Bledi Bardic is back in form with Cedar Stars Academy. (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)
In his first game in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League Sunday, Bledi Bardic picked up where he left off with Cosmos B.
Bardic recorded a brace in the Cedar Stars Academy’s 6-1 rout of Zum Schneider in the First Division opener for both teams Sunday.
Chris Katona, who paced the CSL with 26 goals last season, also picked up where he left off, tallying four times in the match. Katona also performed for FC Motown, which reached the NPSL championship before losing to Miami FC 2 this past summer.
Bardic enjoyed an all-star season with Cosmos B in the National Premier Soccer League, scoring 12 goals in 11 matches before a hamstring injury during the preseason ended his season prematurely.
With his hamstring healed, the striker wanted to keep in shape waiting for the 2019 season, so he signed with Cedar Stars through December.
Asked about his hamstring, Bardic replied, “Thank God good. I have been training hard last six weeks.”
Bardic and Katona give Cedar Stars an imposing dynamic duo up front. It isn’t easy covering two high-scoring strikers.
“Cedar Stars is very good team,” Bardic said. “And definitely it was good to get 90 minutes to stay and shape and sharp. Scoring goals is always good but it is most important to stay fit and help them any way I can in these three months.”
Another Cosmos B player, right back Jonathan Borrajo also has hooked up with a CSL First Division side, the N.Y. Pancyprians.
Borrajo set up the first and fourth goals of the 4-1 triumph over the New York Athletic Club.
Former MetroStars and Columbus Crew midfielder Jeff Matteo scored the Pancyprians’ final goal.
