[TROFEO COSTA GAIA] The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association ODP-South team became the first American team to make the semifinals at the 25th annual Trofeo Costa Gaia in Sicily.

The ODP team, with players from all over New York City and Long Island, was coached by Luis Alberto, who played professionally for Boca Juniors in his native Argentina and then indoors in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the New York Arrows and the New York Express over two decades ago.

Daniel Lambert (Manhattan Emelec) had both goals in a 2-2 tie with Folgore, while Danny Nugent (Manhattan Emelec) scoring in 1-0 wins over Citta di Ribera and Castelvetrano and Anthony Morales (Franklin Square Thunder) had the lone goal in the 1-0 victory over Aurora Mazara.

Losses came SC Ieto (1-0) and Inter Milan (4-0).

“We were staying in the same hotel as Inter and you could see the large physical difference between their players and ours,” said Alberto. “It was a fun trip that was something different for the kids. It was good to see the competition and to play Inter, which was better than everybody else.”