The Hellenic United Athletic Club (HUAC) Men's Open and Men's Over 30 teams enjoyed a great weekend of soccer at the Schwaben center in Palatine, Illinois.
The HUAC Men's Open team finished first in their group with 1 wins and 2 ties and lost in the quarter final 2-1.
Group Results
Green White SC 0:0 HUAC
HUAC 2:1 Schwaben AC (U-23)
Barnstonworth Rovers 2:2 HUAC
Quarter Final
HUAC 1:2 Jahbat
The HUAC Men's Over 30 team finished second in their group with 1 win and 2 ties and lost in the quarter final in penalties 5-4 (regular game 2-2).
Group Results
Schwaben AC 1:1 HUAC
HUAC 2:0 St. Louis
Wauconda Chiefs 2:2 HUAC
Quarter Final
HUAC 2:2 Lions (Lions advance in penalties 5-4)
"This was a very good weekend for us," said Men's Open team coach Andy Sotiropoulos. "I am really proud of both teams, and I see us getting stronger by the week."
Next up for both teams is the Green & White Tournament Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19.
Please visit our photo gallery for pictures.
HU Blue wins group, then falls in quarterfinals of Schwaben Tournament
HU Blue made a stunning debut at the prestigious Schwaben Tournament July 11-12, finishing atop their qualifying group which included Metropolitan League stalwart Green White, Schwaben U 23, and New York power Barnstonworth Rovers from the historic Cosmopolitan League. Hellenic United finished the first day with five points in three games to claim top spot in their qualifying group, while Green White also advanced as runner up with four points, edging out a powerful Rovers squad via head to head tiebreaker.
Unfortunately, HU was eliminated in the quarterfinals by fellow National League side Jahbat 2-1, despite leading 1-0 with less than ten minutes to play. Jahbat then lost to eventual tourney champion Wisla in the semifinals.
Game 1-HU v. Green White (0-0)
Neither side could manage to score in this hard fought 0-0 draw. It was the first ever meeting between these two sides, played in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.
Both sides had scoring opportunities, with Green White pressing early for a tally and Hellenic United turning it on in the second half. HU keeper Ogar Khoshaba, in his first match with the club, made an outstanding save on a point blank header in the second half. Two minutes from time, HU striker Danilo Acamovic missed a glorious opportunity to give his side the victory, as he dribbled two defenders in the penalty area and then sent a left footed rocket over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Game 2-HU v. Schwaben U23 (2-1)
HU came out firing on all cylinders in its second match, taking a 2-0 lead just ten minutes in with goals from Zekail Gezafer and Danilo Acamovic. Scwhaben pulled one back just before half time with a beautiful strike from outside the box, but never threatened again as Hellenic United held on for the 2-1 victory.
Game 3-HU v. Barnstonworth Rovers (2-2)
Hellenic United went into its last match of the first day needing only a tie to advance, while Barnstonworth could move on only with a win. In what many described as the most exciting match of the tourney, Hellenic United scored two minutes from time on a disputed penalty kick by captain Alen Malkoc to come away with a 2-2 tie, claiming top group spot and advancing to the next day's play.
"This was an incredible match against a simply outstanding side" said HU coach Andy Sotiropoulos. "I love playing these type of matches against these types of teams. It brings out the best in us. It also goes to show that anything can happen in tournaments like this. Barnstonworth, in my opinion, was just as good if not better than any team in the tourney, and they didn't even make it to the second round. I hope they come back next year and we get an opportunity to play them again. They're absolutely outstanding."
Barnstonworth got on the board in the first five minutes of the match with a beatiful far post strike from outside the box. Hellenic United came roaring back a few minutes later with a spectacular volley from Zekail Gezafer that found the upper ninety after a Nermin Dautovic feed. HU had not completely finished celebrating their tying goal when Barnstonworth made it 2-1 less than a minute later, again on a beautiful strike from distance.
The second half was all Hellenic United as coach Andy Sotiropoulos switched to a 3-4-3 in hopes of securing the tying goal. Spurred on by captain Alen Malkoc, HU created numerous chances, as Barnstonworth tried to hold on to their one goal lead. Five minutes from time, HU midfielder Mahir Mameledzija was brought down inside Rover's penalty area, but the referee signalled play on, much to the chagrin of HU's bench and its supporters. Three minutes later, HU defender Miralem Mahmutovic went down in the Rover penalty area attempting to challenge for a header and the referee signalled penalty kick. Barnstonworth's bench protested vehemently, but to no avail. Captain Alen Malkoc calmly buried the ensuing kick inside the right goalpost, giving HU its much needed 2-2 tie and sending the visitors from New York back home empty handed amidst joyous celebration from Hellenic United.
"I told the boys at halftime that if we were still losing 2-1 in the second half, I would give them a signal from the bench to go to a 3-4-3, with Milan Tica moving to left half and Nermin moving up to left wing" said Sotiropoulos. "We switched about halfway through the second half. I don't think that Barnstonworth was ready for it. It looked like they had a hard time adjusting, and they went back into a shell trying to preserve the one goal lead. I'm not sure I could blame them, though. Nonetheless, it was a great game. End to end action. Creative, attacking soccer from two very skilled sides. I'm sure this is the type of game fans love to see. I know I enjoyed it, even if we were two minutes from being eliminated. This was simply a case of our captain refusing to lose. Alen (Malkoc) kept making these Beckenbauer type runs forward from his sweeper position, constantly pressing the issue. That's what a leader is supposed to do, lead.......by word AND action. He simply would not let us lose."