| 2004 ASA NORTH EAST MAJOR OPEN August 7, 2004 in Farmington, CT |
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Players/ State/ ASA Rank
Massimo Conturso/ Connecticut/ 3
Andrea Gasparini/ Massachusetts/ 6
Jim Taylor/ Connecticut/ 8
Mike Benkart/ Pennsylvania/ 13
Ed Morgans/ Maryland/ 20
Miguel Marques/ Connecticut/ 21
Rick Marques/ Connecticut/ 25
Sergio Sensini/ Connecticut/ 39
Bob Wawrzeniak/ Connecticut/ nr
Alex Lencastre/ Connecticut/ nr
Massimo Conturso/ Connecticut/ 3
Andrea Gasparini/ Massachusetts/ 6
Jim Taylor/ Connecticut/ 8
Mike Benkart/ Pennsylvania/ 13
Ed Morgans/ Maryland/ 20
Miguel Marques/ Connecticut/ 21
Rick Marques/ Connecticut/ 25
Sergio Sensini/ Connecticut/ 39
Bob Wawrzeniak/ Connecticut/ nr
Alex Lencastre/ Connecticut/ nr
The inaugural North East Major Open will certainly not be remembered for the number of players
that met in Farmington. A series of last-minute work duties, pull-offs and accidents--SCC U19
Ostap Mishtal broke his arm the night before the tournament in a mountain-bike crash--denied the
top ranked player, Massimo Conturso the chance to aim for the top spot in the country as he was
8 points behind the ASA Rankings leader, national champion Gregg Deinhart.
But certainly, the tournament will be remembered all over the US Subbuteo community as the
first, unforgettable ASA win for the current Connecticut State Champion, Portuguese Miguel
Marques!
Miguel was drawn in the Group of Death along with his brother Rick, US Top Ten's Jim Taylor and
Andrea Gasparini, and newcomer Alex Lencastre from Yale University. He allowed only one goal in
the whole 7-hour tournament (1-1 Jim Taylor) and showed how to apply the cinism and praticity
of the Greek Men's Soccer National team to Subbuteo. After winning Group A with 8 points (2
wins, 2 ties), Marques first routed 3-0 Maryland's Ed Morgans. Then, with a 1-0 decision over Mike
Benkart from Pittsburgh, he obtained the pass to the final where he met long-time rival Massimo
Conturso. The Italian arrived to the Championship Match by going thru a much easier group in
which he managed 4 wins out of 4, 14-2 on goals. The knock-out stage proved to be quite
intense for Conturso as he had to face Jim Taylor in the Quarterfinals (2-0) and Andrea Gasparini in
the Semifinals (1-0). This game in particular drawn away most of Massimo's mental energy that not
even his proverbal espresso shots were able to restore.
The Final wasn't particularly spectacular as Marques played a very conservative match and Conturso
wasn't able to capitalize his extended ball possession. Except a post hit by the Italian in the second
half, the match didn't offer major thrills. Miguel's plan was clear: tight defense and counterattacks
on the wings to exploit a possible defensive flicking error that punctually arrived in the second
overtime half. With a long distance flick, the Lusitano hooked the ball on Massimo's shooting line,
avoided the desperate attempt of stealing by the Italian and blasted the ball right under the far
upper corner.
Absolutely perfect. Unforgettable.
that met in Farmington. A series of last-minute work duties, pull-offs and accidents--SCC U19
Ostap Mishtal broke his arm the night before the tournament in a mountain-bike crash--denied the
top ranked player, Massimo Conturso the chance to aim for the top spot in the country as he was
8 points behind the ASA Rankings leader, national champion Gregg Deinhart.
But certainly, the tournament will be remembered all over the US Subbuteo community as the
first, unforgettable ASA win for the current Connecticut State Champion, Portuguese Miguel
Marques!
Miguel was drawn in the Group of Death along with his brother Rick, US Top Ten's Jim Taylor and
Andrea Gasparini, and newcomer Alex Lencastre from Yale University. He allowed only one goal in
the whole 7-hour tournament (1-1 Jim Taylor) and showed how to apply the cinism and praticity
of the Greek Men's Soccer National team to Subbuteo. After winning Group A with 8 points (2
wins, 2 ties), Marques first routed 3-0 Maryland's Ed Morgans. Then, with a 1-0 decision over Mike
Benkart from Pittsburgh, he obtained the pass to the final where he met long-time rival Massimo
Conturso. The Italian arrived to the Championship Match by going thru a much easier group in
which he managed 4 wins out of 4, 14-2 on goals. The knock-out stage proved to be quite
intense for Conturso as he had to face Jim Taylor in the Quarterfinals (2-0) and Andrea Gasparini in
the Semifinals (1-0). This game in particular drawn away most of Massimo's mental energy that not
even his proverbal espresso shots were able to restore.
