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MIDDLETON, Conn --Teamwork, perseverance and stamina contributed to Stamford F.C. Boys U-14 victory at the Connecticut Football Club Premier Columbus Day Tournament. In four hotly contested, 70-minute matches, Stamford F.C. outplayed four other Connecticut premier clubs.
The tournament opened with an evenly matched game versus New Milford CFC. The first half ended at 0-0 with New Milford taking twice as many shots as Stamford. But Stamford dominated the second half. Leao Valladares displayed speed and ball control while dribbling down the middle to score Stamfords only goal. Stamford outshot New Milford, 9-4, in the second half. New Milford, however, tied the game, 1-1, with a direct kick that went off the hands of keeper Danny Roca and was kicked in on the rebound.
Stamford F.C. was awoken in the second game when Northeast United scored within the first 10 seconds. Victor Gjuraj booted the ball in the upper right corner of the net off a corner kick from Isaac Lowell. Midfield pressure from Ralph Daniele, Jack Duffy, Jose Vergara and Max Atkinson kept pressure on the opponent. Despite outshooting Northeast United 10-0 in the second half, Stamford was unable to put another ball in the net and walked away with another 1-1 tie.
Sundays matches started with a 1-0 victory over CFC Azzuri. Isaac Lowell assisted by Jose Vergara took the ball from midfield and put Stamford on the scoreboard. CFC Azzuri threatened to tie the game with two penalty kicks, but keeper Danny Roca deflected both shots. The second half was evenly matched, but Stamfords defense of Jose Vergara, Kevin Lam, Brad Kaptinski, Ariel De La Rosa and Jorge Ulloa did an outstanding job of not allowing additional goals.
The final match was a 3-2 victory over Southeast CFC. Leao Valladares scored a hat trick in the first half, putting Stamford in a comfortable 3-0 lead. Tomas Pinto-Leite and Lowell had assists and offered strong offensive support. Midfielders Jeffrey Beltran, Jack Duffy and Max Atkinson controlled the field with impressive ball passing and ball handling. Southeast CFC rallied with two goals, but Stamford held them off for the win.
Stamford F.C will play Valeo F.C. in Bloomfield next Saturday.
Team Photo identifications: Top row, from left: Ariel De La Rosa, Tomas Pinto-Leite, Danny Roca, Leao Valladares, Isaac Lowell, Victor Gjuraj, Coach Mario Gjuraj and Brad Kaptinski. Bottom row, from left: Kevin Lam, Jeffrey Beltran, Jose Vergara, Max Atkinson, Jorge Ulloa and Jack Duffy. Missing: Ralph Danielle and Coach Forte Danielle.
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