The Blue Team retained their status as the only undefeated team in the 1st Division at steamy Conkey Forest Preserve last Sunday when they downed FK Podrinje 3:2. The Byki used smart tactics to wear down their older and slower opponents. Ian Duncan notched a goal and an assist, as the team move to 2-2-0 on the season and keep pace with Hellenic United White, whom they trail by one point in the Blue Section table.

Matches against Podrinje are usually never attractive affairs. The team plays a direct style, happy to lump the ball forward to their ace striker. Mix in a rough-and-tumble attitude and it’s easy to see how a lesser opponent can walk away bruised and battered, and lucky to get a point to show for their efforts.

The Byki had too much technical skill on display to fall into that trap. They moved the ball smartly to wear out the Podrinje midfield and then kept a frequent stream of substitutes shuttling into the game to combat the brutally hot conditions. In the end, Podrinje simply did not have enough answers.

The Byki nabbed the lead in the 18th minute. Newcomer Oscar Anguiano sent a terrific pass along the right wing for Duncan, who made a strong run to the byline. He sent a simple square pass along the ground and striker Ben Disney drove the ball into the back of the net from close range.

The lead evaporated quickly, as Podrinje leveled the contest just seven minutes later, under dubious circumstances. After the Podrinje keeper cleared away a Byki corner kick, a teammate made a long pass behind the Byki defense, leading to a breakaway. The Byki hollered for offside, but the referee was in no position to make the call. The defense gave chase, but could not catch up, and goalie Martin Bertels was powerless to save the shot.

The Byki maintained the attacking pressure. In the 32nd minute, Klemens Kuqi beat his man at the top of the box and forced a tough save from the goalkeeper. Moments later, winger Matt Domek played a simple pass into space for Duncan, who sprinted into the clear. The lanky Podrinje goalie came out fast to engage Duncan, but Duncan’s slick dribble move allowed him to turn and slide the ball into an empty net for a 2:1 advantage.

Many of Podrinje’s players were already gasping for air before the halftime break. Coach John Flood emphasized the need to force Podrinje to work hard at defending and the players responded with a renewed vigor in the second half. In the 46th minute, Josh Pirahmadi found Anguiano on the right wing. Anguiano delicately chipped the ball over a defender’s head for Kuqi, who made an angled run into the box. With only the keeper to beat, Kuqi missed the near post by inches.

Eight minutes later, Kuqi found the mark to make it 3:1. Anguiano played provider, leaving Kuqi 1 v 1 with the goalie. Kuqi slipped his shot from eight yards underneath the keeper for his seventh tally of the campaign.

Podrinje pulled to within 3:2 in the 59th minute when they created an opening on the right side of the penalty area. A tremendous shot from a sharp angle beat Bertels.

The Byki kept pressing for another insurance goal. Anguiano barely missed the target in the 68th minute when his free kick from 25yards barely cleared the bar. A minute later, Kuqi dribbled to the goal line and squared the ball at the near post for the sprinting Duncan, whose shot went narrowly wide.

Podrinje showed some life at the other end. A long pass beat a poorly conceived Byki offside trap. The Podrinje striker faked Bertels to the turf, but incredibly missed an open net. Two minutes later, Podrinje had the opening they needed when the referee whistled for a penalty after a Podrinje player was pushed from behind in the box. The fatigue of a long day likely contributed to a spot kick that went sailing high over the bar.

Kuqi nearly got his second goal in the 76th minute. Pirahmadi made a quick throw-in to Duncan, who got behind the fullback. He measured a cross for Kuqi, whose header ticked the top of the crossbar.

Hard work by the Byki was the glue that held everything together. They survived bad luck, funky refereeing and overly physical defending by Podrinje to bring home all three points.

BYKI LINEUP
(4-3-2-1): Bertels – Mike Lupou, Geraghty, Folliard, Stevens – Domek (c), Mendoza, Pirahmadi – Martinez, Duncan – Kuqi. Bench: Anguiano, Auerbach, Disney, Kmit, Mansur.

BYKI SCORING SUMMARY
0:1 – Disney 1 (Duncan); 18th.
1:2 – Duncan 3 (Domek); 33rd.
1:3 – Kuqi 7 (Anguiano); 54th.

BYKI MEN OF THE MATCH
Oscar Anguiano and Ian Duncan