Bill Walleekendeh had a brace while defender Jorge Chavez Solano scored his first senior goal as the First Team defeated Phoenix SC Majors 3-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the EPSA State Amateur Cup.
On a chilly afternoon in Feasterville, PA, the Stars began the defense of their title with a tricky game against Phoenix SC.
The Stars started with forward Anthony Allison in goal with three in the back with Kouassi N’Guessan, Eugene Dennis, and Jorge Solano Chavez who was playing his first competitive game for the First Team.
Mitchell Torh and Kiriri Mussa were the wingers with Yaya Fane, Zoncher Dennis, and Aaron Keita (also a debutant from the U23s) playing in the midfield. On top, Bill Walleekendeh and Bamba Blamassi both led the front.
There wasn’t much to see during the first 30 minutes as both team look to find their rhythm in the chilly weather.
It wasn’t until the 35th minute that things boiled over when both teams were reduced to 10 men after Yaya Fane and a defender from Phoenix SC were given their marching orders after an altercation around the center circle.
The two teams would then go into the break with a goalless first half.
After the break, the Stars started to exert pressure and that almost paid off when Mitchell Torh found himself one-on-one with the goalie but scoffed his chance.
Few minutes later, the Stars took the lead when Zoncher Dennis lobbed a pass from the center of the pitch to Bill Walleekendeh who dispatched the ball at the back of the net to put the Stars ahead in the 61st minute.
The Stars doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Bill Walleekendeh was brought down in the box when he was free on goal. He easily dispatched the resulting penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.
The Stars put the icing on the cake 10 minutes later when Kouassi N’Guessan headed a corner in the path of Jorge Solano Chavez who volleyed one time to score his first senior goal. This was his second goal in a week after scoring in the U23s’ match in Boston yesterday.
The score would remain at 3-0 with the Stars advancing to the semi-finals where they will play either West Chester United Reserves or VE Reserves on a date to be announced.