USL Match Report
Saturday, November 21, 2009
LAND O’LAKES, FLORIDA – New York Magic striker Karamba Janneh willed his team closer to a berth in semifinals with a one goal, one assist performance in the team’s 2-2 draw with Alpharetta United today at Land O’Lakes Recreation Center north of Tampa, Florida. Alpharetta’s Josh Boone also scored a goal and assisted on another in the draw.
Two times the Group A South Atlantic Champion of the Super Y-League had a one goal lead on theMid Atlantic Champion New York Magic, only to see Janneh net a first-half penalty kick and then assist on a second half lob to the back post to lock the game at 2-2.
“Number 10 [Karamba Janneh] was very quick,” said Alpharetta United Head Coach Sergi Podgornyi. “We had one problem today and he was it.”
“Both teams we have played at the Super Y-League North American Finals were very good,” added Podgornyi. “The Magic were very tight through the middle and in the back. TSF was not as fast in the middle of the field, but were very quick up front.”
Following a feeling-out process that took roughly 20 minutes of overzealous midfield play, Alpharetta took advantage of a botched clearance by the Magic. Josh Boone picked up the loose ball in the area and fired a shot by New York goalkeeper, Jean Carlo Perez for a 1-0 Alpharetta lead.
“This group of players has been together for about 13 months now,” said New York Magic Head Coach Shawn Hart. “We are trying to become one of the top-ranked teams in the nation, but to do that we need to play teams like Alpharetta and learn from our mistakes. Everyone here is so technically gifted that you cannot make mistakes.”
After settling down, New York applied some pressure in their offensive third of the field and Yankuba Janneh intercepted a pass-back to Alpharetta goalkeeper, Ron Ringwall. The pair collied on the play resulting in a kick from the mark for New York, which was converted by Karamba Janneh just after Yankuba Janneh left for the half with an injury.
Coming out of the half tied 1-1, Alpharetta’s Josh Boone played a ball wide to Eric Carrion. New York’s Perez charged off his line to smother Carrion’s shot, but the attacking player slid a shot past Perez for a 2-1 lead.
With three Alpharetta defenders crowding Karamba Janneh throughout the match, space was difficult to come by, but after using every move in the book, Janneh discovered some unoccupied territory near the right corner flag. Finally in a one-on-one situation, Janneh simply stood on the ball for what seemed like minutes before playing a calm looping ball to the far post where Danny Miller nodded home the tying goal.
“What amazes me about Karamba is his ability to play as technically as his does at the speed that he does,” said Hart. “I have coached a lot of fast players and a lot of skilled players. But I have never coached someone who could keep the ball at their feet at that pace. He is fun to watch and I am glad we do not have to defend against him.”
The 2-2 draw between Alpharetta United and the New York Magic further complicates perhaps the most parity-stricken group in the entire 138 team tournament. Following two days of stiff U16 boys competition – the Magic, Chicago Fire and Alpharetta, who currently leads the grouping with four points, are all still vying for one spot in the semifinals.
Cited from the USL website: http://supery.uslsoccer.com/home/383588.html
