Polonia Wallington

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Icon FC wins New Jersey title to complete USASA Region I field

March 25, 2013 by Romulo Vieira

The championship game of the New Jersey Open Cup tournament took place Sunday evening with Icon FC taking on Polonia Wallington under the lights. On a cold night at Montville Community Park in Montville, NJ, Icon FC came out victorious, defeating Wallington 4-0 to win their first New Jersey Open Cup title.

With the win, Icon qualifies for the USASA Region I tournament where they will begin play at Eastern Pennsylvania champion West Chester United on April 7.

Before the referee blew the whistle to start the game, there was confusion over the teams’ uniforms; both teams were using different shades of blue. As a result, Icon used orange pinnies to keep the teams from getting confused.

The opening minutes of the game started slow as both teams kept the ball in the midfield. No team was able to get close to the opposing box to create a scoring opportunity. That all changed in the 9th minute when Icon’s number seven Jonathan Lopuski’s strike from outside the box beat Wallington keeper Marcin Czerwinski, to put his side up 1-0. After the goal, Icon maintained control of the game and three minutes later were able to score again, this time from another ferocious strike from Nathaniel Winslow.

Wallington’s Open Cup dreams suffered another blow just two minutes later when Icon’s Argjent Duka scored a header off a good cross from the right side of the field.

After Icon scored their three goals the game slowed down. Icon controlled the game and didn’t allow Wallington to create any clear chances. Wallington’s only shot in the first half came in the 36th minute when Tomasz Kwaitkowski’s shot went wide of the goal. Every time Wallington was able to get a cross or a pass into the box, there was never anyone at the end of it to threaten Icon goalkeeper Chris Duggan. Before the half, Icon’s Custidiano Michael kept the pressure on with another shot on target forcing the Wallington keeper to make another save.

During the second half, Wallington needed to come out aggressively to try to stay in the game, but the total opposite happened. The Polish team had one shot on target in the beginning of the half and never really threatened Icon after that. Icon had multiple goalscoring opportunities to put the game away for good. Icon’s Andy Cesti tried to chip the ball over the Wallington goalkeeper, but his attempt went wide. Argjent Duka had a chance to score his second goal of the match after shooting the ball from distance, but his attempt flew a few inches over the crossbar.

Icon’s best chance came when Nelson Becerra was alone in the box one-on-one with the goalkeeper, with all the time in the world to put the ball in the back of the net, but managed to hit the post and allow the goalkeeper to pounce on the rebound. Icon had two more one-on-one opportunities to score, but Wallington keeper Marcin Czerwinski came up huge on both attempts.

Czerwinski’s attempt to keep a second half clean sheet came to an end when he was beaten by one of his own teammates. Becerra’s low cross into the box was tapped into the back of the net by Wallington’s Marcin Decowski as he attempted to clear the ball out of the box making it 4-0 for Icon. After the fourth goal Icon dominated the pace of the game and was able keep away any possible threat from Wallington.

At the end of the game, Icon manager Greg Bajek expressed how much of an honor it is to play in the USASA Region I quarterfinal.

“This is a great opportunity for us to play a USL team,” said Bajek. “This new experience will be great for the development of our players.”

New Jersey Semifinals
Polonia Wallington SC 2:1 (aet) Go Soccer FC
Jersey Shore Boca 2:2 Icon FC
Icon FC advances 5-4 in penalty kicks

New Jersey Final (March 24)
Polonia Wallington 0:4 Icon FC

Recent New Jersey Open Cup champions
2013: Icon FC
2012: Jersey Shore Boca
2011: Go Soccer FC
2010: Go Soccer FC
2009: Go Soccer FC
2008: SC Vistula Garfield*
2007: No entry
2006: Sport Club Portuguese
2005: Kappa Real Wyckoff
2004: Sport Club Portuguese
2003: SC Vistula Garfield
2002: ZPA Perth Amboy
2001: ZPA Perth Amboy
2000: SC Vistula Garfield
1999: SC Vistula Garfield
1998: SC Vistula Garfield
* Withdrew from USASA Region I tournament

2013 USASA Region I Finals (US Open Cup qualifying)

Quarterfinals (April 7)
New York Pancyprian Freedoms (ENY) at Newtown SC (CT)
Treadwell Park (Newtown, CT) – 4 p.m. ET
Mass Premier Soccer (MA) at Rhode Island Reds FC (RI)
Cranston Stadium (Cranston, RI) – 2 p.m. ET
Icon FC (NJ) at West Chester United (EPA)
Delacy Soccer Complex No. 4 (West Chester, PA) – 2 p.m. ET
Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (DC/VA) at Screaming Eagles (MD)
Cedar Lane Regional Park (Bel Air, MD) – 1:30 p.m. ET –

Semifinals (April 21)
Time/Location TBA
Semifinal winners both qualify for 2013 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

2013 US Open Cup qualifying: Polonia Wallington defeat Go Soccer FC to reach New Jersey final

March 13, 2013 by Ed Rue

The 2013 edition of the New Jersey Open Cup tournament got underway on Sunday in Bridgewater as three-time state Open Cup winners Go Soccer FC took on league rivals SC Polonia Wallington. Go Soccer may have come in with the experience, but it was first-time entry Polonia who came away victorious after a penalty kick by Zbigniew Puzio in the 99th minute of extra time to give PW a 2-1 win and a ticket to the New Jersey Final on March 24.

