Slipping and slopping on a muddy field, Bethlehem Steel F. C., proved better mudhorses than the New York Giants and the close of the forty minutes hostilities saw the national champions winners by the score of 6 goals to 1. The game was an American Soccer League contest and by virtue thereof the champions annexed the two points and climbed a peg closer in the percentage column in clinching the league title.
One of the surprising features of the Giants' style was the short passing game they resorted to. The Giants, as a rule, are the kick and rush type of players, swinging long drives to the vicinity of the goal and hoping for a forward to be in the vicinity for a parting shot at the net. The heavy fall might have been responsible for the absence of this rush style of play for the long drives were few and far between.
Stung by a goal in the early minutes of the game the Steelmen put on pressure and from then on to the final whistle the visitors were mostly a defensive team. The Giants opened the scoring when a drive from the left wing struck the upright and rebounded in front of the net. Before Bethlehem could clear Schwartz was on the ball and converted the break into a goal.
Archie Stark, playing inside right instead of center forward, put Bethlehem in the running with the equalizer to which McDonald, plying in his usual good form, contributed. The goal come on a free kick when Geudert fizzled in handling the ball and Stark took advantage of the opportunity to place it in the net.
McDonald's goal came quite unexpectedly when Bethlehem was awarded a free kick from thirty or more yards out and close to the side line markings. McDonald drove hard, the ball sailing high. Geudert, apparently misjudged the direction, believing the ball would go by made a feeble effort to save and the ball just about passed under the cross bar into the far corner of the net.
The lineup:
Bethlehem -- N. Y. Giants
Edwards -- G - -Geudert
Barrie -- RFB -- Tandler
Allan -- LHB -- Reynolds
McDonald -- RHB -- Pollack
Carnihan -- CHB -- Guttman
McGregor - -LHB -- McKinney
Jaap -- OR -- Schwartz
Stark -- IR -- Hamesler
Gillespie -- CF -- Brown
Granger -- IL -- Hierlander
Goldie -- OL -- Greunwald
Goals: Gillespie 3, McDonald, Granger, Stark, Schwartz. Referee: Bloom. Time of halves: 45 minute.