Written by: Michael Lewis
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Second-half substitute Ethan Dekel Daks scored in the 75th minute to snap a 1-1 tie and lifted the Long Island Rough Riders to a 2-1 USL League Two win over the Westchester Flames and into first place in the Metropolitan Division at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Wednesday night evening.
Daks, who replaced Justin McLean in the 61st minute, beat goalkeeper Alexander McLachlan from six yards to score his first goal of the season.
The Rough Riders (6-1-0, 18 points) climbed over the idle Hudson Valley Hammers (5-1-1, 16) to the top of the division as they recorded their 13th consecutive victory over Flames (3-2-1, 10), going back to 2015.
Long Island struck first in the 16th minute. Only seconds after McLachlan denied his shot, Jacob Woznicki solved the keeper with a point-blank header off Pau Ferrer’s spot-on cross from the right flank. It was Woznick’s fourth goal of the season.
Westchester’s Bruno Rosa tried to equalize with a bicycle kick in the box on the half, but keeper Eryk Dymora caught his shot without much trouble.
Beyond his goal, Woznicki enjoyed an active half, as he had two attempts saved by McLachlan and third that bounded off the right post in the 31st minute.
The Flames knotted things up at 1-1 in the 40th minute when Eric Danquah powered home a 25-yard shot into the upper left corner kick.
McLachlan continued to frustrate the hosts as he saved Danny D’Ippolito’s close-range shot from the right side off a cross from left back Kieran Chandler in the 53rd minute.
Defender Nigel Prince, on an overlapping lap run on the right flank, tried a sliding shot but McLachlan denied him in the 63rd minute.
Republic of Ireland Under-18 and U-19 international and Hofstra University freshman forward Lennon Gill made his Rough Riders debut, coming on in the …. minute.
Due to the heat, the game had two hydration breaks, one in each half.
The Rough Riders women played Pasiley Athletic in the second game of the doubleheader..
The men will return to action for a pair of home games next week. Long Island will host Staten Island Athletic Sporting Club on Wednesday, June 26 at 8 p.m. and then Cedar Stars Academy on Sunday, June 30 at 6 p.m. The Rough Riders will close out the regular season with two road matches. They play at Staten Island on Wednesday, July 3, the Flames on Saturday, July 6, and at Manhattan Soccer Club on Wednesday, July 10.