Uniondale, N.Y. – The Rough Riders win at home in USL League 2 action beating the Westchester Flames 4-0 at Mitchel Athletic Complex Sunday evening.
After a strong performance against the first-place FC Motown and 4-0 win over Manhattan SC, the Rough Riders needed points to stay in the race for the second playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division behind FC Motown and Ironbound SC. The Westchester Flames were looking for another strong performance after tying the second-place Ironbound SC 3-3 in their last match.
The game was fairly quiet for the first minutes of the match, though the Rough Riders dominated possession.
The Westchester Flames suffered a bad break when they had a penalty-kick called against them due to a handball in the box. Long Islander midfielder Francesco Tolaba stepped up to the spot and buried the shot to put the Rough Riders up 1-0. The Rough Riders’ scored their fourth penalty-kick of the season, with Tolaba getting his second penalty-kick goal, and fourth total goal of the season.
While Long Island dominated possession the rest of the half, but were unable to capitalize, so the score went 1-0 into half.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Long Island were pressuring hard, repeatedly attacking down the right flank. Long Island midfielder Tyler Morck received a pass in the box, took a shot on goal that was blocked, got possession back but buried his second shot in net moving the Rough Riders up to 2-0 in the 66th minute.
Just a few minutes later, the Rough Riders were attacking down the left flank. Forward Ayden Kokoszka took a shot on goal that was parried away by the keeper but rebounded right into the lap of substitute Oscar Quinn Pasin who scored in the 70th minute.
The Rough Riders would cap the night off with one more goal. Defender Nakai Antoine sent a long pass down the left side. Substitue Adam Watson received the ball in deep, and scored in the 76th minute, giving the Rough Riders a 4-0 lead that lasted the rest of the match.
With the win, the Rough Riders get a very important three points that ties them with Ironbound SC in second-place, for now, though Ironbound will play against FC Motown on Wednesday, June 24. The Westchester Flames remain in eighth place in the Metropolitan Division with the loss.
The Rough Riders next USL League 2 game is at home on Thursday, June 24 at 8:00 PM taking on the Cedar Stars at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y.
For tickets and more information on both the men’s and women’s teams, visit www.LIRoughRiders.com.