Ocean City needed all 90 minutes to beat FA Euro on Wednesday night in NYC, gaining three critical road points in exhilarating fashion. 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Brooklyn, NY - Skipper Shawn McLaws, and striker Birnis Adames steered the Nor’easters to a 2-2 first-half stalemate, and it was Man of the Match Mitch Grotti who scored a clutch second-half goal for the second straight game to put Ocean City on top for good.

The Nor’easters jumped to an early lead just 9 minutes into Wednesday’s match, capitalizing on a deadly through-ball from Mitch Grotti that beat all but one Euro defender, who took Birnis Adames down in the box. Nor’easter captain Shawn McLaws stepped up to his second penalty kick in as many games and slotted the shot home, giving Ocean City a 1-0 lead.

Both sides traded goals twice in the first 25 minutes of the first half, and just two minutes would pass after McLaws’ PK before FA Euro equalized on a brilliant individual effort from forward Jason Lampkin. Five minutes later, in the 16^th minute, left back Mitch Lurie made a perfectly-timed overlapping run and delivered a pinpoint pass to Birnis Adames who beat Euro keeper Fabio Hernandez for the Nor’easter’s second goal. Ocean City could only hold their 2-1 lead for 8 minutes, as Euro forward Alagie Lampkin knotted the match at two in the 24^th minute. The first half would end 2-2 with the squads mustering 4 shots and 2 saves apiece.

The Nor’easters played with an impressive sense of urgency from the opening whistle of the second half. In the half’s first five minutes, Aaron Dennis juked his way past the defense into a one-on-one with the keeper, and Michele Pataia threaded the needle to Adames but both scoring opportunities were thwarted by Fabio Hernandez.

After the 24^th minute, the Euro never threatened to score on a Nor’easter back line that played with organization and discipline after conceding those two early goals. Despite outshooting Ocean City 7-5 in the second half, FA Euro only forced Nor’easter keeper Borja Angoitia to make one, routine save.

Man of the Match Mitch Grotti proved to be the difference for Ocean City in the final 45 minutes. Associate Head Coach Kevin Nuss explained that Mitch’s, “work rate attacking and defending was incredible.” Mitch’s outstanding effort culminated with a crucial, 79^th minute, game-winning goal, his second score in the last two matches for the Nor’easters.

Ocean City won the match 3-2 thanks to a solid 2^nd half effort from the back line, first-half goals from Shawn McLaws and Birnis Adames, and the game-winner from Mitch Grotti with the Nor’easters backs against the wall in a must-win scenario.

The Storm host archrival Reading United on Retro Night; Friday at Carey Stadium at 7pm. The storm is coming! 

Official Match Information ** PDL **   Ocean City Nor'easters   at   F.A. Euro   3:2   Aviator Sports Center Wednesday, July 9, 2014 7:00 pm EDT   Weather: Clear   Attendance: 90   Summary: OC: Shawn McLaws 9 FA: Jason Lampkin 11 OC: Birnis Adames 16 FA: Alagie Janneh 24 OC: Mitch Grotti 79 Cautions FA: Dominik Falanga 61 FA: Mark Weitsman 73 OC: Ambry Moss 43 FA: Frank Tweneboa 61 OC: Borja Angoitia 90 Ejections Referees: Steve Danisi, Victor Vazquez, Emmanuel Tadonkeng, Matthew Schwartz     Ocean City Nor'easters Pos Jer Name Min G A S F M 7 Pataia, Michele 76 - - - - M 2 Tweneboa, Frank 90 - - - 4 M 16 Umar, Abdul "Oscar" 90 - - - 1 D 11 Lurie, Mitchell 90 - - - - D 20 McLaws, Shawn 90 1 - 2 2 D 3 Moss, Ambry 90 - - - 4 D 24 Taphorn, Matthew 90 - - - - F 19 Adames, Birnis 90 1 - 3 - F 12 Dennis, Aaron 66 - - 1 1 F 9 Grotti, Mitchell 90 1 - 3 - GK 13 Fogarty, John 45 - - - - Substitutes M 23 Granese, Giancarlo - - - - - M 18 Navarro, Francois 14 - - - - D 4 Bellamy, Tyler - - - - - D 21 Chapman, Glenroy "Junior" 34 - - - - D 14 Hyde, Jhamie - - - - - F 8 Simms, Javoni - - - - - GK 1 Angoitia, Borja 45 - - - - F.A. Euro Pos Jer Name Min G A S F M 4 Huerfano, Andres 90 - - - 2 M 10 Love, Jacob Samuel 84 - - 2 1 M 17 Marcu, Adam 66 - - - - M 27 Pardo, David 54 - - - 1 M 7 Ramos, Jovani 90 - - - 1 M 8 Watkin, Jonathon 90 - - - 3 D 6 Falanga, Dominick 90 - - - - D 2 Marcu, Benjamin 90 - - - - F 9 Janneh, Alagie 90 1 - 4 - F 12 Lampkin, Jason 90 1 - 5 - GK 1 Hernandez, Fabio 90 - - - - Substitutes M 18 Amvrosiatos, Dennis 24 - - - - M 11 Rocco, Shane 6 - - - - D 14 Balsamo, Marco - - - - - D 23 Weitsman, Mark 36 - - - - F 22 Persampieri, Alessandro - - - - - GK 30 Goldberg, Brian - - - - - Ocean City Nor'easters Pos Jer Name GKM GA GKW GKL GKT SO Saves SHFC GK 13 Fogarty, John 45 2       4 2   Substitutes GK 1 Angoitia, Borja 45 -       1 1   F.A. Euro Pos Jer Name GKM GA GKW GKL GKT SO Saves SHFC GK 1 Hernandez, Fabio 90 3       6 3   Substitutes GK 30 Goldberg, Brian - - - - - - - -   Team Statistics Goals Half1 Half2 Final Ocean City Nor'easters 2 1 3 F.A. Euro 2 0 2 Shots Half1 Half2 Final Ocean City Nor'easters 4 5 9 F.A. Euro 4 7 11 Saves Half1 Half2 Final Ocean City Nor'easters 2 1 3 F.A. Euro 2 1 3 Fouls Half1 Half2 Final Ocean City Nor'easters 6 6 12 F.A. Euro 3 5 8 Offsides Half1 Half2 Final Ocean City Nor'easters 7 3 10 F.A. Euro 1 6 7 Corners Half1 Half2 Final Ocean City Nor'easters 7 3 10 F.A. Euro 2 1 3