Matthew Cain photo
New Haven United with the smothering defense.
New Haven United Football Club kicked off their postseason debut in thrilling fashion, edging out Shockers Football Club in a gritty 2 – 1 showdown. It was a hard-earned victory that set the tone for a promising playoff run.
With a true playoff atmosphere buzzing through Yale’s Reese Stadium in Westville, a passionate crowd packed the stands to rally behind one of the league’s youngest and most exciting teams.
“I’ve only been to one game, surprisingly high quality, great level of play,” said Tom Jasinski, who has been living in the city for just over six years.
In their inaugural season as the city’s semi-pro soccer team, New Haven United has transformed Reese Stadium into a true community hub, with fans both younger and older packing the stands and bringing the energy to every game.
New Haven came out firing in the first half Wednesday and looked poised to take control early, pushing the pace with sharp passing and decisive, game-shaping play. But Shockers FC — from Albany, N.Y. — held their ground, coming up with key saves to deny United an early breakthrough, keeping the match scoreless and swinging the momentum back in their favor.
“I thought our energy was really low compared to how we normally start,” head coach Kledis Capollari said.
Although the first half was tense and full of back-and-forth as the scoreboard remained untouched, the anticipation only grew. As the half wore on, Shockers FC began to seize control, dominating possession in the final five minutes with a stretch of composed ball movement that kept New Haven United chasing and disrupted their attacking rhythm.
New Haven stuck to their trademark physical style — something that had defined their season from the start. Shockers FC didn’t back down, matching the intensity and embracing the physical battle, playing right into United’s hands. The heated exchanges and high-stakes tackles throughout the half ultimately led to three minutes of added time, as tensions ran high and neither side gave an inch. The momentum shift hinted that the second half would be anything but predictable.
The first half ended in a scoreless deadlock, with both sides locked in a tense, physical battle. As the teams emerged from the break, the energy inside Reese Stadium was electric — it was still anyone’s game. Both squads came out with renewed urgency, but it was Shockers FC who struck first. In the 52nd minute, a quick counterattack down the right flank led to a low cross into the box, where their striker calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to break the tie and take a 1 – 0 lead.
“That first goal scored picked our energy up,” Capollari said.
With the Shockers now holding the advantage in the second half, New Haven United stayed true to their identity — remaining composed, disciplined, and confident in their game plan despite the pressure.
A dynamic tandem of players Aleksei Armas and Agnaldo Germano stole the spotlight for United, reviving the team when they needed it most. Armas controlled the midfield with precision and poise, dictating the tempo, while Germano’s relentless energy and creativity up top kept the Shockers’ defense on edge. Together, they became the engine behind United’s second-half resurgence.
New Haven United responded with authority in the 68th minute, leveling the score at 1 – 1 and igniting the Reese Stadium crowd. Armas delivered the moment of magic, skipping a perfectly placed shot past the outstretched keeper and into the back of the net. The goal not only tied the match but breathed new life into United and their roaring supporters.
With the game now level, the tension was palpable — anything could happen. As the second-half clock wound down, New Haven United refused to take their foot off the gas. Their relentless pressure paid off once again, and this time it was Germano who delivered. Capitalizing on a defensive lapse, Germano buried the go-ahead goal that painted the top left corner of the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and putting United in control late in the match.
“Over the week we trained and worked on keeping it solid in the back, and that’s what we did,” Germano said after the match.
After clawing back from a one-goal deficit, New Haven United surged ahead 2 – 1 and showed no signs of letting up. With under ten minutes remaining, United maintained their intensity, controlling possession and keeping the pressure on, while Shockers FC threw everything they had in a desperate push to equalize. But it wasn’t enough. United held firm and secured the victory in thrilling fashion, capping off a dramatic and memorable postseason debut.
They now will play in the conference final against Hartford City, a state rival, on July 12, with hopes of making it to the national tournament. New Haven is the youngest team in the league. They’re also one of the toughest, and they aren’t backing down from anybody.
Tom Jasnki and his wife, both New Haven residents, watch the New Haven United playoff game.
New Haven United pushes the attack, controlling the ball up the sideline during the match.