Nick Penesis and Giuseppe Rivetti scored a pair each as HUAC O30 strolled to a 5-2 win over last season's champions Arabian F.C. on Tuesday (06/16/09). Last year's champions are but a ghost of the team that made them such a formidable side last season.
Under heavy rain, and almost a waterlogged pitch, both sides fielded 9 players each at the start of the game as the ref's decision to hold the game in such weather caught everyone by surprise. HUAC dominated early possession and took a deserved lead 8 minutes into the game.
Nick Penesis galloped down the left and after picking the goalkeeper out of position send in a 40 yard shot that send the ball high into the net to make the score 1-0. The HUAC's midfielder's second came ten minutes later when he unleashed another left-foot shot from just outside the penalty box that had too much pace for the Arabian FC goalkeeper.
HUAC got comfortable their 2-0 lead to only be brought back to reality after Arabian FC scored a thunderous goal from about 50 yards out to make the score 2-1.
The second half found the teams fielding 11 players for HUAC and 10 for Arabian FC. Play continued much at the same pace as the players seemed to play water-polo instead of soccer.
In the 50th minute HUAC midfielder Terry Cirbo delivered a free-kick to an on-coming Jeffrey Samels who chested the ball into the net to make the score 3-1.
Arabian FC got back on the board once more in the 55th minute when a scrappy encounter in close quarters produced a short range goal for the champions to close the gap to 3-2.
Giuseppe Rivetti struck twice in the span of ten minutes to complete the rout and the win for HUAC for the final score of 5-2. In both instances Rivetti outran past Arabian FC's defenders to send the ball resting in the back of the net.
It is HUAC's third straight victory since a 2-1 loss opener to Jahbat FC earlier this season.
Line Up: Zarafonitis (GK), Velios, Bassias, B. Javaras, Stavrou, A. Javaras, Cirbo, Penesis, Mamalis, Rivetti, Arsenis.
Subs: Papakostas, Samels
Game Summary
1:0 Nick Penesis 8' 2:0 Nick Penesis 18' 3:1 Jeff Samels 50' 4:2 Giuseppe Rivetti 70' 5:2 Giuseppe Rivetti 78'