Region I action kicks into full swing
Busy month for qualifying, matches played in five associations
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The right to represent Eastern Pennsylvania will be contested between
United German Hungarians and Pennsylvania Rush (formerly Montco
Azzuri), and both teams reached the final in contrasting ways.

Pennsylvania Rush and United German Hungarians will meet for the
Eastern Pennsylvania Open Cup title on December 9.

On a day that was more fitting for gridiron football, PA Rush got by
fellow USL club Danubia 3-0. After playing the first half to a
scoreless draw, Rush took control. About midway through the second
half, David Keller converted a free kick from just outside the
penalty area to give Rush a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later, Rush were
awarded a penalty when Joe McDevitt was pulled down in the box, and
Mark Stone stepped up to the spot and doubled their lead. Matt
Stevens added the third goal near the end of the match, as Rush's
defense held firm the entire way.

On the same day, UGH were taken to the limit in their semifinal
match, needing extra time to dispatch Vereinigung Erzgebirge, 3-1. VE
took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but UGH countered midway through the
second, when substitute Jeremy Ortiz combined with Tim O'Neil to draw
UGH level. The score remained that way for the duration of regular
time, so an extra thirty minutes was ordered to settle matters.

UGH took command in the first extra period, when Blair Carson's long
range attempt was initially stopped by the VE goalkeeper, but the
rebound fell to Ryan Mosley, who easily scored. Tim O'Neil put the
game away with a goal near the end of the second extra period, giving
UGH a ticket to the final, where they will face Pa. Rush on December
9.

New Jersey's Region I spot was claimed by Garfield Vistula, with a 4-
1 win over Champions League Soccer compatriots Kappa Real Wyckoff.
Marcin Janeczko netted two goals for the winners, and Lukasz Hausner
and Konrad Kruczek added a goal each. Vistula are currently in first
place in the Champions League, with Wyckoff trailing them in third
place by four points.

Two other Champions League Soccer clubs battled it out to for a
chance to represent the league itself in the Region I finals. New
York Salamina came away with a 2-0 victory over Piast Polonia Centrum
at Dawson Park in Montville, New Jersey . Polonia Centrum controlled
play in the first half, and would have had an early lead if not for
the superb play of Salamina goalkeeper Dario Cabanas. Cabanas faced a
pair of one on one scoring opportunities from Polonia attackers, and
denied both chances. On the other end, Rony Goncalves saw a pair of
good scoring attempts thwarted by the Polonia goalkeeper, leaving the
score 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Polonia once again went on the attack, but the
Salamina defense held firm. In the 72nd minute, Salamina nearly
scored through Nikola Dokic, whose shot missed the post by a few
inches. Dokic would not be denied eight minutes later, as he received
a long pass from Orhan Sokoli and preceded to dribble past the
goalkeeper and put Salamina up 1-0.

New York Salamina pose for a team photo just after defeating Polonia
Centrum in the Champions League Open Cup semifinal.

The few Salamina supporters that were there watching the game from
their cars honked their horns in celebration. With Polonia pushing to
draw the game level, Salamina took advantage of a counter attack,
which saw Harry Triana finish off by beating the Polinia goalkeeper
for the game-clinching goal. The win avenged a 3-2 loss to Polinia in
Champions League play at the end of September. Salamina move on to
play four-time defending Champions League winners Sport Clube
Portuguese, which will take place in Match of 2008.

In Massachusetts , two teams have moved on the semifinals, in a
tournament that has been beset by weather delays. The first round
opened with victories by two NELASA clubs, Strela Negra and
Emigrantes das Ilhas. Strela Negra got by Coper Uruguay 1-0 in extra
time, and Emigrantes were 3-1 winners over Medford Soccer. Emigrantes
took a 1-0 lead through U.S. National Amateur team member Zico Vega,
and doubled the advantage 25 minutes later on a goal from Ivan
Tavares. Medford pulled one back in the 75th minute, but Eriqueson
Almeida sealed the win for Emigrantes with a 85th minute tally.
Emigrantes will face defending NELASA champions Club Tabanka in the
quarterfinals.

In two quarterfinal matches that have been played, perennial
Massachusetts cup entrant Boston Olympiakos defeated fellow MSSL club
Lowell Lusitanos 4-1, and Strela Negra won a battle of NELASA clubs
with a 3-1 win over Fidjos Terra. The remaining quarterfinal will see
two more MSSL teams face off, as Greek American Sportsmen battle
Boston Nigeria United. The winner of that match moves on to face
Olympiakos.

Pancyprian Freedoms and Greek American Atlas will meet for the third
year in a row for the Eastern New York final.

In Eastern New York, the field has been paired down to a familiar
couple of teams, New York Pancyprian Freedoms, and New York Greek
American Atlas. Pancyprian Freedoms made their way to the final in
convincing fashion. In the first round they were powered by a hat
trick from former New Jersey Stallion Julio Cesar Santos to defeat SV
Olympic 78 of the NESSL 5-2. Next, they gained a 4-0 victory over
fellow Cosmopolitan League club Barnstonworth Rovers, with goals from
Chris Megaloudis, Jeff Matteo, Julio Cesar Santos, and Tasso
Polydefkis.

Greek American Atlas reached the final with a 5-0 win over league
rivals Brooklyn Italians. Tarik Smith paced the winners with a hat
trick, and Hamier Niebles, Felix Fuglo added the other goals.
Italians manager Issam Daoud was hampered by the fact that he was
forced to start five players from their U-18 youth team, due to the
fact that several of his starting regulars were unavailable due to
work commitments. This will mark the third year in a row Pancyprian
Freedoms and Greek American Atlas have met for the Eastern New York
final, having won a game each previously. Both clubs are currently in
first place in their divisions of the CSL First Division.