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RWB Adria win Illinois Open Cup title
Both finalists looking ahead to Region II finals
by Minos Vlamakis
CHICAGO - RWB Adria survived the weather and player absences on April 13 as they defeated AAC Eagles by a score of 4-1 to capture their second consecutive Illinois Open Cup championship.
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| RWB Adria defeated AAC Eagles 4-1 to win the Illinois Open Cup championship. Both teams advance to the USASA Region II Finals. Photo by Branko Ilic |
The Red, White and Blues jumped out of the starting blocks with a bang as Adria converted a brilliant cross early in the first half to give the Croatians a quick lead. Minutes later, Adria pressured the Eagles defense forcing a turnover, and Elfid Kovacevic was at the right place at the right time after his first-time strike found the lower corner of the net.
However, the Eagles began to take control of the match and their constant pressure paid off just before the break. Their wind-guided corner kick eluded several Adria defenders and goalkeeper Dimitri Meletis before being knocked into the far post by an Eagles striker.
The second half began much like the first half ended, with the Polish club maintaining possession in search of the tying goal. However, that never came to be as the Eagles spurned several chances while the Adria defenders were up to the task on the shots that were on goal.
The Eagles paid for their lack of finishing when Elmedin Zukic caught the Polish club ball-watching on a counter-attack and his clever pass across the 6-yard box found an unmarked Arsim Ibraimi and the 2007 NSL Player of the Year made no mistake from close range. Finally, Igor Stijepic put the game out of reach late in the second half, tapping the ball into an empty net after Eric Duda’s square pass dragged the Eagles goalkeeper off his line.
"Our team showed a lot of character today and obviously I’m extremely happy for us to repeat as champions," RWB Adria coach Minos Vlamakis said. "We were a bit short on numbers, unfortunately, but that didn’t seem to effect the players who stepped up their play as they held on for a tough victory that was not nearly as easy as the score may indicate."
With the win, the Red, White and Blues earned a road trip to Sterling Heights, Mich., where they face the Carpathia Kickers in a USASA Region II first-round match on May 3.
"The important thing is that we have qualified and hopefully we can have a repeat of success in Michigan," Vlamakis said.
The Red, White and Blues defeated Detroit United last year in a Region II semifinal to earn a spot in the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - making their first appearance in the tournament since 1996, they lost to USL First Division side Carolina RailHawks 4-1 in the first round.
Despite the loss, AAC Eagles still advance to the Region II finals. They will play Bavarian SC at their complex just outside of Milwaukee on May 3.
The winners of those matches will play in the Region II semifinals on May 17, where the winners will qualify for the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The state of Illinois are attempting to place a team in the Open Cup for the fifth year in a row, and the sixth time in the last seven seasons. AAC Eagles are the most experienced Illinois team during the professional era (1995-present) with appearances in 1995, 2002 and ’05.
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