HARRISON, N.Y. — On a chilly and cloudy Sunday at Purchase College, the U18 and U16 teams of Empire United and Everton FC Westchester faced off in Development Academy action.
The U18 game provided a perfect example of how a team does not have to get off to a good start to come away with a result. The home team were the better side for the first 30 minutes of the game, dominating possession and creating more chances. The spell culminated with a header by Marco Torino off of an Oscar Pereira corner kick which sailed over the outstretched arm of the keeper into the net.
Less than five minutes later, however, Empire United won a free kick at the top of the box, which was hit low off the post and in for the equalizer. A shift in momentum occurred in favor of the Rochester club. Toyi Hakizimana entered the game at the start of the second half, and within ten minutes had rounded the keeper and scored. The Tanzania-born striker sealed the game with a sliding finish into the side netting with two minutes to go.
The U16 teams were locked in a stalemate after 45 minutes as well. Everton had the better of the chances in the first half, with a handful of clear-cut chances that they could and should have converted. The breakthrough came in the 60th minute, after playmaker Andy Lomeli slipped in Esan Makcic, and the Yonkers native converted the opportunity to break the deadlock. Eoin Keogh sealed the win with an empty net finish in stoppage time.
Here are the standouts from the day’s action:
