Over40 “A” Division  

KORABI – Manalapan 3-3 (1-2)
Goals: Lai Caku, Zeqo Papraniku, Bashkim Abdullai

Old Bridge, NJ – June 27, 2010 – Korabi closed out the Spring 2010 season today with a tie against Manalapan.

After the game everyone got together for a season ending pool party at the home of Korabi President Murat Mela.

Over40 “A” Division 

KORABI – Marlboro 4-6 (2-2)
Goals: Musa Gjeli, Zeqo Papraniku, Kujtim Kaziu (2)

Old Bridge, NJ – June 20, 2010 – A hot and very humid morning does not necessarily make for good playing conditions, especially not for middle aged men.

Marlboro took an early 2-0 lead but the Veterans were able respond with goals by Musa Gjeli and Zeqo Papraniku to even the score at 2-2.

Korabi came out strong in the second half scoring two early goals, both by Kujtim Kaziu, to take a 4-2 lead. After this it seems the heat took over and the Veterans ran out of steam and allowed 4 more goals for a disappointing loss.

Së bashku me dibranin Agron Bufi, në turneun “Giacinto Facchetti” do të marin pjesë edhe portieri Deljan Bregasi, mesfushori Arturo Ymeri dhe sulmuesi Albi Kuçi të cilët do të jenë në garë për trofeun prestigjioz për të rinj në Itali.

Agron Bufi, sulmuesi shqiptar i Palermos do të merë pjesë në turneun tradicional “Giacinto Facchetti”. Ai së bahku me tre shqiptar tjerë, do të jenë pjesë e turneut, i cili mbahet për nder të kryetarit të ndjerë të Interit, Giacinto Facchetti. Pra, do të jenë katër futbollist të rinj shqiptar, që luajnë për katër ekipe të ndryshme italiane të “Primavera”-s (të rinjtë). Respektivisht këta katër futbollist, do të jenë protagonistë në fazën finale të trofeut “Giacinto Facchetti”, e ku marrin pjesë tetë ekipe: Breshia, Lazio, Chievo, Milan, Palermo, Sampdoria dhe Genoa. Sampdoria përfaqësohet nga portieri i talentuar shqiptar, Deljan Bregasi, Genoa me mesfushorin Arturo Ymeri, Breshia me sulmuesin Albi Kuçi (eliminoi në një të tetat të rinjtë e Juventusit), Palermo me sulmuesin Agron Bufi. Kujtojmë, Bufi me prejardhje është nga Dibra dhe është reprezentues i Maqedonisë deri 19-të vjeç. (B.K.)

 Metro-1 Division East 

 NY State “D’Arpino Cup”  FINAL

BW Gottschee – KORABI 1-1 (Gottschee wins 2-1 in penalties)
Goal: Albert Ruci

Yonkers, NY – June 13, 2010 – What a missed opportunity, conceding a goal in extra time.

Korabi came into this game very optimistic and it showed, as Albert Ruci scored in the 4th minute for a 1-0 lead. Korabi played well throughout the first half but with poor finishing and it kept their opponent in the game and took a one goal lead into halftime.

During halftime coach Rusty warned the players that poor finishing can come back to haunt them, and as it turned out, it did.

Korabi continued playing well in the second half but unable to score. BW Gottschee seemed to take over the game the last 15-20 minutes, dominating in midfield and attacking, but the Korabi defense were able to contain until the 94th minute.

It seemed that the referee wrongfully awarded a throw in to BW Gottschee instead of Korabi, which would have definitely ended the game since there was only 20 seconds remaining in the game. With their final possession BW Gottschee was able to score and tie the game to send it to a penalty shoot-out.

Korabi only converted 1 penalty and BW Gottschee converted 2.

Congratulations to both teams.

Over40 “A” Division  

Old Bridge – KORABI 7-2 (4-0)
Goals: Lazi Popinara, Bashkim Abdullai

Old Bridge, NJ – June 13, 2010 – A very disappointing outing for the Korabi Veterans who had not lost in the last five games.

Old Bridge dominated the first half scoring four times.

