Lansdowne rallies back for 3-2 win over CSA in last 15 minutes
By Ralph Chery
December 21, 2016
Lansdowne Bhoys players celebrating after scoring against Southie FC on April 30th. Hess Boys Photography
In his first game for Lansdowne Bhoys, Yannick Reyering scored a 91st minute goal to give the champions a 3-2 victory over Cedar Stars Academy after they went two goals down in the 61st minute on Sunday night at Randall’s Island Field 75.
Lansdowne were down by two goals for the first time in the league this season, and all of last CSL season, as Andreas Chronis converted from the spot in the 54th minute before Jordan Ayris slotted a shot in the net ten minutes later for CSA.
Substitute Jean-Ismael Voltaire started the Bhoys’ comeback in the 75th minute with a low shot inside the penalty area. Ciaran McGuigan leveled the scoring, netting a penalty kick nine minutes before regulation.
Former NY Pancyprian Freedoms player, Reyering, one-touched a low-cross from Ovan Oakley in the net in the first minute of added time to send Lansdowne to the winter break on a winning note.
“Everybody fought, nobody gave up even after going down 2-0 in the second half, that shows morale, shows why Lansdowne has been the best team in the league for so many years now,” Reyering said about Lansdowne’s comeback.
This result puts Austin Friel’s side closer than they ever been this season behind league leaders Shamrock SC, by one point. Meanwhile Cedar Stars close their fall season behind the Bhoys in third place with 17 points.
Lansdowne Bhoys players and coaches after their win against Cedar Stars Academy. Lansdowne Bhoys Images
After a scoreless but animated first half—Chronis hit the post in the 30th minute for CSA—the Stars were rewarded a penalty kick nine minutes into the second half after McGuigan clipped Josue Ortiz just inside the box. Superstar goalkeeper Abdoukarim Danso chose the right side—dove toward the right post—when Chronis hit the PK but was unable to make the save.
CSA scored again on the current best defensive team as Ayris collected a pass from Emerson Lawrence in the box before tucking the ball in the bottom left corner with a low drive.
Lansdowne hasn’t been down by two goals in the CSL for over a year, although the team does not lack the state of mind to fight back from a two-goal deficit.
“Every single guys on the team has confidence, has the character to dig deep and fight back,” Reyering said after the game. “No matter how many goals we go down by I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that we should lose to any team in the league.”
Voltaire arrived to the game in the second half, however when he subbed in for an injured Michael Holzer, he was the first goalscorer for Lansdowne.
The left back’s initial header from Craig Purcell’s free-kick was parried away by goalkeeper Ryan Linder. The rebound fell straight back at Voltaire, who fired a shot to the bottom left corner.
Left back Jean-Ismael Voltaire defending against NY Pancyprian Freedoms. Photo by Dinos Avlonitis
The former Haiti U-20 international player explained his struggle to find the pitch before getting in the game and scoring his first goal for the club.
“After a long way, I just came from Jersey to come here and then the problem is I didn’t know the field,” Voltaire said. “I got lost, I had to pay the bridge four times. Then when I got here they put me in the game and then I scored the first goal.”
Chronis went from scoring a penalty to conceding one. The 27-year-old couldn’t get his hand out of the way when Purcell shot the ball in the 80th minute. Ciaran, on the flip side, made up for conceding a spot kick earlier in the game by scoring that one as he dragged the ball low and hard to the bottom right corner to even things up.
The Bhoys needed to lead the scoring for only one minute in the whole game to bag the three points as the game-winning goal came in the 91st minute.
Oakley sped his way to Daryl Kavanagh’s through ball down the right flank on a breakaway before sweeping a low-cross to Reyering. Unmarked, Reyering tapped the ball in the middle of a vacant net.
“That’s why I’m here for, scoring goals,” the big striker said. “It was a rusty start, my touch wasn’t there, it wasn’t right where it was supposed to be but I’m just glad we got the goal and got the team a win. Scoring a game winning goal is always fun but I’m just happy we came back and won the game.”
Statistics
Cedar Stars Academy Lansdowne Bhoys
Shots (on target): 14 (6) 20 (8)
Saves: 6 5
Fouls: 21 16
Corner kicks: 1 3
Yellow cards: 2 1
Red cards: 0 0
Offsides: 3 3
Fun Stats
- Last time Cedar Stars Academy and Lansdowne Bhoys met in the league at Randall’s Island Field 75, the Bhoys also won that game 3-2 on Oct. 26, 2014.
- Lansdowne’s Ciaran McGuigan and Cedar’s Andreas Chronis both gave away and scored a penalty.
- Lansdowne’s Jean-Ismael Voltaire netted after getting to the game over an hour late.
- The referee blew his whistle for a foul 11 times in the opening 19 minutes, once every 1.7 minute.
