Samba II 5-3 NY Croatia

The Super Kids overcame a sluggish first half to cruise to another victory last night on Randall’s Island.

Samba failed to do much in the first half and didn’t play very well, but finally found a breakthrough as a Hameed Gado pass was deflected towards fellow ‘04 Dembo Soussoko who put the ball in off the bottom of the crossbar. Samba vice-captain William Caverly had a golden chance to push the lead to 2 nil after a well worked one-two with Gado saw him round the keeper, but was thwarted by a last ditch Croatian tackle on the goal line. It came back to bite the Samba youngsters as Croatia pulled the score even in the final minutes of the half.

The entry of central midfielder Alieu Barrie keyed everything for KidSuper in the second half. Cheick Kaba tee’d up Gado who rifled one home, but slack defending from the Samba backline allowed Croatia to again even the score only minutes later. Gado scored again after good team pressing saw him pick the ball up inside the box and half volley the ball into the upper 90. Kaba assisted Soussoko for his second after some beautiful dancing feet in the area, and Jaime Carrillo assisted Kaba who deserved to finally get on the scoresheet. The uncharacteristically porous KidSuper defense then allowed yet another goal as a consolation for the beaten Croats.

Events

1st Half:

KidSuper Samba AC II goal Dembo Soussoko, assist Hameed Gado

NY Croatia goal

2nd Half:

KidSuper Samba AC II goal Hameed Gado, assist Cheick Kaba

NY Croatia goal

KidSuper Samba AC II goal Hameed Gado (unassisted)

KidSuper Samba AC II goal Dembo Soussoko, assist Cheick Kaba

KidSuper Samba AC II goal Cheick Kaba, assist Jaime Carrillo

NY Croatia goal

KidSuper Samba AC II Roster

Starters: Edgar Aguilar, Ornette Sanchez, Mohamed Traore, Frankhel Ramos, Dembo Soussoko, Dustin Ramirez, Caetano Sanchez (C), Hameed Gado, Jaime Carrillo, William Caverly, Cheick Kaba

Substitutes: Alieu Barrie

Unused Substitutes:

KidSuper Samba AC II Starting XI vs. NY Croatia — March 20, 2022