Leyden breaks through
in overtime vs. Willowbrook
Confidence-building win 1st extra-time success of season
By Patrick Z. McGavin
VILLA PARK — The best and worst quality of sport is that absence of ambiguity. Sports are results driven, and that means a clean line of separaton, winners and losers, with little in between.
Soccer has its draws, but even ties are not always evenly distributed or created. For some teams, a draw is very much a win, and for others it's the same as a devastating loss.
In a West Suburban Gold showdown Tuesday night at Willowbrook, Leyden came up right where any team wants to end up, on the left side of the ledger by virtue of a dramatic 2-1 overtime win over Willowbrook.
Leyden captured the victory in the 81st minute, just 46 seconds into overtime as junior defender Cesar Franco blasted home a free kick serve by Christian Sosnowski for the game winner.
For much of the match, Willowbrook was not only the equal, they were arguably the better side, creating better opportunities and controlling the tempo and style of play.
"We were really dominating the first 30 minutes, but then I guess it evened out," Sosnowski said. "They were pretty good in the air, they were physical, and in the second half they were better than us.
"We fought through it and got the win, and and in the end, that's all that matters."
Sosnowski was Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match, recording a goal and assist for the Eagles (6-5-3, 2-1). The game was an important symbolic breakthrough for Leyden.
"We have been in three overtime games (one was decided by PKs), and we lost them all, and this was a chance to try and win one," Franco said.
On the game winner, Leyden was more aggressive and pushed the ball forward to senior Miguel Mireles. He was fouled. On the re-start, Sosnowski hit a curving ball that broke on the left near post, the Willowbrook keeper Asmir Perviz out of position to make a play. Franco swooped in and did the rest.
"It was a fast start set piece and legitimate goal," Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. "Hopefully we learned something from that, and that you have to organize yourself quicker (defensively) .
"We have to be more aware of the set pieces and setting up the wall."
Sosnowski recorded his sixth goal of the year in the 17th minute, finishing a nice, left-footed one-touch from about 14 yards out.
"It was our second game in two days, and I thought we played Willowbrook's tempo," Leyden coach Mark Valintis said.
"In the first half we played pretty good. As the first half turned to the second half, I think our guys got fatigued and Willowbrook really stepped up their level of pressure. That caused us some problems."
Willowbrook fights back
The Warriors (5-6-1, 1-2) asserted their will on the game after the Eagles score in the first half. Sophomore forward Saul Hernandez got entangled with Leyden keeper Alfredo Recendez, and the ball was available to play toward an open net.
"The keeper got back and just swept me off the floor, and I couldn't do anything to get a shot off," Hernandez said. "We've had bad luck, with bad bounces or unlucky bounces, on goals and stuff. It just didn't work out for us tonight."
Another shot by Riad Perviz late in the first half hit off the near post. Hernandez was wide on a couple of shots. To their credit, the Warriors persevered and continued to fight.
"I thought the effort the boys put in was excellent," Ginter said. "We took some shots and came back and tied the game. We played to win the game. We didn't want it to go overtime or penalty kicks."
Off a disputed foul call, Willowbrook's Mike Paglowski drilled a free kick just outside the box in the 60th minute for the equalizer.
Leyden calms down
The Eagles got pulled out of the game psychologically and emotionally by calls. The best part of the five-minute respite from the end of regulation to the start of the overtime was the collective chance to take a deep breath.
Leyden reorganized and put the focus in the right spot.
"I think after losing the three earlier [extended] games, we learned all the things we can't do," Valintis said.
So it ended, quickly, before the overtime could barely register. A tired and edgy Leyden team pulled it out.
Willowbrook made its own stand. "We're pleased with the effort, but disappointed with the outcome," Ginter said. "The nice thing is we know we can be competitive, even with the best teams.
"Hopefully a little luck will come our way."
Starting lineups
Leyden
GK: Alfredo Recendez
D: Christian Rubio
D: Elvis Castaneda
D: Hector Herrera
D: Cesar Franco
M: Sal Salgado
M: Enrique Vargas
M: David Senk
M: Christian Sosnowski
M: Angel Lopez
F: Victor Flores
Willowbrook
GK: Asmir Perviz
D: Anthony Pieroni
D: Gideon Karasek
D: Stasiu Szudpowicz
M: Aaron Johnson
M: Arkadiusz Szlachta
M: Mike Rogalski
M: Lucas Betts
M:Kristian Johansen
M: Benny Heredia
F: Saul Hernandez
Man of the Match: Christian Sosnowski, Leyden
Officials: Mike Glisovic, Janusz Kieca, Leszek Bielko
in overtime vs. Willowbrook
Confidence-building win 1st extra-time success of season
By Patrick Z. McGavin
VILLA PARK — The best and worst quality of sport is that absence of ambiguity. Sports are results driven, and that means a clean line of separaton, winners and losers, with little in between.
