Gotham Argo

06/08/2019

STATE CUP SEMIFINAL
5-19-2019
Gotham Argo 2-1 Santa Fe
* match report by Yosef Shamovsky

A hot Sunday evening under the sweltering sun played host to a scintillating State Cup semi-final match-up. The first ever between Santa Fe and Gotham Argo. The first 10 minutes saw Argo come out the gate hungrily, keeping possession and the flow of the game as they tried to test their new opponents. However, a grueling chess match quickly ensued as both teams played a physical, tight game with few chances forming to test either keeper.

The first such chance came as Santa Fe were able to get a quick ball over the top of the Argo defense unto a streaking striker who succeeded in burying the ball into the back of the net. 0-1 Santa Fe. A little shaken by the sudden counter attack, Gotham Argo finished the half on the back foot as they tried to regain their previous momentum against an energized Santa Fe.

Halftime: Gotham Argo 0:1 Santa Fe

Following a halftime pep talk and quick reminders about what needed to be done, Argo came out with a revitalized sense of purpose and energy. Argo soon started to control the tempo of the game as they created their chances to equalize. Argo thought they had tied the game early. After connecting with a set piece from captain Eric “Gonzo” Goncalves, young winger Yosef Shamovsky rang the ball off of the crossbar. The ensuing rebound was put back into the box and nodded in by sturdy centerback William Denselow. The celebration was short-lived as the Referee quickly called off the goal due to an infraction in the box. Argo continued to press and the real equalizer came just minutes later. Once again it was Eric "Gonzo" Goncalves in the thick of things, delivering a perfect corner kick right to the head of Ed Babcock who was able to redirect the ball into the back of the Santa Fe net. With the score now tied Argo once again went on the offensive. Ezra Rubenstein, after chasing down a through ball by Yosef Shamovsky, took matters into his own hands. Dancing his way past a couple defenders and the opposition goalie, Ezra calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Suddenly up 2-1, Argo’s attention turned defensive. Santa Fe threw everything forward in a valiant effort to tie the game. Santa Fe’s best chance came 5 minutes before the end of the match. A shot from distance seemed to be curling into the bottom corner, only to be pushed away by a phenomenal finger tip save by Argo’s keeper Ilya Shamovsky. Rallying around the play of their goaltender, Gotham Argo succeeded in seeing the game through, shutting the door and winning their bid to the state cup final.

Final Score: Gotham Argo 2:1 Santa Fe

05/12/2018

FC Ulqini 4-0 Gotham Argo
April 8, 2018
* match report by "Ponyboy" Petter Holltrø

On a nice and sunny day at Green Belt Recreational Center, FC Ulqini welcomed Gotham Argo to an exciting league match. FC Ulqini came into the match with nothing but wins in the league this season, whereas Gotham Argo had been in good form lately and were third on the table.

In the beginning of the game neither team managed to create any real pressure and chances. Before the game had really settled, FC Ulqini scored on a great header from a corner taking a 1-0 lead. Gotham Argo tried to shake it off, and not long after Matteo Catania sent Federico Testi through against the Ulqini goalkeeper with a perfectly weighted pass. The goalkeeper came off his line and tried to get to the ball first, but Testi’s pace gave him the first touch on the ball and so he tried to get around the goalkeeper to even the score. FC Ulqini’s goalkeeper wanted it differently however, and took Testi to the ground by fouling him tactically. The referee showed the Ulqini goalkeeper a red card and gave Argo a freekick 25 yards out, but no goal. FC Ulqini then took advantage of disorganization in the Argo defense and broke through the Argo defense on a long one-touch pass followed by a headed pass back to an open center forward who made no mistake and doubled FC Ulqini’s lead.

HALFTIME.

In the second half Gotham Argo came out trying to use the advantage of having one more player on the field. After a few minutes without any real play, Argo started moving the ball better and started to put some pressure on FC Ulqini. However, Ulqini were well organized and didn’t give away anything for free. Argo kept trying and created a few opportunities, but weren’t good enough on the final third to produce any big scoring chances. As the play moved back and forth, and FC Ulqini managed to keep Argo from scoring, a bad pass from an Argo center back was intercepted by an Ulqini forward who sent one of his teammates one on one with the Argo goalkeeper, Ilya Shamovsky. Ulqini’s attacker finished it very well and made the score 3-0. A little later miscommunication led to another Ulqini forward coming one on one with the Argo goalkeeper. Shamovsky, very impressively, almost managed to stop the attacker from scoring, but the ball went into the net in the end. 4-0, and game over. Argo created a few big chances in the end, but this just wasn’t the day for the men in black and so the game ended as a deserved 4-0 win for FC Ulqini.

