Arena Soccer World Cup Game Notes - Day 2
March 24, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Ontario Fury News Release
Welcome to CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA in ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA, the home of the ONTARIO FURY of the MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE. Today, we will feature the second day of GROUP A action in the inaugural WORLD MINIFOOTBALL FEDERATION WORLD CUP. Today's games will feature KAZAKHSTAN taking on the CZECH REPUBLIC at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, with EL SALVADOR meeting the host country UNITED STATES, which is set to kickoff about 7:30 p.m.
BIG BOMBER
On a team full of players from the top teams in the MASL, it was a member of the Wichita B-52s who did the most scoring damage for the United States on Monday night. Matt Clare, who finished 10th in the league in scoring (35 goals, 13 assists in 17 games), had team USA's first hat trick of the tournament as the Americans beat Kazakhstan, 10-1.
DEFENSE DOESN'T REST
Part of the American's success in Game 1 was in ball control. Team USA controlled the flow of play throughout the game, limiting Kazakhstan to mostly counterattack opportunities, which were quickly defused by retreating defenders. In all, team USA only allowed five shots on goal from Kazakhstan, only one of which found the back of the net.
FIT TO BE TIED
Ondrej Padera's two goals in the final 2:36 helped the Czech Republic secure the tournament's first tie game, as they earned a 5-5 draw with El Salvador. The equalizer came on the power play, as John Lopez was in the penalty box after receiving a yellow card for tripping.
HATS OFF
The group's opening game also featured a strong offensive performance, as El Salvador's Halil Jam Monterrosa scored three times. One of his goals also came on the power play, as Michal Uhlir was in the penalty box for a tripping penalty.
FANS TURN OUT
A crowd of 3,128 fans was in attendance at Citizens Business Bank Arena for Monday night's Group A opening games. The total eclipsed the Ontario Fury's 2014-15 season average, which was 2,503 per game, which ranked the Fury 11th in the 23-team MASL.
STAY CLASSY
After tonight's games, the teams will take the 100-plus mile drive south to San Diego for the final games of Group A play at the Valley View Casino Center arena, home of the San Diego Sockers. The action will kickoff Wednesday at 5:30 as Kazakhstan will take on El Salvador in the opening game. The United States will close out its group schedule against the Czech Republic. All games in the tournament are being streamed online on Go Live Sports Cast at golivesportscast.com.
TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE
GROUP A
W L T GF GA
United States 1 0 0 10 1
Czech Republic 0 0 1 5 5
El Salvador 0 0 1 5 5
Kazakhstan 0 1 0 1 10
GROUP B
W L T GF GA
Mexico 3 0 0 49 4
Romania 2 1 0 31 9
Germany 1 2 0 32 17
India 0 3 0 1 83
GROUP C
W L T GF GA
Brazil 1 0 0 9 4
Canada 1 0 0 10 6
Russia 0 1 0 4 9
Serbia 0 1 0 6 10
MONDAY'S RESULTS
El Salvador 5, Czech Republic 5 (draw)
Mexico 33, India 0
Brazil 9, Russia 4
United States 10, Kazakhstan 1
Romania 7, Germany 2
Canada 10, Serbia 6
TODAY'S GAMES
Czech Republic vs. Kazakhstan
Russia vs. Serbia
Brazil vs. Canada
United States vs. El Salvador
WEDNESDAY'S GAMES
El Salvador vs. Kazakhstan
Russia vs. Canada
Brazil vs. Serbia
United States vs. Czech Republic
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD CUP
Group B - which played in Allen, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas - finished up play Monday night with Mexico on top of the table after sweeping Romania, Germany and India. The Mexican side finished group play with a 33-0 victory over India.
The Indian team, featuring mostly teenagers playing their first-ever games using boards, gave up 83 goals in three games. Romania finished second in the group, beating Germany 7-2 in the other group game Monday, which guarantees the Romanians a spot in the quarterfinals. Germany must wait for the results of the other groups before finding out its fate.
Brazil and Canada opened Group C play in Rochester, N.Y., with victories over Serbia and Russia, respectively. Brazil picked up their victory using a makeshift lineup after many of its players were stranded due to weather-related flight restrictions. Many members of the team, including San Diego's Ze Roberto and the Ontario Fury's Tiguinho, are flying to join the team in Flint, Mich., for the final two games of group play. The weather also delayed Major Arena Soccer League Commissioner - and tournament director - Kevin Milliken in Dallas, unable to fly to Ontario for Monday's games.
QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE
The top two teams in each group and the two best third place teams will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Mexico, having won Group B, has already secured its spot in the next round, and will play Thursday at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa, Okla. against either the second or third place team from Group A. The winner of Group A will also be on its way to Tulsa, and will play Friday against the third place from Group B or C. The winner of Group C will play in Flint, Mich. On Thursday against the second or third place team from Group A. The second place teams from Groups B and C will face off Thursday in Tulsa.
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 24, 2015
- Canada Beats Serbia 10-6 in 2015 WMF Arena World Cup Action - Waza Flo
- Arena Soccer World Cup Game Notes - Day 2 - Ontario Fury
- Team USA Opens WMF World Cup Play with 10-1 Win over Kazakhstan - San Diego Sockers
- United States Rolls; Czechs Rally To Tie El Salvador - Ontario Fury
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