After their previous week's match against Wisla was canceled due to severe weather, the Hellenic United Over 30 team took to the pitch for their first game of the season against Jahbat this past Saturday afternoon at the College of Dupage-the club's home field. Despite clear and sunny skies, a strong wind blew across the width of the field giving advantage to neither team. As the game started, both sides struggled for possession on the wet and unbalanced pitch. Hellenic was first to settle down and gain control, maintaining possession across the field and coming within striking distance of Jahbat's goal on several occasions. Despite their best efforts Hellenic's strikers and attacking midfielders were repeatedly frustrated by Jahbat's defense and unable to test their opponent's keeper. Hellenic's dominance continued for much of the half as solid defending by the team's back four limited Jahbat's strikers to a single shot on goal that was quickly brought under control by the team's keeper. The teams luck soon changed as the ball was carried up along the left edge of the field. Jahbat's failure to adjust left the opposite side of the pitch wide open as left midfielder, Nick Penesis sent a long ball across to the right side to wide-open defender Dejan Kralj who received the ball unchallenged. Following a single touch, Kralj sent the ball from 35 yards out over the withdrawn keeper's head into the upper right corner of the goal. Despite getting a glove on the ball and deflecting it into the upper post, the ball fell over the line, giving Hellenic the lead after 30 plus minutes of play. Although Hellenic maintained possession, both teams were unable to create any real chances on goal before the half came to a close with Hellenic's lone goal the difference.
As the whistle blew the start of the second half, both teams hit the pitch once again struggling to gain advantage. Despite Hellenic maintaining quality possession throughout the game, Jahbat increased their attack, moving the ball well through the middle of the field as Hellenic's defense found themselves on their heels for the first time in the game. The match quickly devolved into a brutal contest as players from both teams were frequently sent headfirst to the pitch as multiple yellows were issued throughout the game. On one such occasion, a foul outside of Hellenic's eighteen proved costly as the Jahbat was awarded a direct kick on the right corner of the box. Hellenic's keeper was unable to get to the well-placed ball that curved around the defensive wall and into the upper 90 of the far post, giving Jahbat the equalizer around the 65th minute of play.
Hellenic quickly responded, forcing the action back onto Jahbat's half of the field as the two teams attacked and counterattacked for the remainder of the game. Hellenic seemed to gain the upper hand as a ball passed from the left made its way behind the Jahbat defense as forward Dimitri Pagonis received the ball a cleanly beat the keeper, only to have the goal taken back as the referee whistled offsides. The seesaw battle continued until the final five minutes of the game when a Jahbat counterattack caught Hellenic's back line out of position with two defenders in pursuit. Unable to reach the Jahbat's breakaway players, Hellenic's goalie rushed off of his line to meet the attacking forward as the Jahbat striker curved the ball around the goalie and into the back of the net, giving them a 2-1 lead. Despite the goal, Hellenic continued to attack and threaten as the clock widened down to the final minutes of play. Unfortunately, Hellenic was unable to equalize before the games end, giving them their first loss of the season.
Starting Lineup:
Papakostas, Kralj, Bassias, Velios, Panagakis, Hernandez, Cirbo, Ninis, A.Javaras, Kosmas, Pagonis --- B.Javaras, Stavrou, Penesis, Arsenis
Goal Summary:
1 : 1 Dejan Kralj (Nick Peneis) 32'