Samba II 2-2 (2-0p) Irish Rovers

The Super Kids hung tough and pulled off a late upset yesterday afternoon at Icahn Stadium to secure the team’s most important ever victory and advance to the first cup final in Samba history.

Samba were well outplayed in the first half and found themselves down 1-0 after ten minutes. A number of Samba players were having off days and failed to impress in the first forty five.

Rovers scored early on in the second period to go up 2nil, but the halftime formation change and second half substitutions turned Samba into the superior team. Legendary Samba veteran player coach Jonathan Jackson scored an unbelievable direct free kick in the seventy third minute to claw a goal back for KidSuper. Shortly after, talismanic player coach Caetano Sanchez had a penalty saved in the 80th minute (won by Naim Bakere), before burying one at the second attempt in the 81st after Amadou Fofana was brought down in the box immediately after the previous penalty. By this point in the game the KidSuper youngsters had ascended in confidence and seemed likely to snatch a victory.

They did just that in the penalty shootout as young goalkeeper Ronaldo Fatolou played hero and showcased his prodigious talent, saving 3 of the 4 Rovers attempts and propelling Samba II into the Flamhaft Cup final.

Events

1st Half:

NY Irish Rovers goal

2nd Half:

NY Irish Rovers goal

73’ KidSuper Samba AC II goal Jonathan Jackson (unassisted)

80’ Caetano Sanchez missed penalty

81’ KidSuper Samba AC goal Caetano Sanchez (penalty), assist Amadou Fofana

Penalties:

NY Irish Rovers miss (0-0)

Ismael Sorogo goal (1-0)

NY Irish Rovers miss (1-0)

Hameed Gado goal (2-0)

NY Irish Rovers miss (2-0)

Ronaldo Fatolou miss (2-0)

NY Irish Rovers miss (2-0)

KidSuper Samba AC II Roster

Starters: Ronaldo Fatolou, Jehon Balidemaj, Matthew Mummert (C), Frankhel Ramos, Dembo Soussoko, Tommy Villena, Caetano Sanchez, Gerson Gonzalez, Dustin Ramirez, Jonathan Jackson, Amadou Fofana

Substitutes: Ismael Sorogo, Naim Bakere, Hameed Gado, Ismaila Sy, Jaime Carrillo

Unused Substitutes: Salu Mohammed, Yarlen Guity

KidSuper Samba AC II Starting XI vs. NY Irish Rovers — April 23, 2023