Vineyard FC loses Masters title on PK’s but gains promotion

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Vineyard FC posed for a team photo prior to the start of the Masters Division 6 final match Sunday at Lincoln Park in Lexington. — Photo courtesy of Kristófer Rabasca

Vineyard FC came to the end of the road in the New England Over The Hill Soccer League Masters Division 6 final played Sunday at Lincoln Park in Lexington.

After a gutsy 3-2 extra time win over CD Faialense in the Division 6 semifinals on November 11 at Dan McCarthy Field in Oak Bluffs, the undefeated Vineyarders (11-0) finally met their match against the Albania United Veterans (AUV).

VFC lost out on the Division 6 title, 3-2, on penalty kicks, following a 1-1 tie in regulation play. Despite the shootout loss, the Island Copper-sponsored side still gained promotion to Division 5 for the 2013 spring season.

Nacho Vignolo and Gilson “Firehorse” daSilva made their spot kicks, but attempts by Vander Souza, Skip Dostal, and Rudy Fernandez went by the boards; two missed the target and one was saved by AUV keeper Adirley Carlos.

The Albanian Vets scored first during the regulation 90 minutes with a goal early in the second half. Fernandez equalized for VFC in the 65th minute with a spectacular bicycle kick that beat the AUV keeper up high under the crossbar.

Due to darkness, the teams were denied the chance to break the deadlock in the usual two 15-minute extra time periods. Instead, the match proceeded directly to the dreaded PK shootout.