For the first time in their three year history the Queen's Park Rangers, the OPS soccer team, opened their season with a win, their first ever win in a season opener.
The scoreline suggests a one-way match but it wasn't so. FC Hyundai came out in the early stages showing character, culminating with a shot on goal that hit the cross bar after stand-in goalkeeper Kevin Gocool got a finger-tip to it.
A few minutes later, QPR turned on the intensity. QPR newbie Alex "Number 4" Manore won a ball at the top of the box, and squared it toward Enan Hoque who made no mistake in front of goal. 1-0 QPR at the break.
As the match wore, QPR grew and ten minutes in, they doubled their lead: Rocco Fasano wins a ball in the midfield and offers it to Hadi Fazli wide who squares it across for Enan Hoque who slots in his second of the match. 2-0 QPR.
The Rangers off-season work showed as their oxygen levels held while FC Hyundai, on the other hand, showed fatigue.
This was manifested in QPR's dominating game play in the second half, holding the ball high and stringing a series of passes together in their opponent's end.
At the 30th minute of the second half, QPR adds some insurance. Fasano wins another ball in the midfield, threads a heavy pass through to Soben Durai who hustles for it and anticipates the opposing goalkeeper. 3-0 QPR.
"Two things are evident from today's season opener: first, that we're a mature group with a solid group of returning players, and second that our preseason prep is showing", said QPR captain Rocco Fasano at game's end.
Box score: FC Hyundai 0, QPR 3
QPR Goals: Hoque (2), Durai
QPR Roster:
Goalkeeper: Kevin Gocool
Defenders: Adam Guirguis, Marc Mulchan, Cam Power, Michael Allison.
Midfielders: Bernardo Melendez, Sergio Guillermo, Rocco Fasano, Frederic Kodjayan, Alex Manore, Ezra Houser, Enan Hoque, Dan Yanful, Paul Bovdis.
Forwards: Hadi Fazli, Soben Durai.
Defenders: Adam Guirguis, Marc Mulchan, Cam Power, Michael Allison.
Midfielders: Bernardo Melendez, Sergio Guillermo, Rocco Fasano, Frederic Kodjayan, Alex Manore, Ezra Houser, Enan Hoque, Dan Yanful, Paul Bovdis.
Forwards: Hadi Fazli, Soben Durai.
Absent: Roman Pasternak, Ryan Chippy, Andrew Sansalone, Marco Covi, Chris Olford.
