By Jay Mwamba

Stal Mielec crushed Istria SC 7-1 in the opening round of the Manning Cup last Sunday as the Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s [CSL] top clubs came out with guns blazing in the State-wide competition.

Stal Mielec crushed Istria SC 7-1 in the opening round of the Manning Cup last Sunday as the Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s [CSL] top clubs came out with guns blazing in the State-wide competition.

There were also big wins for former holders Pancyprian Freedoms, Central Park Rangers and First Division rookie side Manhattan Celtic, while New York Croatia rallied from three goals down to triumph.

Stal were led by Bartosz Pietrzko and Darek Cioczek, who both notched a brace against Istria.

Robert Brozyna, Dominik Brodzinski and Jacek Lawniczak completed the rout against the Long Island Soccer Football League [LISFL] envoys.

The Poles advanced to the Round of 16, scheduled for November 15, against New York Hota [LISFL] who knocked out Manhattan Kickers 2-0 at Grand Street.

JULIO TREY
Pancyprian, whose three-year reign as Manning Cup holders was snapped by Polonia last season, tackle the ailing Poles again in the Round of 16 next month after an emphatic 6-0 romp over New York West Indies.

Predictably, Brazilian Julio Cesar Santos sparked the goal-fest with a hat trick. Ex-MLS player Jeff Matteo, Chris Megaloudis and Pete Halkidis also connected.

Polonia were on bye at the weekend and unless they quickly turn their poor league form around will be hard pressed to reprise last year’s stunning 3-0 upset of Pancyprian.

FIVE-STAR RANGERS
At the Metropolitan Oval, Central Park Rangers hammered Newfield 5-0 to book a date with the South Baisley-Irish Rovers winner in the next round.

Caesar Lopez and Yannick Reyering each scored twice with Kevin Lue accounting for the other goal.

“As the [result] suggests, we dominated this game and could have scored more,” said manager Yuval Lion.

CELTIC CRUISE
Manhattan Celtic thrashed former CSL members NYC Albanians 4-1 at Pier 40.

Down 1-0 at half time, an own goal sparked Celtic’s revival. Des Carney [two] and Anatoliy Taranenko then pulled the home side away.

“Solid defensive performance,” Pat Kelly summed up.

CROATIA RALLY
In an early candidate for come-back of the year, New York Croatia clawed out of a deep hole to beat West Babylon 6-4.

Trailing 3-0 after 45 minutes, the promotion side pumped in six unanswered goals on resumption to secure a pre-quarterfinal clash with Mineola Portuguese.

Scorers were Chris Karcz, Dave Siljanovski [two], the Loncar brothers Marko and Filip Loncar, and Marlon Pollard.

FREE PASS
Elsewhere in the Manning Cup, holders New York Greek-American/Atlas received a bye to the Round of 16 where they clash with the Lansdowne Bhoys/AC Glen Cove victors.

ATLAS OUSTED
Greek-Atlas’ reserves made an early exit from the D’Arpino Cup they won three years running prior to last season after bowing 2-1 to Lansdowne Bhoys at Tibbets Brook Park.

Atlas were down to ten men and holding their own when Kevin McGinney’s late free kick [85th] claimed a famous win for the Bronx Irish.

Atlas’ Gene Small had earlier pegged back Robbie O’Rowe’s header from a Tom Brady set-piece.

The Greeks staged a desperate late rally to force extra time after McGinney’s strike but were foiled by Lansdowne’s Man of the Match Pauric Byrne.

“He got in some timely tackles when we were under pressure,” said Aiden Corr. “He was exceptional.”

Lansdowne’s reward is a tie with the Oceanside-Turkish American winner in the Round of 16 on Nov. 15.

DEMOLITION DERBY
Central Park Rangers run off 9-0 winners against AC Glen Cove.

Shane Lennon [two], Alex Haring [two], Amos Zereoue, Jules Delmas, Danny Riso, Steve Murray and an own goal wrought the damage in the D’Arpino Cup tie.

RAMPANT FREEDOM
Pancyprian Freedoms ‘B’ were also in rampant form at St. John’s University. They demolished Mineola Portuguese 7-0 on goals by Petar [three], George Apostolidis [two], Tommy Vlahos and Panayiotis Despotopoulos.

Standing between the Pancyprian reserves and a quarterfinal berth are the South Shore/EMC survivor.

UKRAINIANS THROUGH
New York Ukrainians’ two teams both waited six weeks for their first win in any competition and both won last Sunday.

In the D’Arpino Cup, the reserves battled back from 3-1 down to tie Plain Edge 3-3, thanks to Christopher Norelli [two] and Lukasz Prawozik. They won the ensuing penalty shoot-out 5-4.

