Red Hook FC has had an incredible spring season. Last season, they lost some tough games, then bounced back and found a way to make the playoffs, but lost 4-3 to Osner’s FC in the first round.
This season, Red Hook FC has been dominant. They won their home opener 3-1 over NY Empire FC and then took revenge against Osner’s FC with a 4-3 road victory. Their lone loss this season came against last season’s champions, NY Renegades FC.
Red Hook FC has gotten lots of support for their home games, and they have used it to their advantage as they have won all four home matches.
Red Hook FC ended the regular season on a high note with a victory over NY Braveheart SC. They defended well and created a few chances before Mehdi Youssoufi broke through to give them a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. In the 34th minute, Stefano Campisi made it 2-0. Red Hook continued to defend well in the second half, and Youssef Afif put the game away with a goal in the 87th minute. The 3-0 victory made them 9-0-1 on the season.
On June 20, in front of a home crowd of hundreds of people, Red Hook took on Osner’s FC in a rematch from last season. This time, rather than meeting in the quarterfinals, they met in the semifinals.
Red Hook immediately grabbed the momentum as they scored on a header by Muntaha Kalley from a corner kick in the fifth minute. In the 10th minute, they made it 2-0, as Kalley once again scored on a header from a corner kick. They made it 3-0 in the 42nd as they forced a turnover and made a nice pass to set up a tap-in goal by Youssoufi. They defended well throughout the match, and while Osner’s FC scored a late goal to avoid a shutout, it was a dominant 5-1 victory for Red Hook.
On June 27, Red Hook traveled to Central Islip for the championship match against NY Renegades. The game was tightly contested defensively, and while both teams managed to generate chances, neither could break through. In the second half, both teams made key substitutions, and Red Hook came up with some important tackles to deny scoring chances. Once again, neither team could break through, and the game went to extra time.
In extra time, NY Renegades created a few big chances, but Yacine Sidi Aissa made a great save, and defensive pressure forced a few other shots wide. Red Hook defended a couple of late corner kicks well to send the game to penalties. After each team scored on their first shot, Red Hook was stopped on their second, and the Renegades converted on their second. Still down one, NY Renegades fourth penalty shot hit the crossbar, but Red Hook was denied on their shot with a chance to tie it up. NY Renegades converted on their next penalty to win the match.
Though it was a heartbreaking end to the season, Red Hook made strides.
“We want to get back to the playoffs again this year, and we also want to go a little bit further,”said left back Jaydon Humphries before the season.
They did just that. Additionally, they have already moved from the sixth tier of American soccer to the fifth tier, to the fourth tier, and after losing in the quarterfinals in the spring, they made it to the championship this season.
They took NY Renegades FC, who not only won the conference last season but also the national championship, to penalties. Red Hook should be proud of this team, and the hope is to keep building and come back even stronger next season.
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