Chicago Riot Opens 3-Game, 3-Day Stretch at Omaha on Friday
December 9, 2010 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Chicago Riot News Release
CHICAGO (Dec. 9, 2010) -- The Chicago Riot is less than one month into its first Major Indoor Soccer League season, and the team already faces its toughest physical and mental challenge of the early campaign.
Chicago prepares for a three-game, three-day stretch, starting with a road match against the Omaha Vipers at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the Omaha Civic Auditorium (webcast available through MISL.net; Spanish online radio available at LaMaquinaDeportiva.com). Chicago stays on the road when it heads to Milwaukee on Saturday, Dec. 11, for a 6 p.m. kick-off.
Then the Riot wraps up its stretch with a home match against the Missouri Comets at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, Ill. Recently retired Chicago Fire defender C.J. Brown will be honored before the game. For tickets and more information, visit www.ChicagoRiotSoccer.com or call 630-708-6284.
The Riot and former Chicago Fire defender Krzysztof Krol agreed to terms last week. But his club in Poland, Jagiellonia Bialystok, refused to release or loan him from his contract, which expires on Dec. 31, 2010, so he was not officially signed by the Riot. Krol will train with the Riot through the end of the month as a guest player before returning to Europe to resume his professional outdoor soccer career.
"We are sorry that Krzysztof will not be able to play in any games for the Riot, but we appreciate his desire to represent us," Riot President Peter J. Wilt said.
"I am disappointed," Krol said. "I really wanted to play for the Riot, but I am glad that I will at least be able to train with them to prepare for my return to European soccer."
The Riot (0-2) is coming off a 10-7 loss to the Milwaukee Wave during Chicago's home opener at the Odeum on Sunday. A late fourth-quarter comeback fell short as the Riot still searches for its first victory of the season.
"It all comes to putting the ball away," Riot Head Coach Jeff Kraft said. "The [season-opening] Baltimore game, we didn't have a lot of chances, but against Milwaukee we had a ton. We've got to come out against Omaha and stay focused and stay strong."
Goalkeeper Jeff Richey has been the Riot's vital component through two games, making 16 saves against the Wave and 31 saves for the season. Rookie Dorin Oprea made his Riot debut against Milwaukee and tallied the first three-point goal in Riot history to cut Chicago's deficit to 4-3 in the second quarter.
The Riot most recently signed former Philadelphia KiXX forward Anthony Maher. Maher has played in the MISL since 2002-2003, including a 15-game stretch with the Chicago Storm during the 2005-2006 season. Last season, Maher posted back-to-back hat tricks against La RaZa de Monterrey and the Rockford Rampage in January.
"He brings heart and he brings desire to win, and the ability to score goals," Kraft said. "He has the track record. Anthony will give it everything he has in his shift. His mentality fits in perfectly with this team."
Chicago takes on an Omaha squad that is 1-3 overall and 0-3 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Omaha most recently fell to the Milwaukee Wave, 8-6, on Dec. 2.
The Vipers' Carlos "Chile" Farias, earned MISL Player of the Week earlier this season for a three-goal performance that included a highlight-reel bicycle kick en route to Omaha's 14-10 win over the Missouri Comets on Nov. 19. The Vipers have lost three straight matches since.
Notes:
- Scoring leaders: Riot rookie forward and Chicago native Edward Santeliz leads Chicago with two goals and four points, all coming during the team's season-opening 10-6 loss to the Baltimore Blast. ... Omaha midfielder Ricardo Cavalcante leads the Vipers with six goals and 13 points.
- Familiar faces, local ties: Omaha forward Carlos "Chile" Farias, defender Fabinho and forward Freddy Moojen have previous ties to the Chicago Storm. Fabinho and Vipers defenders Tijani Ayegbusi and Ibrahim Kante previously played for the Rockford Rampage.
- Milestone watch: Riot midfielder Semir Mesanovic is one assist away from 50 for his career and one goal away from 75.
About the Riot's opponent, the Omaha Vipers: One of three new teams for the 2010-2011 MISL season, the Omaha Vipers joined the league in August of 2010 as part of the league's growing Midwest contingent. The Vipers are led by head coach and forward Marcelo Fontana. This is Fontana's first season as a head coach, and before the 2010-2011 season he played in 384 games, scoring 179 goals and accumulating 433 points -- the bulk of his time with the Milwaukee Wave.
Omaha's attacking base includes forward Carlos "Chile" Farias, who was named to the 2009-2010 All-MISL First Team after posting 17 assists, 16 goals and 53 points last season to help lead La RaZa de Monterrey to the championship over host Milwaukee. Farias and Omaha native Ryan Junge were the first two players to sign with the Vipers.
With Monterrey not playing for the 2010-2011 season, the Vipers took advantage by bringing in several other players from the MISL champion La RaZa squad, including goalkeeper Jose Bontti, midfielder Victor Quiroz, forward Shaun David and defender Ibrahim Kante who split his time between Monterrey and the Rockford Rampage.
In late November, the Vipers signed Brazilian defender Fabinho, who finished the 2009-2010 season with the Baltimore Blast. Fabinho has been on several Midwest-based clubs, including the Kansas City Comets, Chicago Storm and Rockford Rampage.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from December 9, 2010
- Chicago Riot Opens 3-Game, 3-Day Stretch at Omaha on Friday - Chicago Riot
- Chicago Riot Partners with Illinois Youth Soccer Association - Chicago Riot
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