Miranda connects for first career goal
By: John E. Powers
After Manville had lost to North Plainfield 1-0 two weeks ago at Panfile Stadium, freshman Jorge Miranda spent a few minutes on the field with his father and family taking shots at an empty net.
The youngster took one shot after another with his left foot and his father rolled the ball back so he could take yet another.
Last Friday, Miranda got an opportunity to do the real thing and he converted, providing a joyful moment in a solid week for the Manville High School boys’ soccer team.
Miranda, playing a defensive midfielder role, scored his first-ever goal as the Mustangs beat David Brearley 2-0 in Manville. The Mustangs (2-8-1) also beat Technology 3-2 Tuesday as Rafal Brozyna, Levan Abramia and Mike Zala scored goals.
"We dominated in the first half, but slept walk in the second," said Manville coach Jim Chiariello, whose team lost to Dayton 2-0 Thursday. "We had a second-half slumber."
Brozyna, a junior forward, is turning into the kind of player that can lift a team from lethargic efforts very quickly.
"He’s incredible," Chiariello said. "He’s very, very talented and he’s exciting to watch."
Brozyna, turning into the kind of offensive star Erick Jimenez was, opened the scoring Friday with a great one-man effort, beating Brearley keeper Timothy Hoagland from just inside the 10-yard line. The goal broke a scoreless tie, but the Mustangs weren’t done. Not long after the junior forward scored, it was Miranda’s turn.
"I thought the goalie was going to kick it out," said Miranda, a native of Costa Rica. "That’s the first time I ever scored goal. I didn’t do it in youth soccer. I was always playing defense, so I really never had many opportunities."
The goal came from about the 18 off an assist by Caleb Cruz and it moved Miranda’s teammate to begin a "Jorge" chant. Even goaltender Aramnd Fodorean joined the serenade for his younger teammate. Fodorean made several outstanding saves to preserve the win and shutout.
But the hero of the day was Miranda, a popular player amongst his teammates with an effervescent smile.
"That was nice," Brozyna said of the goal.
Chiariello said he has looked at Miranda as a role player with "a lot" of skills.
"We were in a conservative mode there," Chiariello said. "We haven’t been able to get that done. People stepped up and Jorge took a long shot and it went in. That hadn’t been happening for us. It finally came together against Brearley."
Brearley had the edge in play in the first half, but Fodorean and a plucky Manville midfield and defense kept the Bears off the board. Abramia, Zala, Kamil Kolodziej, Saulo Blanco and Rich Ozieblo played well
"I thought we had more quality shots than they did it was a physical game on both sides," Chiariello said. "We had Saulo as a sweeper. His timing is incredible."
Manville had a 17-11 edge in shots. Hoagland had 12 saves, while Fodorean made seven. Fodorean stopped junior Eric Dustin close on a header very late in the game and had to make big saves on senior Nick Zalutko. Freshman David Montero was dangerous on rushes.
But Manville also had a missed opportunity or two in the first half. At one point, Jullian Serrato and Brozyna had shots at an open net, but couldn’t get a shot off. But the Mustangs prevailed.
Oscar Alfaro, Manville’s senior forward, who’d been out with a knee injury, returned and played some.
"We’re working him back slowly," Chiariello said.
The Mustangs will need Alfaro if they have any chance of returning to the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. The Mustangs were scheduled to play host to a very good Union Catholic team Tuesday before playing at Oratory Prep Thursday and Somerset Tech Friday, two winnable games.
"Union Catholic is going to be a true test they’ve beaten both Bound Brook and Rahway," Chiariello said. "I’d say we’re a longshot to make the tournament."
The cutoff date to qualify is next Friday, Oct. 22. Next week, the Mustangs will play at Newark Central Monday, play host to Roselle Tuesday and then play at New Providence Thursday.
"That tie we had with Roselle Park really hurt us," the coach said, referring to a recent 1-1 draw between the schools.