Chicago Riot Hosts Missouri on Sunday at Odeum
February 5, 2011 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
CHICAGO (Feb. 5, 2011) -- The Chicago Riot looks to put an end to its three-game losing streak when it hosts the Missouri Comets at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill. The game is available on a live webcast accessible through MISL.net, and includes Spanish-language radio at LaMaquinaDeportiva.com .
Tickets are available starting at $10 at www.ChicagoRiotSoccer.comor by calling 630-708-6284.
The Riot is coming off a 15-10 loss to the Baltimore Blast on Jan. 30 at the Odeum. Chicago held a 10-9 fourth-quarter lead until the Blast scored the game's final six points. Chicago's previous four games consisted of three matches against Baltimore and one game against the Milwaukee Wave, both of which has held the lead in the MISL standings. The Riot posted a 1-3 record during that stretch.
The Riot (2-9) and Comets (4-10) have split their season series, with Chicago garnering a 14-13 win over Missouri on Dec. 19. The Comets then posted an 11-9 overtime win on Jan. 7. Both games were played at the Independence Events Center. Sunday's match marks Missouri's first appearance at the Odeum.
Riot goalkeeper Jeff Richey (hamstring) was upgraded to probable in this week's MISL Injury Report. Goalkeeper Ante Cop has started the past four Riot matches. The Riot is without defender/midfielder Chris Brisson(knee), and Sandre "Sunny" Naumoski is questionable with a hamstring injury.
The Comets have lost their past two matches. Missouri dropped a 17-16 decision to Milwaukee on Jan. 28, followed by a 16-10 loss to the Omaha Vipers on Jan. 30. Following Sunday's match, the Comets have a two-week break before they host the Riot on Feb. 20.
The Riot is 1-3 at home this season, and the Comets are 3-3 on the road.
Notes: - Scoring leaders: Riot forward Bato Radoncic leads Chicago with 19 points and seven goals. Radoncic also is tied for the team assists lead with captain Fred Degand. Both players have five assists. ... Forward Byron Alvarez leads the Comets with 20 goals and 49 points. He also has eight assists. Missouri forward Leo Gibson leads his squad with 10 assists.
- 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.
- Milestone watch: Riot midfielder Ptah Myers needs two goals for 75 in his career.
- On the horizon: The Riot and Comets originally had a Dec. 12 match that was postponed because of inclement weather. That rescheduled match takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Odeum. ... Chicago and Missouri play each other three more times following Sunday's game. The Riot travels to Missouri on Feb. 20, hosts the Comets on Feb. 26 and heads back to Missouri on March 6 for Chicago's regular-season finale.
About the Riot's opponent, the 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' 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' 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'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.
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Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 5, 2011
- Chicago Riot Hosts Missouri on Sunday at Odeum - Chicago Riot
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