The Greek Americans hosted 5th place KidSuper Samba at Icahn Stadium at Randalls Island. The Greek Americans walked away with a confident 6-0 win to knock Samba down to 6th place and secure a 3rd place standing for the winter break. The Greek Americans are now tied on points with the Pancyprians at 24 points in the standings, each with 8 wins and 2 loses. One of the Greek American loses were to the Pancyprians. The Greek Americans top the Metropolitan Conference with most goals for and best goal differential in the standings.

The weather was in the 20s that night with rain turning to snow and visibility not 100%. James Greco put the Greeks on the board in the 15th minute with a shot top of the 18, bouncing off the Sambas goalies hands and rolling in. Hendrick Hebberker then received the ball in the 40th, passing to the penalty line where Rodrigo Rocca was left open, back to Hendrick, back to Rocca, and finally placed in goal in the 40th minute. In the 56th minute a pass from Perinelli to Hebbeker was all that was needed for Hebbeker to score his 3rd goal in 2 games for the Greeks. Just seconds later Rocca won the ball right at the kick off and went 1 on 1, scoring a 4th for the Greeks. In the 81st Hebbeker was taken down in the box, gaining a penalty for the Greeks. Rodrigo Rocca placed it in for a 5th goal. In the final moments of the match Hebbeker ripped one from top the box to give the Greeks the 6^th and final goal of the match. Moments before the final whistle another penalty was conceded for the Greeks, Rocca stepped up but missed as he shot far left outside the post.

The Greek Americans beat Zum Schneider 7-3

The Greek Americans travelled to Roosevelt Island Thursday December 8 to face Zum Schneider in game 9 of the EPSL. The match was initially scheduled to be played December 18 but was pushed forward to midweek to avoid the World Cup Finals. This match welcomed Hendrick Hebbeker from Germany. He is a senior at Hofstra University and NCAA 2022 champion.

The Greeks won a penalty in the 2nd minute of the match to be scored by Rodrigo Rocca. In the 19th minute of the match, Francesco Perinelli dribbled past Zum centers and passed to Rodrigo Rocca at the top of Zums’ 18. Facing away from Zums’ goal, Rodriggo cut left and curled an upper 90 goal for 2-0.

A foul outside the Greeks’ 18 yard line in the 32nd minute gave Tomas Gomes of Zum Schneider the chance to score a direct kick and tie Greek Americans’ Matthew Vowinkel at 9 goals for the season for the golden boot race.

Only three minutes later in the 35th minute Ibrahima (Kaloo) Keita took a shot in the box from a corner kick to put the Greeks ahead at 3-1. Zum then did the same off a corner in the 44th to make it 4-2.

Seconds later in the last play of the half, Ibrahima received a through ball from Caorsi and put the Greeks at a comfortable 4-2 lead at half time.

In the 58th minute Hendrik Hebbeker scored his first goal for the Greeks with a pass from left field and placing it around Zums’ goalie. 5-2. Three minutes later in the 61st minute Hendrik received another pass from midfield. He dribbled three steps and shot a rocket far right: Now 6-2.

Francesco Perinelli scored the 7th and last goal as he was sent a long ball from George Omalley on defense and placed it around Zums’ goalie.

Zum eventually scored a 3rd  time from outside the 18 and the match ended 7-3 for the Greeks.

Zum Scheider, who were just 2 points behind the Greek Americans in the standings now fall back 5 points to remain in 4th. Lansdowne stand in 1st with 22 points. Trailed by the Pancyprians and the Greek Americans, both with 21 points (7 wins, 2 losses each). The Pancyprians top the Greeks head to head and hold 2nd place for now until they meet again in the Spring. There is one game is left this Sunday for all clubs which can perhaps put the Greeks in 1st if Lansdowne and Pancyprians both don’t get wins as they travel to distant matches.

Source: Greek American