The division title up for grabs, a high seed there for the taking, a physical affair amidst powerful winds.
It was the ultimate letdown, the match ending with nothing settled.
Columbus and Lehman played to a 1-1 tie Wednesday at Bronx State Park, each side blowing its share of scoring chances. Instead of the two clubs deciding Bronx A, the division crown will go to the team that handles its business down the stretch.
The Lions, courtesy of their 2-0 victory over the Explorers back on Sept. 13, have the inside track. They trail Columbus by two points, but have a game in hand. If they win out, Bronx A is theirs. They would win a tie-breaker, too.
“It was in the back of their minds that a tie would help us, but they wanted the win,” Lehman coach Pat Straw said.
For the second time against Lehman, Columbus left shaking its head in disbelief, unable to finish off a myriad of scoring chances. The gusty winds affected the skilled Explorers, the ball blowing from one side to the other, off their feet and away from their bodies.
“With the conditions, I don’t think it was indicative of how both teams play,” Columbus coach Jason Renick said.
The Lions got on the board first, when center midfielder Maxi Berterame beat Explorers keeper Besim Berisha from the top of the box. Sophomore Armand Dadaj got the game even in the 25th minute when he skipped a shot past Mendim Gashi.
“We’re a little upset,” Berterame said. “We’ve got the game except for one mistake.”
Columbus carried play from that point until midway through the second half, owning play at midfield, led by Frank Osei, Alhoussain Bah and Jorge Palacios. They, however, couldn’t finish. Bah had a few chances he sent too high and a breakaway broken up by fullback Ardit Gocaj. Osei got behind the defense, with an open net, but couldn’t connect. Palacios had a free kick that got by Gashi, but Osei couldn’t tap it home.
“We should’ve won 4-1,” Columbus coach Jason Renick said. “Missed opportunities and being unable to play with the conditions was tough. … We got the better of play in the first game and, quite frankly, we had better of the play today until the final 20 minutes. But games like this will make us better.”
Lehman had its chances down the stretch, but failed to execute several openings. The best chance came in the 70th minute, when sophomore midfielder Oscar Sosa’s chip nearly found the back corner off of Berisha’s fingertips.
All Columbus can do the rest of the way is take care of its own business, by beating three-win Evander Childs and two-win Truman. The Explorers have played particularly well of late, winning six in a row by a 16-2 aggregate before Wednesday’s draw.
“We have to hope and go out and win all our games,” said sweeper Lamin Janneh, who did his part by shutting down Lehman striker Simon Kim (division-leading 10 goals and two in the first meeting). “It’s soccer; anything can happen.”
Lehman doesn’t have a simple path to the Bronx A crown. Of the three games remaining, one is against tough-minded Bronx Science (5-3-0). Straw, who led the Lions to the Class A title game three years ago, said he won’t even mention the ramifications of the tie to his players. He already told them prior to Monday’s 3-1 win over Truman every match, from that point on, should be treated like a playoff game.
The team goals they set before the season – an undefeated campaign, double-digit regular-season victories, and high seed – are on the line.
“If we lose one of these games, it becomes out of our grasp,” the coach said.