BACKGROUND NELASA league has been around for many years to offer competition to a large area of the Southern part of the State. The league only interest is to promote strong competition in a friendly oriented environment where entire families are often present to support the athletes. League profits are reverted back to sponsor youth programs, and promote a variety of local cultural activities. FORMAT It is an open League to teams from RI and MA. Simple league rules, and regulations without jargon define its 3 referee game format. As in regular European fashion teams in each group play each other twice (home and away). Most games are played in closed small field stadiums most of them affiliated with local clubs and associations with a larger attendance than MAPLE. OFFICE League office is located at 1532 Acushnet Ave New Bedford, MA 02744 phone/Fax 508-996-6362 ____________________ |
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NEW ENGLAND LUSO AMERICAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION 2002 |
Lusitania 4 - FC PORTO USA 2 Game report, March 30, 2002 FC PORTO USA GOALS By Mike Bruce Nayden Barri ------1st Half CullenWinkler ----2nd half March 30, 2002. FC Porto USA arrived for their first LASA game, versus Lusitania, in Cumberland, Rhode Island. The field was short, narrow, and muddy; in fact, the 18-yard line was really 16 yards! As the game began, Porto was confident in the playmaking ability of the 3-5-2 formation, even after the first half ended with a score of Porto 1, Lusitania 2. Porto's lone goal came from Nayden Barri off Cullen Winkler's corner kick late in the half. The second half was much more controversial as the referee became more actively involved in play. Lusitania's third goal came on a contentious penalty kick, where their forward appeared to dive in the box. Nevertheless, the kick converted and the score became 1-3. After much time was spent in the midfield, Cullen Winkler's strike into the far corner brought the game closer, 2-3. Minutes later Mike Bruce gave Porto a deserved equalizer but the referee desqualify Porto third goal. With ten minutes left in the game, Lusitania struck back on a sweetly placed free kick, which curved over Porto's wall and into the near post, 2-4. The rest of the game was very controversial; many offside and foul calls nullified Porto's chances at wining the game. The final score was Porto 2, Lusitania 4. However, the game was played much closer than the score showed; some feel home field advantage played a role in the outcome. Whatever the case, the LASA season will prove to be a great addition to Porto's season. After the game there was general feeling amongst the players of great enthusiasm about their participation, and a high level of confidence about the team's excellent performance. _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
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BACKGROUND NELASA league has been around for many years to offer competition to a large area of the Southern part of the State. The league only interest is to promote strong competition in a friendly oriented environment where entire families are often present to support the athletes. League profits are reverted back to sponsor youth programs, and promote a variety of local cultural activities. FORMAT It is an open League to teams from RI and MA. Simple league rules, and regulations without jargon define its 3 referee game format. As in regular European fashion teams in each group play each other twice (home and away). Most games are played in closed small field stadiums most of them affiliated with local clubs and associations with a larger attendance than MAPLE. OFFICE League office is located at 1532 Acushnet Ave New Bedford, MA 02744 phone/Fax 508-996-6362 ____________________ |
FC PORTO USA 10 - Bristol RI 0 Game report, April6, 2002 FC PORTO USA GOALS By Mike Bruce Nayden Barri ------2 goals Mike Bruce --------3 goals Hector Rivera-----3 goals Ross Berge---------1 goal Jeff Braga-----------1 goal April 6, 2002 proved to be a goal-filled afternoon for FC Porto USA, versus Bristol in Milford, MA. The game started out close, until Mike Bruce of Porto broke open the game in the tenth minute. Then, most of the half was spent in Bristol's end. The half ended 3-0, with Bruce adding another goal and Nayden Barri adding a powerfull strike from the top of the box. Spurred on by a challenge from Coach Tony Cayatte to play at a higher level, Porto immediately started on the offensive in the second half. Bruce scored another goal to complete his hat trick, then Ross Berge and Hector Rivera both added quick goals. Finally, Rivera added two more goals, Barri dribbled five defenders for his second, and Jeff Braga scored in the waning minutes of the game. This game was a good experience for the team to complete short, simple passes and creating space. Porto's defense was solid with Cullen Winkler as a center back dictating the clean shape of the flat three and the full backs Chris Reinhart, Brendan Orino and David Cardenas complementing a perfect zonal coverage. In the middle Peter Cayatte, John Alves and Darlan Rocha alternate in the center of the field for a crystal example of a very intelligent way of playing simple and quick indirect forward play. Todd swisher and Ross Berge as wide halfbacks gave the flank penetration needed for dangerous crosses and good overall team shape. Mike king in goal had a spark of his excellent shortstop technique by denying the only Bristol's scoring opportunity. Afterall the level of skill of Porto players was the profound difference between the squads, and at the end the result was just. The final score: Porto 10, Bristol 0, for Porto's first win of the LASA season. Porto now with a high confidence level is looking forward to the next LASA games. ___________________________________________________________________________________ |