Thompson's 2nd lifts Flames past Knights in OT

'A TOUGH WIN'

Thompson's 2nd lifts Flames past Knights in OT
June 6, 2004

By Dylan Butler
BigAppleSoccer.com Assistant Editor

New Rochelle, N.Y. — Evaud Thompson went from hero to goat and back to hero again all in the span of 108 minutes in the Westchester Flames 3-2 double-overtime win over the Brooklyn Knights Sunday at City Park Stadium in New Rochelle.

The Westchester Flames striker scored a goal and set up another to help stake his team to a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 lead against the Brooklyn Knights of the Premier Development League.

But then the native of Jamaica missed a pair of breakaways late and Julio Nosta followed by ringing the ball off the post as it looked like the Pro Soccer League side was hoping to cruise down the stretch.

“It’s a tough win but it’s a win ,” Thompson said. “We came out and expected to beat this team easily based on the fact they are a PDL team and we are a (Pro Soccer League) team but they’re from New York too and they want to beat the Flames as well.”

After not scoring for 377 minutes, the Knights (2-5) exploded for two goals in the closing moments of the second half, the first a penalty kick by Andre Borges in the 87th minute. Richie Lesmes followed with a stunning equalizer, expertly floating the ball over Flames keeper Guillermo Valencia two minutes into stoppage time.

“Basically we lost, that’s the bottom line,” Lesmes said. “We’ve got to look forward to the next game and hopefully something will happen.”

For 18 minutes of overtime both teams exchanged chances at a breakneck pace and it appeared the Knights would put an end to a three-game losing streak. But Thompson ran onto a long ball by Tobon-Villa, cut inside of a Knights defender and beat keeper Billy Gatti low and inside the far post for the golden goal winner.

“You know what, he’s one of my best guys and he scored today,” said Flames coach Gus Skoufis. “I just have to accept what he gives me. He works hard and I appreciate that.”

Thompson didn’t exactly celebrate the goal. In fact he was the first one off the field and into the Flames locker room, distraught over the missed chances to put the game away in regulation time.

The Flames (3-2-2) capitalized on a Knights defensive miscue to take a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute. Defender Kristos Zisimatos headed Tobon-Villa’s free kick back towards his own goal where Chikudi Richardson pushed it to Thompson who knocked the ball into the net from eight yards out for his team-leading fifth goal of the year.

Another defensive miscue led to the Flames second goal when Gatti came off his line to head the ball but he knocked it back towards his own goal. Thompson raced into the box where he was dragged down by Paul Brooks from behind.

Brooks, who missed the Knights’ 5-0 loss at Reading after serving a one-game suspension, was sent off and referee Jorge Gonzalez issued a penalty kick. Tobon-Villa neatly chipped the ball past Gatti for his second goal of the year.

“Westchester has a lot of experience in the back and in the midfield and we showed our inexperience in overtime by diving in and trying to get around them,” said Knights coach Dan Fisher. “Emotionally we were on a high…but we just didn’t finish our opportunities.”

Westchester Flames
Guillermo Valencia; Laurence Piturro, Frank Gizzo, Mario Gallo, Danny Parkin; Roberto Esquivel, Fredy Nava (Kwami Richardson-63), Juan-Carlos Gomez (Julio Nosta-35), Alex Tobon-Villa; Chikudi Richardson (Ernest Inneh-83), Evaud Thompson.

Brooklyn Knights
Billy Gatti; Pablo Orantes, Rob Fucci, Paul Brooks, Kristos Zisimatos (Richie Lesmes-85); Hemir Niebles, Steve Reuter (Danny Kramer-65), Leo Ascencio (Chris Lefferts-75), Carlos Moncaleano (Carlos Ledesma-54); Andre Borges, Chris Megaloudis.

Scoring

Westchester — Evaud Thompson (Chikudi Richardson) 38
Westchester — Alex Tobon-Villa (penalty kick) 72
Brooklyn — Andre Borges (penalty kick) 87
Brooklyn — Richie Lesmes (Pablo Orantes) 90+
Westchester — Evaud Thompson (Alex Tobon-Villa) 108

Discipline

Westchester — Roberto Esquivel (yellow card) 40
Brooklyn — Rob Fucci (yellow card) 49
Brooklyn — Carlos Ledesma (yellow card) 57
Westchester — Mario Gallo (yellow card) 68
Brooklyn — Paul Brooks (red card) 70
Westchester — Evaud Thompson (yellow card) 76

Attendance — 157

06/07/2004