Division 4O Round 3 Recaps
USM Alger 2-0 Grasshopper CZ
USM Alger got their first points of the season to climb out of last place with a 2-0 home win over Grasshopper CZ. Lakhdar Meziane opened the scoring in the 28th min, running onto a pass from Sandor Margitai before finishing past Grasshopper keeper Pablo Fuentes. The home side was in control from the start against an outmatched Grasshopper team, and 24 year old Algerian international Abdelaziz Smaïli put the game out of reach in the 76th min when he headed home a cross from Meziane to put the hosts up 2-0. The win was a big boost for Alger, after dropping its first two matches to identical 1-0 score lines, and they will be hoping to continue their new winning streak next round when they take on FC St. Gallen.
Once Caldas 0 – 1 FC St. Gallen
In a tightly contested battle for first place, visiting FC St. Gallen snuck out a 1-0 victory over Once Caldas thanks to a breakaway goal from midfielder Moris Abed. The former Israeli international sprinted onto a long ball from defender Mikael Forsell in the 66th min before calmly slotting past the keeper. It was an even match throughout, with chances hard to come by thanks to such strong defensive performances, but in the end, FC St. Gallen was able to get the goal they needed to move into first place in the division.
FC Banants 1 – 1 FK Vardar
It was a heated fixture at Kotayk Stadium as both FC Banants and FK Vardar finished with 10men in a 1-1 draw. 23-year-old Arsen Gspeian headed home a free kick from captain Aram Bergamyan in the 22nd to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at halftime. However, 15min after the break, veteran Pauleta managed to get to the end of a Dusan Bukna corner to share the points. Both teams were sent down to 10men early in the second half with Akap Nazarian receiving his second yellow for the hosts in the 61st min, after Tome Trajcov had been sent off in the 50th for his second yellow of the match.
KS Groclin Grodzisk Wielkopols 1 – 0 Atlante
Atlante’s early title hopes took a hit with a 1-0 loss at KS Groclin thanks to a 36th min goal from Kriszti Erdos. Despite having the best scoring front line through two rounds, Atlante was shut down by the hosts’ backline and rarely saw chances at goal. Veteran back Tomasz Siwek was particularly impressive anchoring the Groclin defense, at times seeming to single handedly cover the entire final third of the pitch. Atlante will be particularly disappointed in the performance of striker Charlie Cole, who after such a great start to the season was sent off in the 32nd min after committing a series of petty fouls. The result saw Groclin rise into a three-way tie for third, even with Atlante on 6 points.
FC Politechnica AEK 2 – 2 CDC Atletico Nacional
Visiting CDC Atletico came from behind twice, taking advantage of a Regis Eloi’s dismissal in the 79th min to earn a 2-2 draw against FC Politechnica. The hosts took the lead in the 24th min after a Nigel Watene header, but Atletico responded quickly and in the 27th min Korean striker Tae-Soo Yoo pulled his side level. American midfielder Rob Wise sent Politechnica into the break with a 2-1 lead thanks to his goal in the 36th min, being set through by an excellent long ball from defender Abraham Igles. However, the hosts were unable to hold on and after being sent down to 10min in the 79th min, Ruben Perez scored the equalizer for Atletico, tapping home a cross from Csaba Szabics.
San Jose Earthquakes 0 – 2 Banska Bystrica
Banska Bystrica put on a masterful performance away from home to take a 2-0 victory against San Jose behind Kjartan Svendsen’s second half double. Banska controlled the midfield with 58% possession and played exceptional at the back, never looking overly threated by the San Jose attack. After a scoreless first half, Svendsen played a quick 1-2 with forward Patrick Poncak before firing a low shot just inside the far post to give his side a 1-0 lead in the 50th min. Svendsen doubled that advantage in the 85th when he rose to meet a cross from Stefan Kakascik and headed home. The victory moved Banska Bystrica level with FC St. Gallen on 9 points for first place.
Player of Round 3
Kjartan Svendsen, Midfielder, Banska Bystrica, Match Rating 9
Thanks to Svendsen’s second half double, Banska Bystrica moved into a tie for first place after 3 rounds of play. The 30 year old Norwegian international is enjoying a fantastic start to the season, with 4 goals and 2 assists in just 5 games in all competitions, and with his current form, Banska look to be a real title threat.
_________________ Nick Kansas City
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