American Soccer Club New York Scores Late to Earn 2-2 Draw with New Haven United FC
Ezequiel Palomeque’s second goal of the match comes in 95th minute
Defender Ezequiel Palomeque scored his second goal of the match with just seconds remaining in stoppage time as American Soccer Club New York played to a 2-2 draw with New Haven United FC at Mitchel Athletic Complex. The goal came after a lengthy weather delay following New Haven’s go-ahead tally with 48 seconds remaining in regulation time.
“The coaches and I are very proud of the boys’ efforts tonight,” said Fighting Tomcats head coach John Fitzgerald. “Though we didn’t get the full result, the fact that we went down a man early in the match, then took the lead while being down, and had the wherewithal to stick with it, even when we were trailing at the very end. They showed a special desire and focus to stick with the game plan and were able to dig down and put in a little extra, which says volumes about everyone’s contribution.”
American Soccer Club New York midfielder Jose Mejia was issued a red card in the eleventh minute forcing the Fighting Tomcats to play a man down for the remainder of the match. Despite playing with just ten players, the Fighting Tomcats (1-2-2) jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Palomeque’s first goal of the match, a header in the 27th minute.
The score remained 1-0 American Soccer Club New York until Maquan Aldridge leveled the match for New Haven (3-1-1) with a goal in the 80th minute. In the 88th minute, Fighting Tomcats goaltender Aidan Ganun kept the score even when he made a terrific point-blank save on New Haven defender Guilherme Meira.
As the stormy weather approached Mitchel Athletic Complex, Johan Bermudez gave New Haven a 2-1 lead with a goal in the 89th minute. Before American Soccer Club New York could get the ball kicked off, rain and wind forced both teams back to the locker rooms to wait out a weather delay.
After a long night at work, the Fighting Tomcats earned themselves their second draw of the season.
“That one definitely feels like a win,” said midfielder and captain Sean Fitzgerald. “EZ (Palomeque) came up big, in all terms because he is a big guy. That was huge.”
The next match for the Fighting Tomcats will be on Saturday, June 13 when they host Santa Cruz FC at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm, and tickets are available at www.ascnewyork.com.
Photo Credit: Kenny Rosado/Storyline Sports/American Soccer Club New York
