Courtesy of Soccer Long Island Magazine

Queens, N.Y – “Back where we belong” said New York Pancyprian Freedoms Manager George Halkidis after their 1-0 win over Lansdowne Bhoys in the Eastern New York US Open Cup Qualifying Final. It was an appropriate statement for a club that has won the national competition three times in the past (1980, 1982, 1983), and the USASA Open Cup three more times (2008, 2010, 2011).

The Pancyprians entered the championship gamewith an injury-depleted lineup, but also on a run of form that has them in first place in the West Group of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s First Division and in the quarterfinals of the Eastern New York State Soccer Association’s Manning Cup. Included in their recent results are two wins over their long-standing rival, the New York Greek Americans.

Lansdowne, the tournament’s defending champion, entered the game in the midst of a season of mixed results and suffering some injuries of their own. A hard fought 1-1 draw in an early November league game between the clubs would naturally give the Bhoys all the confidence to believe that they could get the win and the opportunity to advance further in the competition than their 2014 run which ended in the regionals, leaving them short of their first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup berth.

Ultimately, the Pancyprians prevailed on a first half goal by Phil Bannister. Lansdowne committed a foul in their own half and the Pancyprians capitalized with a quick restart and goal for Bannister.

Lansdowne never backed down and applied constant pressure throughout the game. Pancyprian goalkeeper Rafael Diaz, who suited up for the Brooklyn Italians in the 2013 US Open Cup, was forced to make several key saves. His most impressive was a particularly athletic one off a header from Lansdowne defender Karsten Smith.

Despite the pressure from Lansdowne, the Pancyprians kept their composure throughout and created several good scoring chances off their own counter attacks. They applied pressure on the Lansdowne defense with their forward line of German veteran Yannick Reyering along with Julio Cesar dos Santos and Bannister.

Following the game, Halkidis was proud of his team.

“A very important victory against a tough opponent in tough weather conditions,” said Halkidis. “The team gave its all, and I believe overall the better team won. Despite our injuries, our players played a very physical game and kept our composure throughout the game.”

Freedoms general manager Martinos Kyprianou said, “This was a hard fought victory against a very tough opponent after a series of very tough games the last 10 days. Congratulations to our opponent, and to our fans for their vocal support.”

Paul Doherty from Lansdowne Bhoys said, “Congrats to the Pancyprians tonight in the Open Cup Final. May you guys go on and represent with style.”

USASA Region 1 cup commissioner Gus Xikis was in attendance and said, “Once again, the Pancyprians have put together a very strong and talented team. They played great tonight and will be a terrific representative of Eastern New York in the regional stages of the competition.”

With the win, the Freedoms advance to the 2015 USASA Region 1 Open Cup tournament. Barring a change in format, the champion of that tournament is expected to earn a spot in the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The regional tournament will place in early 2015, but no dates have been set.

NY Pancyprian-Freedoms 1:0 Lansdowne Bhoys

December 3, 2014 – Belson Stadium – Queens, N.Y.

ENY U.S. Open Cup Final

Scoring Summary:

NPF: Phil Bannister

NY Pancyprian-Freedoms: Diaz (GK), Chronis, Katsanos, Onisiforou, Spanos, Koutsounadis, Matteo, Palacio, Bannister, Dos Santos, Reyering

Substitutes Used: Vlahos

Lansdowne Bhoys: Danso (GK), Hunter, Russell, Smith, Wharf, McGlynn, Roche, Sylvester, Kavanagh, Memic, Thioune

Substitutes Used: Harb, Kaba, Purcell, Steele