Brick Lions FC

2017 US Open Cup Qualifying: Junior Lone Star lone Philly team left after win over Brick Lions FC

October 25, 2016 by Zach Rayment

Ebere Goodluck of Junior Lone Star dribbles against Brick Lions FC in the 2017 US Open Cup qualifying match. Photo: Junior Lone Star

Junior Lone Star advanced to the next round in the 2017 US Open Cup with a 3-2 win over New Jersey’s Brick Lions FC.

It was an exciting first half between Brick Lions FC and the Philadelphia-based Junior Lone Star at Pinewood Park in Brick, NJ. The action started early when BLFC took the lead in the 6th minute through Benji Vergara. Cody Calafiore whipped a dangerous cross to Chris Katona at the far post, who then headed the ball towards the top of the six yard box for Vergara to volley home.

About midway through the first half the visitors, Junior Lone Star, started to gain momentum. In the 26th minute Anthony Allison was brought down in the box, but no penalty was given. Three minutes later, Allison was taken out by the goalkeeper and this time the referee had no choice but to point to the penalty spot. The man who created the penalty stood up and hit it off the post and into the back of the net from 12 yards out to tie the game.

Junior Lone Star poses for a team photo before their 2017 US Open Cup qualifier against Brick Lions FC. Photo: Junior Lone Star

Brick were the better team for the majority of the second half. They took their second lead of the game in the 59th minute when Olsen-Barr headed a corner kick into the back of the net. Calafiore, who was involved in the first goal, got the assist.

Junior Lone Star kept the fighting spirit alive with Ebere Goodluck equalizing in the 74th minute. Goodluck gathered the loose ball in the box and finished impressively into the top right corner from a tight angle. The goalkeeper never had a chance to get to it. The Stars had been dominated in the second half, but found a way back in the match.

Joshua Chelleh is the star of the match after putting Junior Lone Star in front in the 82nd minute. He received the pass from Allison and quickly got the shot past the keeper to put his team in the next round.

Junior Lone Star Head Coach, Bobby Ali, praised his team’s “fighting spirit.”

Junior Lone Star has been a regular entry in US Open Cup qualifying since 2011, but has yet to qualify for the tournament. Last year, they fell short in the opening round of the open division tournament, losing an extra time match with West Chester United. With West Chester losing their second round match to Christos FC, JLS are now the last remaining Philadelphia-area club in the tournament.

2017 US Open Cup qualifying: Brick Lions rally with five straight goals to overcome VE on the road

September 11, 2016 by Michael Berton

Kris Olsen-Barr (pictured) scored two of the Brick Lions' five straight goals to overtake VE, 5-2. Photo: Kari Berton — Kris Olsen-Barr (pictured) scored two of the Brick Lions’ five straight goals to overtake VE, 5-2. Photo: Kari Berton

New Jersey’s Brick Lions FC overcame oppressive heat and an early two-goal deficit to defeat their Philadelphia-area hosts Vereinigung Erzgebirge 5-2 in the first round of 2017 US Open Cup qualifying tournament on Saturday.

Brick Lions earned the win in its first Open Cup qualifying appearance, but several members of the organization had been part of the process before. Manager Michael McCullion helped run the Jersey Shore Boca, which reached the second round of qualifying last year and qualified for the US Open Cup in 2012.

The temperature at kickoff was well over 90 degrees, but that paled in comparison to Vereinigung Erzgebirge’s (VE) start. Just 30 seconds in, Anthony Bafile found himself with the ball and curled a shot from the left side of the box into the bottom right corner of the goal.

After some wide open play and multiple chances for each team, the hosts scored again. This time the ball was played to William McGuiness, who scored past the Brick Lions keeper into the bottom left corner.

Brick Lions FC pose for a team photo before their 2017 US Open Cup qualifier against Vereinigung Erzgebirge. Photo: Brick Lions FC

The visitors got one back less than ten minutes later. In the 33rd minute, Chris Katona put in a cross from the right. The VE keeper got a touch on it, but the ball went right to the Lions’ Kris Olsen-Barr, who calmly shot the ball into the net to cut the deficit in half.

The Garden State Soccer League members got another goal right before the half. A long ball was played to Thomas Gray, who sprinted roughly 25 yards before blasting the ball into the top right corner of the net, tying the game at two goals apiece.

“We were down but got a couple huge goals,” Brick Lions coach Costas Kaifas said. “After we got those goals, we were very confident. Our style is very open and attacking, so we weren’t afraid after going two goals down.”

Buoyed by a huge home crowd, VE, which was founded in 1931, came out strong in the second half. However, despite getting a slew of shots off, it would be the Brick Lions that would get on the board next. After VE cleared a corner kick in the 54th minute, a second cross went into the box. Chris Katona, who played for Stockton University, snuck his header in to give his team a 3-2 lead.

In the 64th minute, Gray got on the board again to give his team a 4-2 lead. Gray, who has played professionally for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, stepped up to take a free kick from 20 yards out. He hit a beautiful curling shot that gave the VE keeper no chance.

“They are a really good team,” said VE’s long-time coach Rob Oldfield. “They had a couple great goals. That free kick goal was just icing on the cake.”

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Olsen-Barr wanted a second goal as well. In the 72nd minute, coming in from the left side of the field, he slipped the ball past the keeper into the bottom right of the net to give his team a fifth straight goal.

With the win, Brick Lions FC will host a second round qualifying match October 15 or 16. The opponent will be either Rising Stars or Junior Lone Star, both of which play in the Philadelphia Premier Soccer League. VE is still looking to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time since 2002, when they lost to the South Jersey Barons (now Ocean City Nor’easters) in the opening round.