Lansdowne Yonkers strengthened their position near the top of the American Premier Soccer League standings with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Richmond County FC at Tibbetts Brook Park. In a match filled with quick transitions, dangerous wing play, and late defensive resilience, Lansdowne relied on a brace from forward Ali Dawha and a determined defensive effort to secure a valuable three points.
Pre-Match Context
Lansdowne entered the contest in excellent form following an emphatic 5–0 win over Vistula Garfield. Sitting second in the APSL table, they trailed the New York Greek Americans by three points heading into the match. A victory would pull them level on points and potentially move them ahead on goal difference, although the Greek Americans still have games in hand.
Manager Matt Kane’s side, however, was forced to cope without several key players. Jared Juleau was unavailable after picking up an injury in the Vistula match, while Edward Speed, Henry Hamilton, and attacking midfielder Danu Kinsella-Bishop were also absent from the squad.
Those absences created opportunities for others. Carlos Cortes slotted into the fullback role, while Lansdowne’s attacking unit was reshuffled with Ali Dawha, Liam Salmon, and Benjamin Stitz leading the line supported by the creative midfield presence of James Peter Boote.
Lansdowne Start Strong
From the opening whistle, Lansdowne controlled possession and attempted to dictate the tempo. Boote quickly established himself as the orchestrator in midfield, switching play from side to side and looking to release runners into space.
Salmon and Dawha repeatedly stretched Richmond’s back line from the flanks, delivering dangerous balls into the penalty area that narrowly missed connecting with teammates. Lansdowne’s patient buildup and off-the-ball movement suggested an early breakthrough might be on the cards.
Richmond County FC, however, proved capable of creating problems of their own. Despite a defensive record that had seen them concede heavily this season, they remained dangerous on the counterattack. Joel Favard and captain Alen Kapetanovic were instrumental in Richmond’s attacking transitions, combining well in midfield and pushing forward whenever opportunities arose.
An early setback forced Richmond into a change when Demyan Turiy, who had been lively on the left wing, was forced off with an injury. He was replaced by Roberto Gioffre, who quickly settled into the flow of the match.
As the half progressed, Richmond began to find pockets of space on the break, with Keithlend Cesar also becoming increasingly influential on the wing. Several promising moves tested Lansdowne’s defensive structure, though the back line—anchored by Musa Bala Danso and Luis Puchol Del Pozo—held firm.
Dawha Opens the Scoring
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 22nd minute following sustained pressure from Lansdowne.
A scramble inside the Richmond penalty area saw forward Benjamin Stitz challenged as he attempted to control a loose ball. While Lansdowne players appealed for a penalty, play continued and Dawha reacted quickest, pouncing on the rebound and firing a low shot into the bottom-left corner.
The goal gave Lansdowne a 1–0 lead and lifted the energy around Tibbetts Brook Park. Richmond responded by pushing forward more aggressively, launching quick counterattacks through Favard and Cesar. Despite the pressure, Lansdowne maintained their advantage heading into halftime.
Second Half: Richmond Pushes, Dawha Delivers Again
The second half opened at a frenetic pace, with Richmond nearly finding an immediate equalizer. Gioffre and Cesar combined down the flank before Cesar unleashed a curling effort that narrowly missed the top corner.
Lansdowne responded by again using the width of the field to their advantage. Salmon’s deliveries from the right flank repeatedly troubled Richmond’s defense, while Cortes pushed forward from fullback to create overlapping runs.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half. In the 66th minute, a well-worked move saw Marco Charnas link up with Dawha near the edge of the penalty area. Dawha drove inside with pace, shifted the ball onto his right foot, and unleashed a powerful strike that flew into the top-right corner.
The stunning finish gave Lansdowne a 2–0 advantage and Dawha his second goal of the evening. Moments later he nearly completed a hat trick with a long-range attempt that narrowly sailed over the crossbar.
Manager Matt Kane then turned to his bench, introducing Andy Kasza, Ronan O’Brien, and Andrew Sousa to inject fresh energy into the closing stages.
Richmond’s Late Response
Richmond refused to concede defeat and continued to press forward in search of a way back into the match. Cesar remained a constant threat on the wing, using his pace and footwork to unsettle defenders.
Their persistence paid off late in the second half when Richmond earned a corner kick. The delivery found Armando Guarnera, who rose above the defense and powered a header into the net to cut the deficit to 2–1.
The goal set up a tense final stretch as Richmond pushed numbers forward, including center back Timothy Francis Kane, who advanced into attacking positions during set pieces.
Defensive Resolve Seals the Win
Lansdowne remained dangerous on the counterattack despite the pressure. In stoppage time, substitute Andy Kasza came close to sealing the match when he volleyed a low cross from Cortes off the post.
That miss kept Richmond alive, but Lansdowne’s defense stood firm in the closing moments. Danso and Puchol Del Pozo won several key aerial duels while the fullbacks worked tirelessly to clear second balls and prevent Richmond from creating a clear chance.
When the final whistle sounded, Lansdowne had secured a crucial 2–1 victory.
A Statement Result
The result moves Lansdowne Yonkers level on points with the New York Greek Americans at the top of the APSL table and continues their impressive run following the winter break.
While the team performance was strong across the board, Ali Dawha emerged as the clear standout with two excellent goals and a constant attacking presence on the left side.
With momentum building and the title race heating up, Lansdowne’s narrow victory over Richmond County FC may prove to be one of the defining results of their season.
