Vermont Green FC Dominates Albany Rush
Les Verts remain at top of Northeast Division.
Vermont Green FC headed to Schenectady, NY to take on Albany Rush for a Wednesday evening match and the Green walked away victorious with a 4-1 win.
Niklas Herceg started in goal behind the backline of Luca Costabile, Victor Akoum, Rui Aoki, and Amoni Thomas. Diego Rived and Joseph Picotto served as defensive midfielders behind Marcel Papp playing as the No. 10.
Stephane Njike and Enzo Dovlo were on the wings while Tyler Trimnal started up top.
Both teams got off to a roaring start with Njike registering the first shot a couple minutes into the match but Albany nearly scored on the counter with a header going just wide of net in the fifth minute.
The Green earned a penalty in the 6th minute with Papp being taken down in the box. Trimnal took the penalty and the Clemson forward scored the first goal of the match in the 7th minute.
Trimnal and Njike nearly connected with the winger making a far post run that the striker spotted but Njike’s shot was blocked and the Green failed to take advantage of the ensuing corner in the 32nd minute.
Unfortunately for Vermont, in the 42nd minute, Albany found the back of the net to level the score before the end of the first half. While the Green dominated for the majority of the first half, the momentarily lapses cost them the lead.
Head coach Chris Taylor made one change before half as Julien Le Bourdoulous replaced Picotto in the midfield. Once the half began, Vermont continued to control the match and in the 64th minute, Aoki rose above all and headed home a free kick from Le Bourdoulous to regain the lead. Just a minute later, the Green would extend its lead with a goal courtesy of Zach Zengue who replaced Papp in the 63rd minute.
Vermont would make more changes in the 75th minute as Dovlo and Trimnal came off for Jacob Labovitz and Mohammed Ibrahim. The veteran striker would make an impact as Njike provided beautiful service to Labovitz who sealed the victory with a goal of his own in the 82nd minute. A few minutes later, Njike would be subbed off and replaced by Rommee Jaridly.
With the 4-1 win, the Green continue to be at the top of the Northwast Division, just ahead of Western Mass Pioneers.