James NaltonBy James Nalton.
It was in the shadow of Yankee Stadium earlier this year that Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL) side New York International FC earned promotion to Division 1. It is a venture into the unknown for the team that was established in 2019, but so far it has more than held its own and has made a flying start to its first season in the top division.
The top division in the CSL at least, as there is potential further progress to be had with promotion to the regional East Coast group of leagues, the Eastern Premier Soccer League, and its Metropolitan Conference.
The perception of soccer in the United States is usually based on Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. Franchise soccer with no promotion and relegation. But in the lower reaches of US soccer’s burgeoning semi-pro and amateur leagues, there is more alignment to the global game.
The word “International”, included in the name of this particular New York team suggests it is keen to embrace soccer’s global culture as well as its American one.
New York International started its first season in Division 1 with three wins on the bounce.
Victories against Zum Schneider FC II, Manhattan Kickers, and Borgetto FC propelled NYIFC to the top end of the league table, and even a subsequent defeat to Polonia FC didn’t see it drop too far from the top.
After conceding first in Sunday’s game against Central Park Rangers II, being 1-0 down at halftime, it might have been easy for NY International to become downhearted following their recent defeat and the contrast of the high experienced during their impressive start to the season. But the team showed resilience to remain in the game and eventually get back into it.
A period of dominance led and some set pieces to plenty of action in and around the Central Park Rangers penalty area.
Things began to turn around when NY International won a penalty in the 76th minute with the score still at 1-0. Carlos Lopez dispatched the spot kick.
A draw would have been a respectable result, but International kept the pressure on, pushed for the win, and in the 88th minute won another penalty thanks to some tricky, direct running into the area from Lucas Baredes.
Baredes stepped up to convert the penalty he won to give his side the lead in the 89th minute.
It could well have been a nervy period of added time, but a strike from Håkon Mjell, the game’s standout goal fired in from distance, made the result more comfortable for NY International.
“I got the pass from Lucas and I had all the time in the world,” said Mjell. “I just had to make a shot of it, and luckily it went in!”
Victory!
After last week’s disappointment, we rebound in spectacular fashion, with a bold, come-from-behind 3-1 win for the Firsts! pic.twitter.com/tk120CYRYe— NY INTERNATIONAL FC (@NYIntFC) October 7, 2024
Three goals in the space of 15 minutes at the end of the game gave NY International its fourth win in five games during this first quarter of the season.
It now sits second in Division 1 behind Hoboken FC II — the team from across the Hudson River in New Jersey which is the the only side to have won all five of its games at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game against CPR, but the goal we conceded wasn’t us, we know it’s not good enough,” captain Aaron Forde told Game In Frame.
“We said we had to come out and be better in the second half. We felt like we were the better team on the ball in the first half and just needed to take our chances.
“We came out second half and really put our foot down, got stuck in, and made the set pieces count.
“The two penalties came from corners we’ve been working on, and the third was a bit of magic from Håkon.
“A tough game, a deserved result, but it’s a long season and it’s only one result, but we’re happy and we move to the next week.”
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