By Dylan Butler
The win increases Cleveland's hold on first-place in Queens West 'A' to five points over second-place Newtown (6-1-3).
“We won, but I wasn't too pleased with the way we played,” said Cleveland head coach Dmitri Darguca. “I know we can play better.”
After the Indians hit the post earlier in the half, Kreshnik took advantage of a rare defensive miscue by the Pioneers and blasted the ball into the bottom right corner of the net from 10 yards out in the 39th minute for the lone goal of the game.
While Newtown is the defending PSAL 'A' champions, Cleveland (8-0-2) has owned the Pioneers at home over the years, holding a 3-0-1 advantage.
With the regular season winding down, Cleveland has the chance to clinch the Queens West 'A' title for the first time since 1991. The Indians finished in second place behind Bryant a year later, before winning the city championship.
“I'm kind of leery about finishing first,” Darguca said.
Cleveland's 1-0 win over Newtown comes on the heels of another hard-fought division win, 1-0 over Newcomers on Friday.
Miguel Lima scored the game-winner for the Indians, putting the ball in the upper right corner of the net after a corner kick with 10 minutes left in the game.
Newcomers 6, John Adams 0. Ming Wing-Hong and Alan Mendoza led the way for Newcomers (6-4 Queens West 'A').
Bayside 2, Robert F. Wagner 0. Max Tai scored both goals for the Commodores (11-0 Queens North 'B').
Campus Magnet 2, Edison 2. Chris Pineda scored the game-tying goal with eight minutes left in the game for Edison (2-5-2 Queens South 'B'). Noe Canales also scored for the Inventors, after Dwayne Lions put Magnet ahead in the first half on an assist from Matthew Ajemba. Phillip Carty also scored for Magnet (2-7-3 Queens South 'B').
Newtown 1, LIC 1. Douglas Navarez scored the lone Pioneers goal. Newtown is 6-0-3 in Queens West 'A'.
Bayside 6, Edison 0. Emre Aksu and Tai scored two goals apiece and Alex Beltran and Gerald Prophete each added a goal to lead the Commodores.
John Adams 1, Aviation 1. Luigi Prudente scored for the Spartans, who improve to 1-3-3 Queens West 'A'.
Richmond Hill 1, Far Rockaway 1. Marlo McCormick tied the game for the Lions in the 63rd minute. Carlos Orozco put the SeaHorses ahead three minutes into the second half. Richmond Hill is 6-4-1 in Queens South 'B' while Far Rockaway is 7-2-1 in Queens South 'B'.
Flushing 1, Franklin K. Lane 0. Han Soo Jun's penalty kick midway through the second half was the difference for Flushing (4-4-2 Queens East 'A').
Richmond Hill 2, Arts & Business 0. Alfonso Rodriguez scored both goals for the Lions. Arts & Business falls to 4-4-1 in Queens South 'B'.
Francis Lewis 3, John Bowne 0. Ilfan Radoncic scored two goals and Cesar Valenzuela added another for the Patriots (6-1-2 Queens East 'A').
Hillcrest 6, Edison 2. Carlyle Williams scored twice, while Kevin James, Horace Reeves, Lonnie Bennet and Travis Chin scored one goal apiece for the Hawks (4-3 Queens North 'B').
Bayside 4, Bryant 1. Michael Dynia, Tai, Prohete and Beltran each scored for Bayside.
Far Rockaway 5, Van Buren 2. Orozco scored two goals for Far Rock and Keygan Jordan scored both goals for the VeeBees (3-6-2 Queens South 'B').
