October 11, 2009 - CPR v Benito Camelas (Newton HS - Queens)

Back in action after a 3 week layoff (league scheduling conflicts with local schools), CPR Black were looking to maintain the momentum from their week 1 win.  With a full side plus reserves assembled prior to kickoff, concern spread as CPR saw their opponents had only mustered to bring 3 players to the pitch and were quickly scrambling to get their tally to 7 to avoid an automatic forefeit.  With some success recruiting a few stragglers plus a few late arrivals coming just prior to the whistle, Benito got to 8 as the whistle blew. 

From the first touch, the outcome was never in doubt.  Frankly, the greater concern was whether or not CPR would maintain enough focus and commitment or play down to their competition.  Unfortunately, for the majority of the encounter, it was the latter.  CPR also used their numerical advantage to test a more attacking minded 3-4-3 formation, going with the 3-headed monster of Bustamante, Levy and Stern in the attack. 

Greicius opened the scoring with a clinical header after Levy had worked free down the right wing and delivered a perfect cross.  Stern added the second from the spot after being hauled down in the box as he worked is way in along the goal line from the left corner.  A few comical protests of "the foul was outside the box" were heard, but they made little sway on the referees given how obvious the infraction was.

As halftime approached, Benito briefly got their numbers up to a full 11, though were then brought back to 10 when one of their initial starters hobbled off with a hamstring injury.  CPR Black went into the interval with a disappointing 2-0 lead given their numerical and skill advantage on the pitch.  The halftime team talk tried to get the squad to take advantage of their numbers by doing a better job of maintaining possession and probing for openings rather than launching speculative balls forward.

CPR Black complacency was punished shortly after the restart when a hopeful ball forward pinballed its way between Calcagni, Ault and 2 Benito attackers and eventually squirted out behind the CPR back line.  Benito's crafty striker took full advantage and slotted home past CPR Black stand-in keeper Tim, to bring the scoreline to 2-1. 

Shortly thereafter, CPR Black made a tactical shift to return to their standard 4-4-2 formation, and the move almost immediately paid dividends.  Creating more space up front for strikers and wingers to play into put immediate pressure on the Benito back line.  Bustamante was played in by Greicius and held off his defender while slotting home for 3-1.  Bustamante was again involved minutes later.  His blocked shot rebounded to Engler to tapped into an empty net.

CPR Black's 5th and final goal marked the low-point for Benito.  Verdoux, in acres of space on the left wing, teed up a cross into an empty penalty box.  Not wanting to see such a wonderful ball wasted, one of the Benito failed to rise high enough to clear and instead flicked his header past his own keeper for the final 5-1 scoreline. 

Final:  5-1

Goals: Greicius (assist Levy), Stern (PK), Bustamante (assist Greicius), Engler, OG (assist Verdoux)

Team: Ault, Bustamante, Calcagni, Engler, Fetzer, Greicius, Gudkov, Hollins, Joella, Levy, Lukaszewski, Phillips, Stern, Verdoux

Team Bar Showing:  50% (Ault, Bustamante, Calcagni, Engler, Hollins, Lukaszewski, Phillips)

Fans:  2* (Stern's friends)

Special Thanks:  Tim, for stand-in goalkeeping