Trailing by a goal for most of the first half, Uniondale boys’ soccer overwhelmed Freeport in the late stages to complete a 2-1 comeback victory last Friday.
Forward Alberto Pineda scored the go-ahead goal with 11 minutes remaining to keep the Knights atop the Conference AAA standings with a 6-1-1 record.
“It was really lucky but we always needed a goal,” Pineda said. “It wasn’t just me, it was the whole team. Fighting for everything, going for everything.”
Uniondale was in control of the match from the start, producing multiple scoring opportunities without capitalizing early in the first half. Freeport, now 4-4-1, had to rely on its defense and counter-attack, which led to a prime opportunity when sophomore forward Jesus Sorto drew a penalty with 23 minutes to go until halftime.
On the Red Devils’ first attempt taken by midfielder Kevin Leon, Uniondale goalkeeper Herley Jean appeared to make an outstanding save but was ruled to have left the line early. Sorto stepped in to take the shot himself on the second attempt and slipped it just past Jean’s fingers on the right side to give Freeport a 1-0 lead.
The Knights went right back on the attack, relentlessly prodding in search of an equalizing chance. Freeport goalkeeper Kleybersson Corado remained stout all game, limiting Uniondale chances and flipping the field with booming clearance kicks. But with time nearly expiring at the end of the half, a miscue behind the goalkeeper allowed Uniondale’s Anthony Alvaranga to steal the ball and knock in an easy score to tie the game 1-1.
If the Red Devils could have hung on for another minute before the first buzzer sounded, they might have sustained enough momentum to hold off the Knights in the second half. But with the score even exiting halftime, Uniondale coach Nelson Cohen made the approach abundantly clear for his players.
“Besides scoring goals, we have to show the grit,” Cohen said. “By the end, 26 players matter in the match, because the energy from the bench to the field is what really transpired. Yes, we scored goals, the passing was good, the possession was good. But more importantly, we showed a lot of grit, and I think that was the essence of the victory.”
After knocking on the doors for the better part of the second half, Pineda finally got his opportunity directly in front of the goal. His header hit the crossbar and careened into the back of the net, sending a small army of Uniondale players in tight celebratory formation behind their long-awaited scorer.
Freeport desperately tried to rally in the closing minutes but could not find a chance to equalize the score. Red Devils coach Craig Klasson described the game as a learning experience for his developing players.
“We played hard, and this is a team that we circle when we get the schedule,” Klasson said. “This season, we just didn’t play our best game.”
Since losing to Farmingdale in its first game, Uniondale has not been defeated despite running into several stubborn opponents. In four straight games decided by one goal or less, the Knights have earned three victories and one draw.