In the state title game, Polonia Wallington will take on the winner of Icon FC and last year’s Open Cup entry Jersey Shore Boca. The state champion will advance to the USASA Region I Finals where they will travel west of the city of Philadelphia to face Eastern Pennsylvania champion West Chester United in the quarterfinals.

From the get go, play was tough, with both teams fighting for positioning in the midfield. Early on, pressure was placed on Go Soccer FC with Ben Barton of Polonia Wallington putting a shot just above the Go Soccer FC goal for the game’s first shot. GSFC was able to answer back, but a shot put on frame trickled just wide of the Polonia net and out of harms way. After that attempt, the game remained in the Polonia Wallington defensive third with Go Soccer FC pressing hard for the game’s first goal. Polonia was able to withstand the early pressure.

The roughness of the play showed as Tomasz Wachowicz brought down a GSFC player in the midfield, earning the game’s first yellow in the 30th minute, causing both coaches to get into heated discussions with the ref.
The resulting free kick went wide of the Polonia goal once more. The best chance for either side came in the 33rd minute when a hard foul in the Go Soccer FC six yard box was committed brought about a penalty kick. Zbigniew Puzio stepped up to take the PK, only to have his shot go just wide of the GSFC net.

The missed penalty would come back to haunt Polonia Wallington, after some scrappy play in the midfield and some pressure in the Polonia box, GSFC were awarded back-to-back corners in first half stoppage time. The first corner was hit from the top of the box and deflected off a Wallington defender, bringing about the second corner.

On the second corner, Go Soccer FC were able to take advantage as Cyril Yemofio headed in the corner just past Polonia keeper Marcin Czerwinski to close out the first half.

The second half began as the first had, with lots of aggressive play in the midfield. Go Soccer FC went on the offensive immediately, putting a shot on target moments after the restart, but it was handled easily by the Polonia keeper. A majority of the possession went Go Soccer FC’s way as they looked to increase upon their 1-0 lead.

Polonia was able to counter the pressure put upon them by GSFC and put a few shots on frame, but nothing threatened GSFC keeper Zach Zamek.

Play continued end to end with Polonia pressing for an equalizer, while Go Soccer FC looked to put the game away in the late stages.

However, with Go Soccer FC unable to find the goal to lock the game, Polonia capitalized, leaving it late. A cross from PW defender Tomasz Wachowicz managed to slip past GSFC keeper Zach Zamek and bank it in off the far post, tying the game at 1-1 in the 87th minute. Neither team were able to find a winning goal in the 2nd half injury time, forcing the game to go into overtime

Polonia Wallington kicked off the first period of overtime, but it was Go Soccer FC who ended up with the first chance on goal in the 93rd minute off a corner kick. The attempt on goal was right at the Polonia keeper for the easy save in the opening moments. The biggest moment in the first overtime period came as Josh Brown from Go Soccer FC handled the ball in puttempt to clear a ball from the goal line in the 99th minute. Brown was issued a yellow for the infraction and a PK was awarded to Polonia Wallington. Puzio from Polonia Wallington stepped up to take the PK and managed to convert it, sending Zach Zamek diving to the left as Puzio slotted it down the middle.

Wallington had a shot to make it 3-1 and put the game away when another shot from Puzio was bound for goal, but it was cleared from the goal line by Josh Brown again, who managed to avoid handling the ball this time around. The first period of extra time ended with Polonia Wallington up 2-1.

Go Soccer FC kicked off the second OT period, trying to find the equalizer, but only found a stingy Polonia defense. A missed foul call lead to a heated exchange of words between Go Soccer FC players and Polonia Wallington’s players. This exchange led to two more yellow cards to Polonia. The cards were issued to Ben Barton and Damian Serafin, both for dissent in the 113th minute. The majority of the second overtime was spent by both teams trying to break down each other’s defenses. The momentum seemed to change, with Wallington the ones applying the offensive pressure, leaving GSFC to defend their hearts out.

Go Soccer FC managed an opportunity near the end of the match and found themselves being awarded a PK for a handball in the box with nothing but injury time left in the match. Dennis Maldonado from Go Soccer FC stepped up to take the penalty kick, with the chance to send the game into penalty kicks. His attempt, however, was high and over the crossbar, all but sealing victory for Polonia Wallington. The game was quickly restarted with a goal kick, but it was soon called after the kick, ending 2-1 in favor of Polonia Wallington.

New Jersey Semifinals (March 10/17)

Polonia Wallington SC 2:1 (aet) Go Soccer FC – March 10
Torpey Complex in Bridgewater, NJ
Jersey Shore Boca vs. Icon FC – March 17
12 p.m. – Berkeley Soccer Complex in Bayville, NJ

New Jersey Final (March 24)
Time/Location TBA