Albania beats Ireland in inaugural Copa N.Y.C. Final

BY CLAUDIA CRUZ

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 5:52 PM EDT
The excitement of two weekends of intense tackles, penalty kicks, and goals came to a dramatic conclusion when Albania beat Ireland 4-1 in the finals of the inaugural Copa N.Y.C. soccer tournament.

“We had a great turnout at last night's championship match and were blessed with great weather despite the forecast, allowing for a spectacular show of fierce competition,” said tournament co-founder Chris Noble on the Copa N.Y.C. website, www.copanyc.us.

The “Golden Ball” award went to NYC Albania team captain Rigels Qosa and the “Golden Boot” recipient was Dwayne Kellyman of NYC Jamaica.

Copa N.Y.C. started off with 16 teams that brought together former professionals and amateurs from across the world all living in New York City. But those teams dwindled down to two for the final match played at the Maspeth’s Metropolitan Oval on Sunday, August 2, after Albania beat Argentina 2-1 both goals scored by Marsel Duskaj and Ireland pounded Cypress 4-1 in double overtime and penalty kicks the previous day.

Prior to the final matchup, The Queens Courier had a chance to talk to Noble about his experience thus far.

“The tournament has been beyond my expectations,” he said. “When people put on their national colors it raises the level of competition.”

Noble hopes, in addition to bringing the tournament back for a second year, that the Copa N.Y.C. will help develop players for the U.S. National Team as well as a strong soccer fan base.

“We want the U.S. team to win a World Cup but we got to get used to playing at this level. We also think it’s about time to bring the World Cup back to the U.S.,” he said. “We hope this is our contribution.”

The winner will receive the “Mayor’s Cup” and, though Mayor Michael Bloomberg could not make the tournament, he has invited Noble and the winning team to City Hall on Thursday, August 6. The team will also be honored at a New York Red Bulls game on August 15.

“Soccer is a unifying factor,” Noble said. “Because of the international aspect of this town, if you are not a part of it, what are you doing? It’s a great sport to bring people together.”