03/26/2018

Legend Shep Messing signed our petition with full support and expressed how wrong and outrageous he believes this is.
His comment on the petition is perfect. (see image below)

Please sign the petition that our teammate/coach, who was kicked out as a player because she's female, be allowed to continue to play with our team: http://soc.cr/ELrF30j3ice

03/26/2018

Gotham Argo: 4 vs 1 NY Shamrock SC 1960
3-25-2018
* match report Chris "Sodapop" Ward

A fast start from Argo saw them dominate possession in the early minutes. A ball out wide from Matteo Catania found Federico Testi's feet who took his time to pick his head up and notice the Shamrocks keeper off his line and out of position. A strike from 35 yards crossed the line leaving the Shamrocks team completely baffled by what had just occurred. Argo 1-0. Minutes later a bouncing ball just outside the Shamrocks box was met by an acrobatic strike from Matteo Catania as the ball flew into the top corner past the Shamrocks keeper. Argo 2-0.

Shamrocks settled and started putting pressure on the Argo back line with lofted balls over the top being their primary focus. A 40 yard run from the Shamrocks left back was met by a body of Argo defenders resulting in a Shamrocks freekick on the edge of the box. A low struck freekick found its way into the bottom left corner. Argo 2 - 1 Shamrocks

A fairly uneventful first 15 minutes of the second half was quickly turned around when Matteo Catania took a quick freekick passing the ball 40 yards over the Shamrocks back line perfectly into the feet of Federico Testi who finished superbly from the left. Argo 3-1 Shamrocks.

Both sides continued to cancel each other out with no real chances created. With 5 minutes left on the clock Bash found the feet of Testi who struck again curling the ball with his left from distance perfectly into the bottom left corner completing a fine Hatrick and cementing the win for the Argonauts. Argo 4-1 Shamrocks.

03/21/2018

Gotham Argo: 3 vs Mr Dennehy’s FC: 2
* match report George Dodsworth

A cold wintery night in March, at a desirable Pier 40 home field, Gotham Argo started out the second half of their season with a hard fought victory over a tough Mr Dennehy’s FC side. Both teams played in front of a small crowd, after a pick up game went awry and a few lads stayed behind to watch the two teams battle it out.

The first 15 minutes saw both teams with even possession as they both tried to find a flow. The first chances came from Mr Dennehy's in the 20th minute, a 2 minute onslaught led to a shot hitting the crossbar and another being saved by Gotham Argo's rock and goal keeper, Ilya Shamovsky. A little shook Gotham Argo stepped it up a gear. After a period of good possession Gotham Argo Captain Eric Goncalves, played a through ball, splitting the center backs of a well organized Mr Dennehy’s side, finding the feet of Federico Testi who calmly took it around the goalkeeper to put Gotham Argo 1-0 up. HALFTIME.

The second half, and a change of Jerseys to White for a Mr Dennehy’s side, both teams came out battling once again. The 50th minute saw Mr Dennehy’s equalise, breaking Gotham Argo's defense, that had seemed so solid in the first half. 5 minutes later Mr Dennehy’s found another opening making it 2-1. The white jerseys were working. Gotham Argo found their feet again, controlling possession and trying to swing the game back in their favor. Stretching the Mr Dennehy’s side with possession out of the back and playing wider, the ball was worked over to the far left hand side to Nicholas Chang as Argo mounted an attack. Chang’s crossed ball found Gotham Argo Center Midfielder Jonathan Munoz, who slotted the ball home to tie the game 2-2. With 15 minutes to go Gotham Argo were awarded a penalty after a player was held and brought down in the box. Gotham Argo center back Chris Ward stepped up to the spot, a calm Ward sent the keeper the wrong way as he fired the ball into the bottom left corner... 3-2 to the Argo! The last 10 minutes of the game saw Mr Dennehy’s throw everything they had at Gotham Argo. A tactical substitution saw Gotham Argo's long serving player/coach Dana P. Dimon come on for the Gotham Argo side. A substitution that would rally the Argo team for what was to be a tough final 10 minutes. Creating a wealth of chances, Mr Dennehy’s tried to break the Gotham Argo defense, they were unable to find the equalizing goal. With some acrobatic saves from Argo's rock mentioned earlier, Ilya Shamovsky, and a well organized team in front of him, Gotham Argo would walk away with all 3 points.

03/02/2018

03/02/2018

Our teammate was kicked off our team by the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, after playing for many years, because she's a WOMAN. Please support our petition that she be grandfathered to play!

https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petition-to-the-cslny-to-apply-a-grandfather-policy-allowing-our-female-coach-to-continue-as-a-player-in-the-cosmopolitan-soccer-league-ny.html

03/02/2018

Our teammate was kicked off our team by the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, after playing for many years, because she's a WOMAN. Please support our petition that she be grandfathered to play.

https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/petition-to-the-cslny-to-apply-a-grandfather-policy-allowing-our-female-coach-to-continue-as-a-player-in-the-cosmopolitan-soccer-league-ny.html

We, the undersigned, feel that the Cosmopolitan Soccer League New York (CSLNY) should grant Dana…

09/26/2017

5 Likes, 2 Comments - Drew Maier () on Instagram: “Great team win tonight! Down 2-0 with 20 or so to play, we stormed back to win it 3-2. Thanks for…”