In the second half Korabi played well the first 20 minutes, scoring twice in the first 4 minutes of play, one each by Lazi Popinara and Basjkim Abdullai. It was down hill from there as Old Bridge scored three more goals in the final 5 minutes.

 Metro-1 Division East 

 NY State “D’Arpino Cup” Semi-Final

NY Athletic Club – KORABI 2-3 (2-1)
Goals: Ervin Makishti, Albert Ruci, Darien

Bekim “Bek” Papraniku
Travers Island, Bronx, NY – June 6, 2010 – Korabi faced a formidable opponent, New York Athletic Club, in the semi-final match of the New York State “D’Arpino Cup”.

NYAC has won this cup in prior years but Korabi was not going to take any part in letting them attempt to win another Cup this year.

Although Korabi played with no substitutes, they started strong and determined in the first half by scoring the first goal, by Ervin Makishti. NYAC was able to bounce back and score twice to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.

Ten minutes into the second half, Lirim Begai cleverly stole the ball from a NYAC defender and crossed the ball to Albert Ruci who scored a spectacular header. In the 70th minute of play, Lirim Begai once again provided an assist when he found Darien on top of the box who blasted a 25 yard shot over the NYAC goalkeeper, making the score 3-2 for Korabi.

Realizing they had no substitutes, all of the Korabi players were inspired by Coach Rusty Papraniku’s instructions and half-time speech allowing them to play with every last drop of energy left until the final whistle.

Well done, well deserved!

On to the Cup Final against BW Gottschee!

Over40 “A” Division  

Long Branch – KORABI 1-1 (1-0)
Goal: Musa Gjeli “Çaki”

Long Branch, NJ – June 6, 2010 – The morning humidity seemed unbearable but the Veterans managed to hang to a very hard fought draw.

Both teams played a very tactical game, at times showcasing some passing brilliance, but brilliant goalkeeping kept the scoring down, especially newly signed Korabi keeper, Qerim Fishta.

The host took a 1-0 lead after a controversial missed offside call midway through the first half.

Korabi evened the score at 1-1 midway through the second half when Musa Gjeli “Çaki” took a long pass and got past the last defender to score.

Long Branch played very well the rest of the match but good defending anchored by Kujtim Kaziu and Neat Krkuti helped keeper Qerim Fishta, who was the star of the game, hold on to the draw.

 Metro-1 Division East 

Astoria Lions – KORABI

May 30, 2010 – In what was supposed to be the derby final game of the season between the top two teams in the Metro 1 East Division turned out to be a forfeit by Korabi, not being able to field a team due to prior commitments for the Memorial Day weekend.

It’s a shame that the entire season goes down the drain for one mismanaged weekend by the league and players.

Congratulations to the Astoria Lions who advance to play Team Aviator, first place in the West division, for the Metro 1 Championship.

 Metro-1 Division East 

 NY State “D’Arpino Cup” Semi-Final

May 23, 2003 – Korabi traveled to Travers Island in the Bronx to play NY Athletic Club in the semi-final of the NY State D’Arpino Cup. After waiting for the required 30 minutes for the assigned game referee to show up, both teams coaches decided that they would continue and both would referee the game, one on each side of the field. Upon inspection of passes by coach Rusty, it seemed as if NY Athletic Club was trying to use unauthorized players and when they were challenged their coach decided he did not want to play the game without an official referee. Coach Rusty kept the illegal players pass and forwarded it the league along with a protest and will await a ruling.

Over40 “A” Division  

Monmouth Coast – KORABI 2-2 (2-1)
Goals: Musa Gjeli “Çaki” (2)

Sea Girt, NJ – May 23, 2010 – Korabi traveled to Sea Girt in what was to be a rainy day but turned out to be a great day for soccer.

Unfortunately for Korabi, their play did not turn out to be as good as the weather as they gave up two early unanswered goals and found themselves in a hole. Musa Gjeli “Çaki” was able to take advantage of failed offside trap and went on to score before half time to bring Korabi back to within a goal.

In the second half it was Çaki again scoring, this time capitalizing on a defensive blunder by the host defense. This was all that Korabi was able to muster as they failed to score on a bunch of opportunities, but we kind of have become accustomed to it.