They played as a team. They won as a team. And, when the odds were stacked against them, Jersey Express went down fighting as a team, relinquishing the title of Eastern Conference champions a wink away from regulation time in the challenge game in South Huntington, NY.
Edged 3-2 by Long Island Rough Riders last Saturday at Cy Donnelly Field, Jersey’s brave, bold performance was the epitome of effort and extraordinary commonality.
The Express, the only of four teams from New Jersey to make post-season play, represented the garden state with pride and performance. “They showed glimpses of the relevance and potential of PDL soccer playing so good away,” said ‘New Jerseyan’ Maria DeSouza-Qualis, an avid soccer fan who now resides in neighboring Glen Cove, and came out to support the boys from her ‘birth state’.
In scorching conditions, a depleted Jersey came from a 2-goal deficit at half time to lock scores early in the second stanza. But, the absence of a handful of core starters, coupled with the effects of a recent demanding schedule compounded to buttonhole the team’s final drive at the conference crown and national ‘Final-4’ appearance.
“Our guys fought real, real hard. It says a lot about the talent in this team when they could rise against such adversities. But, we got the caliber. We were just, just short today,” said assistant coach Lucio Russo who, before the game, gave an indication of Jersey’s injury woes when speaking with TV broadcast producers.
In one week, Jersey travelled for a hectic four games in torrid climatic conditions. First the Newark, NJ club flew to tropical Bermuda for their final regular season game, before returning to the US for a partially rain-soaked play-in match-up away to Reading in PA. They made it three wins in as many games during the period, beating Carolina Dynamos in a thunderstorm-affected semi-final in South Huntington, NY. Next day, the weather was as hot as the rivalry for the final.
“No doubt, our guys are among the best in the league and we were so close going to the big dance,” said General Manager Gali Maimon. “But, all credit to Long Island for their win, and we wish them the best going forward. We’ll like to see them bring that national title to our division,” Maimon offered, echoing the sentiments of his club’s management and players.
After nearly half an hour of a 2-all deadlock, an 83rd minute strike by the homesters stabbed Jersey’s resolve, and though they bled unstinting ardor for another equalizer, the wound was too much for the shorthanded Express to heal.
They incessantly attacked in the game’s dying stages plus 4 minutes of stoppage time, before the final whistle came from Lahocine Kharmaj, who stood in for the last 22 minutes. Even, original referee Ayodeji Obisesan had to surrender to the harsh conditions, suffering from a troubled hamstring. The previous evening, he was the fourth official in Jersey’s semis win that had two ejections, including one to a substitute on Jersey’s already shortened ‘bench’.
From tough challenges, exhaustion and other injuries, several of Jersey’s players were forced to leave play and return to keep their club afloat. Trainer Chris Menhy and the coaches were over overtime in face of their narrow options on personnel.
With that stark reality, head coach George Vichniakov bled with startling soccer strategizing. At half time, he switched striker Ansger Otto for midfielder Josh Trott, and the move paid dividends. After Otto immediately used his speed and guile to trouble Long Island, as well as demonstrating his thunder throw-ins, the tiny Thor would help to hush the partisan 800-plus crowd. Jersey answered Long Island’s first half deuce by Keith Detelj (7th) and Dominic Sarle (33rd) in a flash.
Otto took a ‘change-up’ pass from Abdoulaye Coulibaly 10 yards from the box and drew three defenders, before taking a shot. It hit the foot of Joseph Ovenseri halfway inside the box. The tall forward spun to his right, eluding a defender and slammed a left-footed ‘riser’ from an acute angle to put his team within reach in the 50th minute.
Six minutes later, Otto was again triple-teamed at the top of the box, before he shot to goal. This time the ball rebounded off a defender onto a lurking Ovenseri who side swiped it into the ole onion bag for the equalizer. The game was on!
For Jersey, the strike was a joyous déjà vu. For Long Island and their startled fans, it spelt d-a-n-g-e-r. Thereafter, Jersey got the better chances for the tie-breaker, as the teams exchanged possessions in a heat-induced intense battle.
The conditions took toll on the players’ endurance. Every lull in play gave a chance for rehydration and cooling. But, Jersey had to replace their league leader in ‘points-per-minute’ averages, Will Stamatis who developed severe cramping in his left leg.
Neverthelessr, with a Jersey win or extra play imminent, the table turned when Long Island managed the winner through an unexpected Stephan Barea strike that deceived goalie Ryan Meara. But, try as he did to marshal his troops for a response, the Jersey captain watched glumly as Jersey’s fraught efforts went for naught, and his former club take the bacon.
It was a skipper’s lament as Meara knelt on the field until Vichniakov strode out to console and assure him that “Jersey Express lost today, but won many hearts, and you guys did your best” Inspired, Meara, Vichniakov, Maimon and club chairman Joe Branco lauded the team’s effort.
The affable Otto, himself, is excited about the future after his first time in the PDL. “To get this far after what we went through is awesome,” said the Iona College bound player. “I met a lot of great people here and I now have so many homies and ‘fathers’ at every match, it would be great for us to do this thing again next year.”
According to the Maimon, an appreciation dinner is planned for the team, soon. After that he says it will be a period of reviews and previews as the club “seeks to strike the iron while it’s hot” and project towards the immediate future. And, that looks bright for Jersey Express which has made it three post-season appearances in its 4-year history.