Soccer has its draws, but even ties are not always evenly distributed or created. For some teams, a draw is very much a win, and for others it's the same as a devastating loss.
In a West Suburban Gold showdown Tuesday night at Willowbrook, Leyden came up right where any team wants to end up, on the left side of the ledger by virtue of a dramatic 2-1 overtime win over Willowbrook.
Leyden captured the victory in the 81st minute, just 46 seconds into overtime as junior defender Cesar Franco blasted home a free kick serve by Christian Sosnowski for the game winner.
For much of the match, Willowbrook was not only the equal, they were arguably the better side, creating better opportunities and controlling the tempo and style of play.
"We were really dominating the first 30 minutes, but then I guess it evened out," Sosnowski said. "They were pretty good in the air, they were physical, and in the second half they were better than us.
"We fought through it and got the win, and and in the end, that's all that matters."
Sosnowski was Chicagoland Soccer's Man of the Match, recording a goal and assist for the Eagles (6-5-3, 2-1). The game was an important symbolic breakthrough for Leyden.
"We have been in three overtime games (one was decided by PKs), and we lost them all, and this was a chance to try and win one," Franco said.
On the game winner, Leyden was more aggressive and pushed the ball forward to senior Miguel Mireles. He was fouled. On the re-start, Sosnowski hit a curving ball that broke on the left near post, the Willowbrook keeper Asmir Perviz out of position to make a play. Franco swooped in and did the rest.
"It was a fast start set piece and legitimate goal," Willowbrook coach Peter Ginter said. "Hopefully we learned something from that, and that you have to organize yourself quicker (defensively) .
"We have to be more aware of the set pieces and setting up the wall."
Sosnowski recorded his sixth goal of the year in the 17th minute, finishing a nice, left-footed one-touch from about 14 yards out.
"It was our second game in two days, and I thought we played Willowbrook's tempo," Leyden coach Mark Valintis said.
"In the first half we played pretty good. As the first half turned to the second half, I think our guys got fatigued and Willowbrook really stepped up their level of pressure. That caused us some problems."
Willowbrook fights back
The Warriors (5-6-1, 1-2) asserted their will on the game after the Eagles score in the first half. Sophomore forward Saul Hernandez got entangled with Leyden keeper Alfredo Recendez, and the ball was available to play toward an open net.
"The keeper got back and just swept me off the floor, and I couldn't do anything to get a shot off," Hernandez said. "We've had bad luck, with bad bounces or unlucky bounces, on goals and stuff. It just didn't work out for us tonight."
Another shot by Riad Perviz late in the first half hit off the near post. Hernandez was wide on a couple of shots. To their credit, the Warriors persevered and continued to fight.
"I thought the effort the boys put in was excellent," Ginter said. "We took some shots and came back and tied the game. We played to win the game. We didn't want it to go overtime or penalty kicks."
Off a disputed foul call, Willowbrook's Mike Paglowski drilled a free kick just outside the box in the 60th minute for the equalizer.
Leyden calms down
The Eagles got pulled out of the game psychologically and emotionally by calls. The best part of the five-minute respite from the end of regulation to the start of the overtime was the collective chance to take a deep breath.
Leyden reorganized and put the focus in the right spot.
"I think after losing the three earlier [extended] games, we learned all the things we can't do," Valintis said.
So it ended, quickly, before the overtime could barely register. A tired and edgy Leyden team pulled it out.
Willowbrook made its own stand. "We're pleased with the effort, but disappointed with the outcome," Ginter said. "The nice thing is we know we can be competitive, even with the best teams.
"Hopefully a little luck will come our way."
Starting lineups
Leyden
GK: Alfredo Recendez
D: Christian Rubio
D: Elvis Castaneda
D: Hector Herrera
D: Cesar Franco
M: Sal Salgado
M: Enrique Vargas
M: David Senk
M: Christian Sosnowski
M: Angel Lopez
F: Victor Flores
Willowbrook
GK: Asmir Perviz
D: Anthony Pieroni
D: Gideon Karasek
D: Stasiu Szudpowicz
M: Aaron Johnson
M: Arkadiusz Szlachta
M: Mike Rogalski
M: Lucas Betts
M:Kristian Johansen
M: Benny Heredia
F: Saul Hernandez
Man of the Match: Christian Sosnowski, Leyden
Officials: Mike Glisovic, Janusz Kieca, Leszek Bielko