Chicago Riot Hosts Missouri, Baltimore to Wrap up Home Slate at Odeum
February 25, 2011 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
CHICAGO (Feb. 25, 2011) -- The Chicago Riot hosts a two-game weekend homestand, starting with an 8 p.m. match on Saturday, Feb. 26, against the Missouri Comets at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center. The Riot then welcomes the Baltimore Blast for a 7 p.m. match Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Odeum, to wrap up Chicago ¬â¢s home slate for the 2010-2011 MISL season.
Both games are available through a live webcast accessible through MISL.net, and Spanish-language radio at LaMaquinaDeportiva.com.
This weekend's games also include a free post-game performance at the upstairs Odeum Lounge. Following Saturday's match, stick around for a show by Chicago band Riot Inside. Then on Sunday, singer and songwriter Shannon Behm will perform the national anthem, sing at halftime and post-game in the Odeum Lounge.
Tickets start at only $10. Visit www.ChicagoRiotSoccer.com or call 630-708-6284.
The Riot (4-12) is coming off a two-loss weekend road trip that included a 20-4 defeat against the Milwaukee Wave on Feb. 19 at the U.S. Cellular Arena, followed by a 9-7 loss against Missouri on Feb. 20 at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo. In the latter match, Chicago held a 7-2 fourth-quarter lead before the Comets ended the game on a 9-0 run.
"In Kansas City, we played like everything was on the line, which it was," Riot Head Coach Jeff Kraft said. "I was extremely happy Sunday and extremely disappointed Sunday. We lost it in the fourth quarter, and we had our chances. We can't afford to lose."
Chicago dropped to 1-9 on the road, and the team ¬â¢s playoff hopes rest on every Riot win or Omaha Vipers loss. Third-place Omaha plays Missouri on Friday, and if the Vipers win, Chicago will be eliminated from postseason contention.
The Riot is looking forward to returning to the Odeum, where the team has posted a 3-3 record and has won three of its past four home matches.
Chicago will be without its captain, Fred Degand. Degand was issued a violent conduct red card during the Feb. 20 game against Missouri and will miss Saturday ¬â¢s rematch against the Comets.
Injury-wise, Brazilian midfielder Andre is out this weekend (groin). But defender and midfielder Chris Brisson has been upgraded to questionable with his knee injury.
"Chris might have a game in him this weekend," Kraft said. "He's really close to coming back and cracking the lineup. His rehab has gone really well and he's been practicing. We're hopeful."
The Comets (5-11) have posted a 3-4 record on the road this season, with their last road win taking place on Jan. 23 against Omaha, a 21-20 decision that included a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter.
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Notes:
¬Â¢ Scoring leaders: Riot forward Bato Radoncic leads Chicago with 39 points and 16 goals. Radoncic and Fred Degand are tied for the team lead with seven assists. ... Heading into the weekend, Comets forward Byron Alvarez leads the MISL with 58 points and 24 goals. Jamar Beasley and Leo Gibson are tied for the team lead with 10 assists.
¬Â¢ Familiar faces, local ties: Riot head coach Jeff Kraft started his playing career with the Kansas City Comets in 1986-1987. ... Riot midfielders Miodrag Djerisilo and Sandre Naumoski and forward Anthony Maher have played for the K.C. Comets. ... Comets goalkeeper Danny Waltman has played for the Chicago Storm and Rockford Rampage. ... Comets forward Jamar Beasley has ties to the Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer) and Rockford Rampage, Byron Alvarez spent two seasons with the Chicago Storm, and Leo Gibson and Geison Moura previously played for Rockford.
¬Â¢ Kletzien moves up: Riot defender Will Kletzien is now tied for second in the MISL with 29 blocks. Baltimore ¬â¢s Pat Morris also has 29, and the Blast ¬â¢s Mike Lookingland leads the league with 32. With Kletzien ¬â¢s two blocks against Missouri last week, he now has 75 for his career.
¬Â¢ Milestone watch: Riot midfielder Ptah Myers needs one goal for 75 in his career. ... Semir Mesanovic needs five points for 200 in his career.
¬Â¢ MISL Injury Report: Chicago Riot -- Andre (groin, out), Chris Brisson (knee, questionable); Missouri Comets -- Jeff Davis (quad, out), Brian Harris (back, questionable), Nate Houser (hamstring, out), Stefan Stokic (knee, questionable).
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About the Riot's opponent, the Missouri Comets: In July of 2010, the Missouri Comets joined the Major Indoor Soccer League, bringing back the indoor game to the Greater Kansas City area. Former Kansas City Comets and Wichita Wings All-Star Kim Roentved is the Comets ¬â¢ head coach. The Copenhagen, Denmark, native joined the Comets in 1987 as a player and was part of the organization until it folded in the summer of 1991.
The Comets ¬â¢ first two signings were goalkeeper Danny Waltman and forward Worteh Sampson. Waltman, well known for his back-flips and energetic demeanor, previously played for the Detroit Ignition, Chicago Storm and Rockford Rampage. Waltman ¬â¢s standout campaign was in 2008-2009, when he led Detroit to the Xtreme Soccer League title and earned MVP honors.
The squad includes several former Rockford players from the 2009-2010 season, including forward Leo Gibson, midfielder Geison Moura and forward Jamar Beasley. Beasley started his indoor career with Kansas City during the 2003-2004 season. Before then, he had an outdoor career in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution and then scored a career-high four goals in 18 games for the Chicago Fire.
The Comets play their home games at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 25, 2011
- Comets Win Second Home Game In A Row - Kansas City Comets
- Chicago Riot Hosts Missouri, Baltimore to Wrap up Home Slate at Odeum - Chicago Riot
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