Game Recap: UPSL Match Day 3, Sat May 6th 2023, 6 pm Kickoff – Coyer Field
Full Time: FCY New York 4 – 2 Greater Binghamton FC
On a sunny day at Coyer Field in Buffalo, New York, FCY New York (FCYNY) faced Greater Binghamton FC (GBFC) in their 3rd UPSL Premier game of the season. Approximately 100 spectators were in attendance, enjoying the pleasant weather.
Both teams entered the match in good form, with FCYNY coming off an exhilarating 2-2 draw against Chantilly Forever FC and GBFC riding a 2-game winning streak. The opening minutes saw both teams feeling each other out, with possession evenly distributed.
The first real chance came in the form of Moe Saif (#19) threading a through ball to Witman Hernandez (#17), whose low shot went just wide. Soon after, Cory Nash (#12) sent a long ball to Hernandez, who beat the advancing goalkeeper but saw his squared pass to Ali Mohammed (#9) who took a quality shot and rattled the top crossbar from 20 yards out.
GBFC retaliated quickly, with Coulibaly (#14) squandering a breakaway chance by sending his shot over the bar. In the 10th minute, FCYNY mishandled the ball in midfield, and GBFC’s #9 quickly seized the opportunity, unleashing a powerful shot from 25 yards out that flew past goalkeeper Andy Queen into the top corner, making it 1-0.
The ensuing moments are frantic. GBFC continues to press, and FCYNY goalkeeper Andy Queen is called into action to make a fantastic save. GBFC’s number 14, Coulibaly, carves out another chance, cutting the ball back in FCYNY’s box, but LB Jabreel Almontaser’s heroic intervention stops GBFC from doubling their lead. Disaster strikes for FCYNY when Cory Nash concedes a free kick just outside the penalty area. GBFC capitalizes on the set-piece, and after a scramble for the loose ball and several failed clearances, number 8 from GBFC fires from 20 yards out, doubling their lead to 2-0.
FCY New York began to increase the intensity, and their efforts nearly paid off when Witman Hernandez found Moe Saif on the left flank. Saif fired a shot, but it sailed just wide of the target.
The 45th minute saw an impressive combination play from FCY’s defense. Starting from right-back #13 Abdulgawi, the ball found its way to #10 Ali Alomari, who skillfully took on an shook off a defender and played a backheel pass to Hernandez. Hernandez then laid off the ball to #9 Ali Mohamed, who unfortunately missed the target by a whisker.
The second half saw GBFC start strongly, but a disallowed goal for FCYNY galvanized the team. In the 49th minute, Adam Saif (#22) appeared to have scored with a diving header following a free kick from 35 yards out, but the linesman raised his flag for offside, and the goal was disallowed.
Undeterred, FCYNY pressed on and finally found a breakthrough in the 52nd minute. A dazzling four-pass uninterrupted combination play, starting from Adam Saif who found Witman Hernandez who flicked it to # 10 Ali Alomari who did a nice cheeky flick over the GBFC defender then drove a low ball into a box finding Witman who snatched the ball and slotted it under the GK. GBFC 2 – FCYNY -1
FCYNY now playing more intense after the goal. In the 61st minute a chance to tie game was there when Moe Saif recovered the ball and took a nice shot from about 25 yds out that sailed just over the crossbar. GBFC immediately countered when Coulibaly meeting a teammate in the box who was unmarked for an easy tap-in but was slid defended by #2 Yousif Kowa saving the goal. Again, moments later and almost identical play by GBFC with another attempt on goal saved again by a nice stop by CB Yousif Kowa.
FCYNY continued to press. In the 52nd minute, Ali Alomari scored a superb equalizer after being set up by Hernandez. The latter played a precise through ball to Alomari, who controlled it with a deft flick over touch before curling a shot into the far corner of the net, making it 2-2.
The attack from FCYNY continued in the 74th minute when Ali Mohammed finding Witman Hernandez on a nice through ball but the GBFC GK advanced off the line and made the save.
In the 77th min, Witman H. found Ali Alomari on top of the 18 yd box who curled in a bending shot but was saved by the GBFC goalkeeper.
FCYNY then took the lead in the 78th minute, with Hernandez netting his second after a neat exchange with Ali Mohamed in the six-yard box. Hernandez cleverly evaded his marker and toe-poked the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 3-2.
More pressure from FCY in the 83rd min when Ali Alomari finds a streaking Mo Channer with a through, who was stopped by the GK. In the 83rd min a cross by Ali Shawish #7 lands at feet off substitute # 20 Diego Rivera who placed a nice shot but saved by GBFC goalkeeper. Another attempt at goal was a free kick by Ali Alomari in the 86th minute that missed target.
As the match entered its final stages, FCYNY created more opportunities to extend their lead but were denied by the GBFC goalkeeper. FCYNY continued to attack with Mo Channer and Diego Rivera (#20) both having opportunities on goal. In the 89th minute, Hernandez won a penalty after being clipped in the box while on a solo run down the flank. He stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, completing his hat-trick and securing a 4-2 victory for FCY New York.
The final score of the game is FCYNY 4, GBFC 2, and what a game it was. FCYNY showed great resilience in the second half, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to secure a victory.
FCY New York’s starting lineup featured Andy Queen, Jabreel Almontaser, Yousif Kowa, Adam Saif, Cory Nash, Ali Shawish, Mohammed Saif, Ali Mohammed, Ali Alomari, Pa Lu, and Witman Hernandez. Substitutes included Diego Rivera, Hussain Omar, Mo Channer, Roshanali Hamza, Bassam Harhara, Chris Inganji. Abdulgawi Albari.
Streaming Live Match by Joel Balthasar and commentary provided by Ramsey Abdulmalik:
FCY New York vs. Greater Binghamton FC I 6 p.m. – YouTube