The Final wasn't particularly spectacular as Marques played a very conservative match and Conturso
wasn't able to capitalize his extended ball possession. Except a post hit by the Italian in the second
half, the match didn't offer major thrills. Miguel's plan was clear: tight defense and counterattacks
on the wings to exploit a possible defensive flicking error that punctually arrived in the second
overtime half. With a long distance flick, the Lusitano hooked the ball on Massimo's shooting line,
avoided the desperate attempt of stealing by the Italian and blasted the ball right under the far
upper corner.
Absolutely perfect. Unforgettable.
GROUP A
ANDREA GASPARINI 2-0 RICK MARQUES
MIGUEL MARQUES 5-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
JIM TAYLOR 1-1 MIGUEL MARQUES
RICK MARQUES 5-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
JIM TAYLOR 4-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
MIGUEL MARQUES 1-0 ANDREA GASPARINI
ANDREA GASPARINI 4-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
JIM TAYLOR 1-2 RICK MARQUES
JIM TAYLOR 1-1 ANDREA GASPARINI
RICK MARQUES 0-0 MIGUEL MARQUES
ANDREA GASPARINI 2-0 RICK MARQUES
MIGUEL MARQUES 5-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
JIM TAYLOR 1-1 MIGUEL MARQUES
RICK MARQUES 5-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
JIM TAYLOR 4-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
MIGUEL MARQUES 1-0 ANDREA GASPARINI
ANDREA GASPARINI 4-0 ALEX LENCASTRE
JIM TAYLOR 1-2 RICK MARQUES
JIM TAYLOR 1-1 ANDREA GASPARINI
RICK MARQUES 0-0 MIGUEL MARQUES
GROUP B
MIKE BENKART 0-0 ED MORGANS
SERGIO SENSINI 3-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
ED MORGANS 2-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
MASSIMO CONTURSO 2-0 SERGIO SENSINI
MASSIMO CONTURSO 4-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
MIKE BENKART 1-0 SERGIO SENSINI
MASSIMO CONTURSO 6-1 ED MORGANS
MIKE BENKART 4-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
MASSIMO CONTURSO 2-1 MIKE BENKART
ED MORGANS 2-3 SERGIO SENSINI
MIKE BENKART 0-0 ED MORGANS
SERGIO SENSINI 3-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
ED MORGANS 2-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
MASSIMO CONTURSO 2-0 SERGIO SENSINI
MASSIMO CONTURSO 4-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
MIKE BENKART 1-0 SERGIO SENSINI
MASSIMO CONTURSO 6-1 ED MORGANS
MIKE BENKART 4-0 BOB WAWRZENIAK
MASSIMO CONTURSO 2-1 MIKE BENKART
ED MORGANS 2-3 SERGIO SENSINI
QUARTERFINALS
MIGUEL MARQUES 3-0 ED MORGANS
MASSIMO CONTURSO 2-0 JIM TAYLOR
ANDREA GASPARINI 2-1 SERGIO SENSINI
RICK MARQUES 1-4 MIKE BENKART
SEMIFINALS
MIGUEL MARQUES 1-0 MIKE BENKART
MASSIMO CONTURSO 1-0 ANDREA GASPARINI
FINALS
9th-10th place
BOB WAWRZENIAK 3-0 (F) ALEX LENCASTRE
7th-8th place
JIM TAYLOR 0-0 (F) SERGIO SENSINI
5th-6th place
RICK MARQUES 1-0 ED MORGANS
3rd-4th place
ANDREA GASPARINI 1-0 MIKE BENKART
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MASSIMO CONTURSO
0-1 (OT)
MIGUEL MARQUES
MIGUEL MARQUES 3-0 ED MORGANS
MASSIMO CONTURSO 2-0 JIM TAYLOR
ANDREA GASPARINI 2-1 SERGIO SENSINI
RICK MARQUES 1-4 MIKE BENKART
SEMIFINALS
MIGUEL MARQUES 1-0 MIKE BENKART
MASSIMO CONTURSO 1-0 ANDREA GASPARINI
FINALS
9th-10th place
BOB WAWRZENIAK 3-0 (F) ALEX LENCASTRE
7th-8th place
JIM TAYLOR 0-0 (F) SERGIO SENSINI
5th-6th place
RICK MARQUES 1-0 ED MORGANS
3rd-4th place
ANDREA GASPARINI 1-0 MIKE BENKART
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
MASSIMO CONTURSO
0-1 (OT)
MIGUEL MARQUES
2004 ASA NEMO RANKINGS:
1.
Miguel Marques
2.
Massimo Conturso
3.
Andrea Gasparini
4.
Mike Benkart
5.
Rick Marques
6.
Ed Morgans
7.
Jim Taylor
Sergio Sensini
9.
Bob Wawrzeniak
10.
Alex Lencastre
1.
Miguel Marques
2.
Massimo Conturso
3.
Andrea Gasparini
4.
Mike Benkart
5.
Rick Marques
6.
Ed Morgans
7.
Jim Taylor
Sergio Sensini
9.
Bob Wawrzeniak
10.
Alex Lencastre