The Byki Red Team extended their unbeaten streak to five matches on June 29 when they trounced FC Steaua Chicago 6:1 at Conkey Forest Preserve in Crestwood. Steaua played the match with just eight players and the Byki put their stamp on the contest right at the outset. The Byki improve to 3-2-2 for the season and have their eyes trained on a finish in the top six of the 1st Division.

That a powerful side like Steaua would play shorthanded was a shock to the Byki. Previously undefeated, the whacking that Steaua received from the Byki places their promotion hopes on shaky ground.

Steaua tried to pull a fast one on the Byki when it became apparent that they would be short of players. They hastily recruited players from Ultras FC, who had just completed their match on an adjacent field at the forest preserve. Byki President George Gorecki and NSL Secretary Erik Bouzoukis watched the transformation with amusement, as the Steaua manager handed uniforms to the Ultras players, who made the change out in the open for everyone to see. Bouzoukis informed the Steaua manager that his ploy would not be allowed. After Bouzoukis confirmed that Steaua had eight legitimate players present, Steaua chose to carry on, rather than forfeit.

“I asked one of their players what happened to the rest of the team,” said Gorecki. “The guy told me that some guys preferred to skip the match and watch the Euro final between Spain and Germany instead. Haven’t these guys heard of TiVo?”

The Byki came after Steaua aggressively and gave the visitors no hope that they would be able to compete. Russ Haynes began the goal parade in the third minute. After dribbling into the right corner, Haynes lofted a high ball towards the far post. The ball ticked off the framework and into the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Haynes converted a pass from Minos Bouzoukis into a sparkling score that was far more impressive than his kick-and-hope from the corner. Bouzoukis played an accurate pass over the head of the last defender and Haynes sprinted after the ball, leaving the keeper at the striker’s mercy. Haynes made it 2:0 and the rout was officially on.

In the 11th minute, midfielder Ivan Torossian dribbled through a crowd of defenders and found Chad Daniel unmarked at the far post. Daniel slid the ball home for his first goal of the season.

Four minutes later, Abrahan Ruiz got onto the scoresheet when he won a loose ball. The Steaua players stopped dead in their tracks, expecting the referee to blow his whistle for a foul against Ruiz. The play was good, however, and Ruiz gave the keeper no chance, as the score swelled to 4:0.

Kevin Biggs nearly made it 5:0 in the 20th minute when his long shot from the right side fooled the goalkeeper and clanged off of the goalpost. Biggs put things right a minute later. The Byki put on a display of simple soccer, knocking the ball to the open man. Bouzoukis sent Haynes down the right wing with a clever pass. Haynes took the ball to the byline and centered for Biggs, who executed the easy tap-in.

The match took a bizarre twist in the 23rd minute when the referee incredibly blew his whistle for halftime. “At first, I thought that the Steaua players were throwing in the towel,” said Gorecki. “I asked the referee what was going on and he said that the first half was over. I told him that my watch showed 23 minutes and he replied that his watch said 45. He explained that he started his watch at the appointed kickoff time, rather than when the match actually began because he had another game to officiate on that field after ours. I told him that he had no authority to shorten the game in what is one of the dumbest referee decisions I have ever seen.”

Gorecki followed up by submitting a report to the NSL describing the referee’s behavior. NSL President Gregory Vlamakis said that he would refer the matter to the Illinois State Referee Committee, who are likely to review the referee’s competence. “The situation was appalling,” said Gorecki afterwards. “If Steaua had filed a protest, we would have replayed this game from scratch. I filed the report just to get a bad referee off of the NSL assignment list.”

The Byki continued their dominance in the second half, but messed up several gilt-edged scoring chances. Their lack of attention when in position to finish off easy opportunities was disappointing, but it is only natural for a team to take their foot off the gas when the result is already beyond any doubt.

The plucky Steaua squad nearly ruined Joe Gambino’s shutout bid early in the second half. Steaua sent a corner towards the back post, where an open player headed the ball off the goalpost. Gambino was incredulous that Steaua could have any open players, given the numerical advantage for the Byki.

The Byki made the score 6:0 in the 75th minute. Biggs made a nifty through pass beyond the pulled-up Steaua defensive line and the onside Haynes was off the races. Haynes handily beat the goalie to notch his hat trick.

Steaua kept knocking at the door and were rewarded for their efforts a few minutes later. Slack marking left two Steaua players open in the box, and a shot from short range gave Steaua their consolation goal.

The Byki showed discipline on the field, despite the shorthanded situation. They grabbed the game by the throat and didn’t let go until the three points were in the bank.

BYKI LINEUP
(4-4-2): Gambino – Towsey, Mansur, P Jr, Black, Casey (c) –Domek, Dziekiewicz, Bouzoukis, Torossian – Arredondo, Haynes. Bench: Biggs, Daniel, O’Shea, Ruiz.

BYKI SCORING SUMMARY
Haynes 3; 3rd; 1:0. Haynes 4 (Bouzoukis); 6th; 2:0. Daniel 1 (Torossian); 11th; 3:0. Ruiz 1; 15th; 4:0. Biggs 1 (Haynes); 21st; 5:0. Haynes 5 (Biggs); 75th; 6:0.