Kleczewski’s goal helps Argo rally past T.F. United
Junior midfielder Gerard Kleczewski takes it up a notch for Argo’s biggest games.
Kleczewski has scored all eight of his goals this season in the Argonauts’ seven South Suburban Conference outings.
“I always feel like there are a bit more nerves and I’m more excited for the bigger games,” Kleczewski said. “I give a huge effort.”
Kleczewski did it again Monday night, scoring the go-ahead goal in the second half as Argo rallied for a 3-1 win over T.F. United in a South Suburban crossover at T.F. North.
The Argonauts (8-2-2, 6-0-1 SSC Red), who trailed 1-0 against T.F. United (5-5, 3-3 SSC Blue), extended their unbeaten streak to eight games. Argo is 7-0-1 over that stretch.
Along with senior forward Mohamed Ahmed, Kleczewski has become a major offensive force this season for the Argonauts. Ahmed, a transfer from Richards who’s in his first season at Argo, scored twice Monday.
“I’ve gone into more of an attacking midfield role than a central one this season,” Kleczewski said. “I get involved in the offense more and have more chances to score.”
Kleczewski gave Argo the lead with 26 minutes, 21 seconds to go off a corner kick from Esteban Duarte.
Duarte’s cross came from the left side of the field across the box toward the right post. Kleczewski crashed in and headed it home.
“We had a corner, and I just got in the right position and hit inside the near post,” Kleczewski said. ““My positioning is key. The way I get into open spaces and the way I create space for my teammates, that’s something I really work on.”
Ahmed gave Argo some cushion with 10:30 to go, taking a free kick from just outside the box along the right sideline and ripping a low liner inside the far post to make it 3-1.
“We had more energy in the second half,” Ahmed said. “Once we got the third goal, we were like, ‘We’ve got it.’ We were playing way better in the second half, and it was big to get that third goal.”
T.F. United struck first in the sixth minute when Diego Gonzalez took a pass from Lexani Gaines, carried the ball down the right side of the field and scored on a high shot.
That held up as the only goal for nearly the rest of the first half as T.F. United defended well.
Argo, though, broke through with just 10 seconds left before halftime when Ahmed took a free kick and scored inside the right post on a 25-yard shot.
“We needed it,” Ahmed said. “It gave us a lot of motivation to start the second half stronger.”
Conversely, T.F. United coach Alejandro Lagunas knew that was the last thing his team needed.
“Those goals at the end of the half are usually the worst ones to give up,” Lagunas said. “I don’t know if our team has the character to bounce back from that. We don’t seem to have a lot of strong kids that can handle that kind of adversity.
“The guys knew they were still in it, but there was a drop-off in the second half, and it seems like the last 10-15 minutes we pick it back up. That seems to be where we’re at this year. That’s the one thing we’re doing consistently.”
Argo, on the other hand, is consistently finding ways to win.
“The way we bond together has really helped us,” Kleczewski said. “The way we pass the ball is really good. Our chemistry is fantastic, way better than last year. We’re more connected.”