Chicago Riot Earns Weekend Split, Tops Omaha, 12-6
Published on February 13, 2011 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
VILLA PARK, Ill. (Feb. 13, 2011) -- Chicago Riot scoring leader Bato Radoncic netted three goals as Chicago defeated the Omaha Vipers, 12-6, on Sunday in Major Indoor Soccer League action at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center.
The Riot salvaged a weekend split with the third-place Vipers to stay in the hunt for the third playoff position. Radoncic has a team-high 15 goals this season. The Riot improved to 4-10 on the season and the Vipers dropped to 7-8. Omaha won the season series against Chicago, 3-1.
Next up for the Riot is a two-game road trip starting with a 6 p.m. match on Saturday, Feb. 19, against the Milwaukee Wave at the U.S. Cellular Arena. Chicago then faces the Missouri Comets at 3:10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Independence Events Center.
The Riot's next home match is at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, against Missouri at the Odeum. Tickets for Riot home games start at only $10. Visit www.ChicagoRiotSoccer.com or call 630-708-6284.
On Sunday, the Riot got on the scoreboard first with a Radoncic goal at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter for a 2-0 lead. Eric Duda provided the assisted from the right side, as Radoncic had an easy tap-in with Vipers goalkeeper Josh Miller pushed toward the other goal post.
Vipers defender Chris Brunt responded with a goal at the 7:16 mark of the first to tie the score at 2-2. Omaha's Ibrahim Kante started the attack from the back and fed to Brunt downfield. Brunt cut to his left inside the three-point arc and ripped a left-footed strike past diving Riot goalkeeper Ante Cop and into the right side of the net.
Chicago retook the lead, 4-2, with Anthony Maher's restart goal at the 13:36 mark of the first quarter. Sandre "Sunny" Naumoski took the free kick following a Chris Brunt penalty in the box and dished to Maher in the left corner. The shot went just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.
The see-saw quarter continued as Omaha also scored off a restart at the 14:44 mark of the first quarter to tie the score at 4-4. Ryan Junge netted a goal at close range from the right side, with Victor Quiroz assisting. Cop grabbed the ball in the air, but the officials ruled that it already crossed the goal line.
The Riot opened the second quarter with Radoncic's second goal at the 24-second mark for a 6-4 lead. Eric Lukin took the initial strike from the right side and missed wide left. The ball deflected off the glass and Radoncic was there to rebound and direct the shot into the net.
Semir Mesanovic pushed the Riot's lead to 8-4 with a restart goal at the 11:11 mark of the second quarter, as his left-footed free kick found enough space through the Vipers defense.
Deco halted the Riot's 4-0 run at the 4:33 mark of the third quarter with a power play goal to cut Chicago's lead to 8-6. Chico assisted on the play, capitalizing on a Lukin tripping penalty.
But the Riot responded several minutes later at the 7:44 mark of the third with a Marco Sullo goal to push Chicago's lead to 10-6. Riot target forward Anthony Maher assisted on the play from the left side, finding Sullo making a run in the box and shooting into the left side of the netting.
Radoncic gave the Riot its largest lead of the night at 12-6 with a goal at the 11:23 mark of the fourth. Duda pushed the attack up the middle. He had an opportunity to shoot at the top of the key, but instead dished to his left to Radoncic, as his shot clipped the crossbar and projected down into the ground across the goal line.
In the net, Cop had nine saves for the Riot and Miller had six saves for the Vipers.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 13, 2011
- Chicago Riot Earns Weekend Split, Tops Omaha, 12-6 - Chicago Riot
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