Ukrainians’ first team, meanwhile, cruised to an 8-0 romp over White Plains of the Eastern District Soccer League [EDSL] in the Flamhaft Cup.

David Alkasim [three], Adam Maliniak [two], Alex Broza, Mike Gjoni and Mekoal Nodjanosh tallied.

“It was easy. We could have won by more,” said coach Steve Kovalenko after his men’s first victory in all competitions this season.

NICE HAT TRICK
Oren Nhaissi accounted for half of Barnstonworth Rovers’ goals in a 6-2 drubbing of Newfield.  Ron Baskin, Nick Lynch and Yannick James got the others.

BRILLIANT BRANDON
Brandon Browley of Barnstonworth’s Metro Div. II team was equally prolific against Ridgewood’s reserves. His hat trick sent the Second Division side reeling out of the D’Arpino Cup 3-0.

CSL RIVALRY
BW Gottschee blanked SC Eintracht 3-0 in an all-CSL clash on wind-swept Randalls Island.

Kevin Vasquez [30th] and forward Milton Ospina [70th, 80th] scored.

DALGLISH DOUBLE
Rafael Dalglish struck twice in the Central Park Rangers Red reserves’ 4-3 squeaker over Maltese Dolphins.

Phil Lubwoksicz and Rich Enticitt also got on the score sheet.

Said CPR’s Paul E. Sewards, tongue in cheek: “The Dolphins looked at ease in the wet conditions but we remained afloat and never flipped out.”

Also advancing to the next round of the D’Arpino Cup were Korabi, 7-0 victors over Lindenhurst; Polonia, who beat South Jamaica 4-0 and Manhattan Celtic whose rivals, West Babylon, forfeited.

VVNA EXIT
VV Nieuw Amsterdam succumbed 3-2 on penalties to NY West Indies after a 2-2 tie.

Newcomers Nate Price and Ryan Teager connected for VVNA in a see-saw encounter on Randalls Island.

“It was a tough game to lose, especially after playing such a great second half to take the lead,” shrugged C.P. de Vera.

IBERIA, TOO…
CD Iberia’s second unit also bowed out of the D’Arpino Cup on spot kicks, 4-3 to Gotham FC.

Devin Roche nabbed both goals in the 2-all regulation time draw.

PARTIZANI SWARMED
Eros Canaj’s ice-breaker was the only bright spot for Partizani FC in a 5-1 defeat to Locust Valley.

SPORTING OUT
In other D’Arpino Cup action, Ed Romero’s Sporting Astoria slipped 1-0 to Integral Kings.

“Although we played very well we came up empty handed,” said Romero.

FURY FLAMEOUT
Rick Corbett had New York Fury’s goal in a 3-1 loss to Honduras in the Flamhaft Cup.

Ryan Overdevest had the assist and referee was a no-show.

KANDIA RELIEF
Also in the Flamhaft Cup, Kandia coach Colin Hemmings shed no tears after his side lost 2-0 to fellow Jamaican club Queens Liberty of the LISFL.

“[They] wanted it more,” Hemmings noted. “But that’s one less headache or distraction which the State cups present that we don’t have to deal with for the rest of the season.”

MARTH CUP
Sergio Magarik [two] and Thomas Hanselmann scored in SC Eintracht’s 3-0 defeat of Lindenhurst.

KICKING PRACTICE
Eintracht were joined in the next round by Manhattan Kickers who swept past Baldwin 4-1.

Randall Stekee [two], Jeffrey Saunders and Dylan Dodd — joint Man of the Match with sweeper Jeffrey Greenspan — were on target for Kickers.

Noel Kammermann and Paul Cowler had assists while Phillipe Regarde had a strong game in midfield alongside Dodd.

ALBION BOUNCED
Battling Albion FC lost 2-1 to Lake Grove despite Sam Carroll’s go-ahead goal.

Matt Patterson, Dave Costello and Odinga Bascom all came close after Grove netted the winner [75th].

“Sometimes the ball just doesn’t want to go in,” sighed Albion’s Jason Cyrus.

BRAVE CELTS
Manhattan Celtic’s nine-man side bravely held off Garden City for over 45 minutes before capitulating 5-1 in the cold rain at Red Hook.

Rob McCarthy [65th] stabbed in a David Seal corner for Celtic’s face-saver.

PLAYERS WANTED
Celtic’s Over-30s are still looking for players. Prospects are welcome to attend trials every Tuesday night at Pier 40. Contact ManhattanCeltic@gmail.com for more information.

SHAMROCK VETS SOUGHT
And if you’ve ever played for Shamrock, please contact Kevin McPartland at Kmcp@Earthlink.net.  McPartland is penning an article on the club which celebrates its 50th anniversary next year.