Chris Carrieri\'s Double Propels the Chicago Storm Over Cleveland 6-5

Published on November 3, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Chicago Storm News Release


Chicago (Wednesday, November 3, 2004) – The Chicago Storm (2-1) won their first home game in the history of the organization as they defeated the Cleveland Force (0-2), at the UIC Pavilion. Storm midfielder Chris Carrieri scored the game-winning goal with 56 seconds remaining in the contest. The win puts Chicago in first-place in the Central Division with a half game lead on Milwaukee. The Storm and Force will clash again on Saturday, November 6 in Cleveland at 3:05 p.m. CT at the Convocation Center. Cleveland Head Coach Omid Namazi will be suspended for the contest as he was issued a red card after the game was completed for dissent to the referees.

In fourth quarter, the Storm took advantage of a blue card power play called on Cleveland defender John Ball with 1:30 left to play. After restarting play, defender Costea Decu recorded his second assist of the game when he found Carrieri who fired in the game-winner. The goal marked the second of the game for the Stafford, Vir. native as he increased his season total to three.

Prior to the goal, Ball was whistled for an intentional handball as he attempted to stop a clearance from the Storm's Lazo Alavanja. The referee Rich Grady called the infraction and Namazi shouted from the bench. The coach was issued a yellow card and after the game ended on the Carrieri goal, he charged the referee throwing his suit jacket at him. The official issued him a red card, which will suspend him for the game on Saturday. The players also got involved in the altercation, but the coach was the only one issued a card.

In the first quarter, the Storm got on the board first when Decu found forward Byron Alvarez in the box where he blasted in his third goal in consecutive games. Decu's pass slipped through the Force defenders, connecting with Alvarez, who scored past Force goalkeeper Jim Larkin. The Storm did not score again until 1:00 left to go in the second quarter. The "Yellow and Black" took advantage of a 2:00 power play goal when defender Lazo Alavanja recorded his first of two assists on the night when he connected with Carrieri. Storm goalkeeper Danny Waltman's stellar play helped the team shut out Cleveland in the first half of play, recording 9 saves.

The Force scored their first goal at the start of the third quarter when Antonio Sutton knocked home a pass from Ball 17 seconds into the quarter. The Force tied the game at three, but the Storm was able to get goals from Jonah Long and Decu to pull ahead to 5-4. Cleveland forward Chris Handsor tied the game at 5-5 with 3:22 remaining, but the Storm countered and won the contest.

The Storm will return to the UIC Pavilion on Wednesday, November 3 to face the Cleveland Force at 7:00 p.m. CT. The game can be heard live on www.chicagostorm.net.

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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from November 3, 2004


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