looking to play off the center back’s shoulder.
The Express had a few early chances and capitalized off of a set piece in the 12th minute. William Torreson Paulino’s free kick from the right about a yard outside the box found an unmarked Markus Hackett at the far post to open the scoring.
Brooklyn’s frustration seems to come out toward the end of the first half. Martin Williams was given a yellow card for a tactical foul in the 42nd minute, followed two minutes later by Ricardo Milano getting himself a yellow for a foul a few yards outside the top of the box. Jersey kept the pressure on through most of the first half, but several key saves by the Italians’ goalkeeper Sheldon Parkinson minimized the damage. The majority of Parkinson’s nine saves were in the first half and his performance allowed the Italians to get into the locker room only down 1-0 at the half.
In the second half, Brooklyn immediately looked like a different team. “We were better as far as collectively, defensively we really stepped it up a notch,” said Russo. “We were stealing some balls and we were kind of dangerous up top.”
In the 48th minute, Barriga found himself open in the box with a loose ball at his foot. Barriga, about two yards left of the spot, pushed a low shot to the opposite goal post passed a frozen keeper. Jersey answered with a goal by Chris Karcz off a shot near the top of the box. Karcz got to a free ball in space and hit it past the keeper. The Express appeared to be back in control with a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute.
However, 10 minutes later, a handball in the box gave the Italians a penalty kick. Express keeper David Greczek got a hand on Barrone’s hard and low shot to the right post, but the power of the strike was too much and the game was tied.
After that goal the Brooklyn supporters came alive, chanting and stomping on the metal bleachers. Brooklyn’s forward Guerrier scored the match-winning goal on a breakaway set-up by midfielder Karrem Joachim in the 81st minute. Guerrier outran the Jersey center backs and slipped the ball past an oncoming Greczek. Guerrier added a second goal from the spot in second half stoppage time after the Express defender Christopher Lebo denied a clear goal scoring opportunity in the 89th minute. Lebo was giving a red card by referee Neil Barbulescu for the take down just outside of Jersey’s box. The penalty kick goal by Guerrier was a low hard shot of the right post passed Express keeper Greczek. Again Greczek picked correctly, but could not make the save.
For Guerrier it gives him a brace in each of the club’s first three matches of the season. Italians coach Russo had high praise for his forward. “I believe he belongs at the next level, definitely with a USL team or NASL team,” said Russo. “He’s a force on top. He’s difficult to mark”
Russo realizes the challenge his amateur club faces in the next round. “We’re playing pro now, not to take nothing away from the Jersey Express because they are fantastic,” explained Russo. “But are pro, they do it all day long, and we are amateurs and we practice twice a week. A complete hours a day, to match up against a team like that is a great experience for these players.”
The Brooklyn Italians, making their fifth straight appearance in the tournament, improve to 2-4-0 in the Modern Professional Era (1995-present). This match was the first for the Jersey Express in the US Open Cup.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS