Hellenic United posted a 3-1 Illinois State Cup semi final victory over CKS Warta on July 8th at Redmond Park in Bensenville. HU will now face Ho Chunk Brusfa in the final on a date to be determined.
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Hellenic United jumped out to an early lead in the 10th minute of play thanks to a goal from recently signed Sebastian Pilat. Pilat collected a through pass from Goran Guzina in Warta's penalty area and slotted the ball right inside the far post past an onrushing keeper. Despite the offside protestations of Warta's coach, who was on the opposite end of the field, the goal stood as Pilat was onside at the time the ball was played.
Warta equalized twenty minutes later when their left midfielder found space behind the right side of HU's defense and sent a beautiful cross in to the far post where a teammate headed the ball towards goal. HU's keeper David Barszczowski managed to get a hand on the header that bounced in front of the goal line, but the effort was in vain as the ball ultimately found the back netting.
Hellenic United took the lead for good, however, when Nermin Dautovic headed home a long throw in from Petro Czerniak in the 43rd minute. It was Dautovic's third goal of the season and Czerniak's first point in HU colors.
Hellenic United had numerous opportunities to put the game away in the second half but didn't manage to do so until two minutes into extra time. From the right back spot in HU's defensive third, Sammy Vanaria changed the point of attack with a fifty meter diagonal ball to left fullback Mark Holland. Holland found space down Warta's right flank, carried the ball half the length of the pitch to the end line and then sent it a perfect far post cross which an onrushing Zekail Gezafer blasted home for the final 1-3 scoreline.
HU coach Andy Sotiropoulos was pleased with the result. "This was a very good team we beat tonight" said Sotiropoulos. "Warta was much improved over the last time we played them. They gave us some trouble down the flanks and with a few set pieces. We made some adjustments and played a much better second half. When we put the ball on the ground and started playing our game, we created quite a few chances. They almost tied us in the last minute with a set piece, but to our credit, we came back and put it away. I thought we had at least three or four more chances that should have been put away. I was scared we were going to be punished for missing so many chances, as is often the case, but thank God Ziggy (Gezafer) came through in the end.
I thought Alen Malkoc played a fantastic match at sweeper, probably his best in an HU uniform. Everybody thinks of Alen as a playmaking midfielder, but what they forget is that he was a JUCO All American at Oakton College...as a sweeper. He was all the money back there.
Ziggy made a big difference in our play when he came on. He gave Warta's back four all kinds of problems and probably should have scored at least two more. He's relentless up top.
I also thought Alen Smjecanin played very well. He's a really tricky, deceptive player. It's no coincidence he's our leading scorer.
Sebastian (Pilat) had a monster second half. He was all over the field. That's the kind of effort I was expecting when we signed him.
It was also good to see recently signed Mark Holland make such an impact in his first game with us. The last goal came as a direct result of his fantastic effort. I was quite nervous watching him streak down the flank in the dying minutes with us clinging to a one goal lead, but hey, I guess it all worked out in the end."
Game Lineup:
Barszczowski - Nanic (Mahmutovic '85), Abraham, Czerniak (Holland '55), Malkoc-Vanaria, Dautovic, Pilat, Guzina (Gezafer '40) - Smjecanin, Balatsoukas.
Game Summary:
'10 Pilat (Guzina) 0-1
'43 Dautovic (Czerniak) 1-2
Balatsoukas 56' Nanic 77' Holland 82' '92 Gezafer (Holland) 1-3