TAMPA, Fla. - The MetroStars U-14 team was able to come back from a goal down to beat the City Islanders 2-1 in their first game at the Super Y-League North American Finals at the campus of the University of South Florida.
Head coach Stan Lembryk said the sluggish start to the game was partly due to the fact the team had not played a game together for three months.
"It's difficult when you're not together for three months," he said. "But you have to do it - there's no other way around it."
The game started like the typical first game of a tournament. Play was slow and both teams took time to feel each other out. Passing was sloppy at times and both teams created few good scoring chances. As the first half progressed, the City Islanders took every opportunity they could to test the MetroStars goalkeeper, who made several saves.
The MetroStars fell behind 1-0 just as they started to get the offense clicking. A City Islander player was able to penetrate the MetroStars defense to shoot the ball low to the inside of the left post. The goal was even more deflating for the MetroStars because it happened only minutes before the halftime whistle.
Evans Asiamah, who provided much of the offensive spark for the Metros in the first half, felt that the team was a bit nervous, since this is their first tournament of this magnitude.
"This is our first game of this tournament and everyone is all excited," he said. "We had a lot of pressure, so we just needed to give everybody time to calm down."
During half time, Lembryk was able to rally the troops as he told them to start the second half going 100 percent. The players seemed to respond as they had the clear advantage in shots in the second half.
In the 62nd minute, the MetroStars' efforts were rewarded when Yanick Smith scored the equalizer. The MetroStars crossed the ball into the box, in the hands of the opposing keeper, who fumbled the ball. Smith was waiting on the doorstep and was able to control the ball as it rolled towards the end line. He shot the ball just before it rolled out of bounds, and it deflected off a defender into the net.
Smith scored the go-ahead goal just five minutes later off a beautiful feed from Asiamah into the middle of the box. Smith, standing 10 yards from goal, headed the ball high into the air, the arcing ball slowly falling into the net over the diving keeper.
On his well-placed cross, Asiamah said: "I tried to make something happen. The coach said after the first half that someone had to stand up and make something happen, so I tried to do that."
What made Smith's two goals even more impressive was that it was the first time he had played with the MetroStars in months. He described the transition to playing with the MetroStars again.
"It's hard coming back after playing with a completely different team," he said. "But these are a great group of guys, and we were able to pull it together to play a really good game."
Lembryk was glad to see his players maintain their composure to get the victory.
"This was our first tournament of this magnitude" he said. "There were a few jitters to start off. It was a big environment with a lot of people around."
Life for the MetroStars U-14's will not be getting any easier as they play the Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada next. Whitecaps Midfielder Tommy Cui is coming off a four-goal performance in their 4-1 win over South East Champion Del Ray Beach.
U-16's win battle of New Jersey in rout
The MetroStars U-16's won the battle of New Jersey as they took care of Toms River Boca in a 4-0 rout at Ed Radice Park on Friday afternoon.
"It's always big when you play a New Jersey team at a tournament on the road," said MetroStars U-16 head coach Paul O'Donnell. "I know they were coming here trying to beat the MetroStars."
The U-16's showed no signs of rust as they took the lead at the 3rd minute from a goal by Johnny Exantus. Toms River Boca were able to settle things down after that temporarily, until the flood gates opened.
The MetroStars then scored two goals in two minutes with a goal by Johnny Ferrari in the 33rd minute, and Exantus's second in the 34th minute.
The MetroStars capped of the rout with a fourth goal by Hamilton Sotello. After the fourth goal, the MetroStars slowed down the pace of the game and were content to play possession soccer.
The man of the match was clearly the Haitian-born Exantus, who had two goals and an assist. He was in top form even though it was the team's first game in months.
O'Donnell was satisfied with the team's performance in the game.
"I thought the first 15 minutes we pressured them. The early goal obviously helped," he said. "Twenty minutes in we wore them down and we started to play our game. To get the second and third goal in quick succession was very beneficial for us."
O'Donnell was also relieved that the first game of the tournament ended in a victory.
"It started out as an even game. The first game is always tough. It's always a battle."
The MetroStars U-16's will face tough opposition in the next two games against the highly-regarded Washington Crossfire and West Kendall of Florida, who defeated the MetroStars U-17 team in the Super Y-League Final in 2003.
O'Donnell knows the other teams in the group will be a greater challenge. He said: "I think the next two games are going to be very difficult for us. On any given day we have to come to play."
