Last Sunday saw the second consecutive season of a Byki derby match in the NSL and the Red Team came out strong from the opening whistle, parlaying an early lead into a 4:1 victory over the Blue Team at Conkey Forest Preserve. The victory, coupled with FK Republika Srpska’s defeat later in the day, assured the Red Team’s place in the Championship Section for the second phase of the competition.

The whole derby concept is a new one for everyone in the club. Last year’s match was loaded with tension and rancor, which underlined the somewhat adversarial relationship between the former A and B Teams. With both teams again competing in the 1st Division, Joe Gambino assumed the title of head coach and was assisted in management of the individual teams by Tony Gallo, Russ Haynes, Conor Casey and Matt Domek. As coach of all Senior players, it became easier for Gambino to get everyone working on the same page.

The change in approach has allowed Gambino to slot players into the team where they can be the most effective. Rather than having Byki teams competing to determine where a new player will be signed, Gambino has been calling the shots.

Sunday’s match offered a contrast in fortunes for the two Byki teams. After losing their first two matches of the season, the Red Team went on to lose just one match in their next seven, vaulting them into the top six. The Blue Team started strongly with a powerful offense, but have been continually let down by defensive mistakes. Their only two wins of the season have come through opponents’ forfeits.

The Reds wasted no time in probing the Blue defense for weaknesses. They went 1:0 up inside of a minute of the opening kickoff when Jeff Samp’s quick pass released Josh Taylor onto a jaunt on the left side of the box. He blasted a shot past emergency Blue goalkeeper Tomasz Klimaszewski to give the Reds the lead. “We played just like a team that hadn’t had a game in six weeks,” noted Andy Lane.

The Blues tried to reply when Sergio Benavides hustled to win a loose ball in the eighth minute and rumbled past Casey into the penalty area. Casey recovered nicely and blocked Benavides’ angled shot.

It was one of the rare attacking forays by the Blues in the first half. The Reds tried to put pressure on wherever they could, forcing the Blues to play long passes, rather than control the ball. The long balls were easy pickings for Reds’ back four and allowed the Reds to maintain possession and keep the Blues on the back foot.

The Blues did well to keep their defensive shape, but the relentless attacking was taking its toll. The Reds doubled their advantage in the 26th minute. The Reds sent the ball into the middle of the box, where Tony Gallo’s header to clear the ball away was intercepted by Red midfielder Chad Daniel outside the area. Daniel immediately slid the ball to the right channel, where Gabi Dziekiewicz accelerated into the space and drilled a near-post shot that found the upper 90.

With just one substitute available, the Blues had their work cut out for them, but approached their task with resolve at halftime. Some Red players had been complaining to the referee about rough play, but the Blues were not about to back down in the face of adversity. If anyone thought that the match was going to be a collegial kick in the park, all they had to do was see the bloody gashes on the shins of Benavides and Tyler Berrone. “I’m glad no one was out there to kill anybody,” said Byki President George Gorecki. “I think everyone respects their teammates in our club, but a player will definitely look at things differently the first time a teammate gives him a whack on the ankle.”

After the break, the Blues appeared to heed Gallo’s words at halftime and moved the ball by making quick decisions and passing the ball. Before long, the Blues started finding the gaps in the Red defense and the game became competitive at both ends of the field.

Red sweeper Doug Towsey nearly made it 3:0 in the 51st minute when he controlled a loose ball at the 18 and shot immediately. Towsey’s shot beat everyone save the goalpost, and the Blues still had some breathing room.

Three minutes later, the Blues pulled one back. A weak clearance landed at the feet of Blue midfielder Jason Sphar on the left side of the box. He floated a ball towards the goal and his good aim beat Gambino’s outstretched arm to make it 2:1.

The Blues pressed for the equalizer. In the 57th minute, Jason Bant crushed a shot from the top of the area. The ball deflected to the far post and Benavides attempted to redirect the bouncing ball into the goal, but the Reds were saved when the ball glanced off the crossbar to safety.

The Blues would need to sustain this same intensity if they expected to get back into the game. That became difficult when fullback Pierre Delaunay left the field, succumbing to cramps. The Reds dressed 17 players for the match and they eventually wore down the Blues.

The Reds snatched control of the match in the 67th minute. A Red corner kick was headed towards the right flank and Russ Haynes darted into the box, slicing through the defense. He picked his spot and fired past Klimaszewski to make it 3:1.

The Reds put the game away a few minutes later. The Reds sent a long pass through the Blue defense, freeing Ivan Torossian to do what he does best. Torossian dribbled past his man and Klimaszewski came out to cut down the angle. Torossian tried to put the ball past him and Klimaszewski got a hand to it, but Klimaszewski was unable to control it. Torossian scooted around him to slide the ball into the empty net.

The Reds have been playing at a consistently high level for over two months and it is a testament to the players’ commitment level. The early losses were costly, but the Red will get a second crack at all of the top teams in the Championship round.

The Blue Team have a steep hill to climb in the final six weeks of the season. They have an opportunity to save the season. Whether they can make it happen rests in their hands.

BYKI LINEUP
(4-4-2): Gambino – Towsey, Mansur, P Jr, Black, Casey (c) – Domek, Samp, Dziekiewicz, Boghicev – Taylor, Torossian. Bench: Daniel, Haynes, Huell, Onaissi, Rose, Ruiz.

BYKI SCORING SUMMARY
Taylor 4 (Samp); 1st; 1:0. Dziekiewicz 1 (Daniel); 26th; 2:0. Haynes 6; 67th; 3:1. Torossian 4; 70th; 4:1.