Chicago Riot Falls to Baltimore, 16-13, in OT
February 27, 2011 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
VILLA PARK, Ill. (Feb. 27, 2011) -- With the Chicago Riot playing the role of spoiler for the remainder of the season, the Riot pushed the first-place Baltimore Blast beyond regulation on Sunday. But the Blast pulled off a 16-13 overtime victory in Major Indoor Soccer League action at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center.
Max Ferdinand netted a game-winning three-point goal at the 5:15 mark of overtime to give Baltimore the victory. Before his game-winner, Riot goalkeeper Jeff Richey made several big saves in the extra session. But Ferdinand's strike above the arc clipped the left post and went into the net for the winner.
The Riot capped off their home schedule with a 3-5 record and fell to 4-14 overall. Baltimore improved to 14-3 and is one victory away from clinching the regular-season title.
Next up for the Riot is the team's final two-game road swing against Baltimore at 6:35 p.m. CT Friday, March 4, at 1st Mariner Arena, followed by a 3:10 p.m. match on Sunday, March 6, against the Missouri Comets at the Independence Events Center.
On Sunday, all-purpose player Ante Cop gave the Riot the early 2-0 lead at the 5:09 mark of the first quarter. Alex Megson fed Cop the ball in the left corner. Rather than taking the shot quickly, Cop, patiently waited for Blast goalkeeper Sagu to commit, finding an opening to net his second goal of the season.
Chicago extended its lead to 4-0 at the 8:52 mark of the first quarter by Fred Degand, who was coming off a one-game red card suspension served Saturday against Missouri. Degand had a tap-in goal at the right side of the goal, with Novica "Novi" Marojevic assisting.
Just before the end of the first quarter, Machel Millwood got the Blast on the scoreboard with a two-pointer at the 14:25 mark to cut Chicago's lead to 4-2.
The Blast's Matt Watson tied the score at 4-4 at the 1:33 mark of the second quarter, with Robbie Aristodemo assisting from the right corner. Watson then netted his second goal of the game, unassisted, at the 3:45 mark of the second quarter after winning the ball from Chicago defender Chris Brisson. Baltimore's 6-0 run and 6-4 lead forced Riot Head Coach Jeff Kraft into using a timeout to attempt to swing the momentum.
Chicago's Semir Mesanovic ended the Blast's run with an unassisted power play goal at the 10:27 mark of the second quarter. Mesanovic took the restart opportunity from the right corner, the shot deflected off of Sagu and trickled into the net to tie the score at 6-6.
Riot defender Eric Duda then converged near the net as he shot the ball above Sagu and into the back of the net at the 13:47 mark to take an 8-6 lead into halftime.
Ferdinand took advantage of a power play chance with a goal at the 2:23 mark of the third quarter to tie the score at 8-8. Marco Sullo was called for boarding a little more than a minute earlier.
The Riot's three-point goal leader Novi netted a triple on the power play at the 9:56 mark of the third quarter to take an 11-8 lead. That goal came shortly after a Pat Morris tripping penalty. Novi has four three-pointers on the season.
Then the Riot's Alex Megson dribbled coast-to-coast, took a shot that went wide left but followed it up with a goal past Sagu at the 2:28 mark of the fourth quarter to push Chicago's lead to 13-8.
The Blast's Warren Ukah responded with an unassisted three-point goal at the 4:52 mark of the fourth to cut Chicago's lead to 13-11. Richey was on top of the shot, but he could not quite get enough of the ball to deflect the trajectory of the shot from going into the net.
Baltimore's Millwood tied the score, 13-13, at the 10:52 mark of the fourth quarter. Following an Eric Lukin penalty, Giuliano Celenza took a shootout opportunity. Celenza dribbled to his left and managed a shot against Richey, which was turned away. But Millwood quickly stepped in and finished things off with the power play goal.
In the overtime, Richey came up with several big saves in a variety of ways before Ferdinand tallied the winner at the 5:15 mark.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 27, 2011
- Chicago Riot Falls to Baltimore, 16-13, in OT - Chicago Riot
- Playoff hungry Comets dominate Chicago in 23-7 rout - Kansas City Comets
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