Cincinnati Splits Pair with El Paso

Published on July 9, 2003 under A-League (A-League)
Cincinnati Riverhawks News Release


(El Paso, TX) – The Cincinnati Riverhawks split their weekend trip to El Paso, Texas. Cincinnati lost the first game on Friday, July 4 2-0 but came back to win on Sunday, July 6 3-2. The games put Cincinnati back in second place with a record of 8-9-0 (24 points), three points behind the Minnesota Thunder. The El Paso Patriots fell to 7-8-2 (23 points) and dropped to third place in the Central Division.

Both games were fought hard and were marred by hard fouls and numerous cards. There is no love lost between these two teams. The teams split the two matches played in Cincinnati, which were also hampered by hard fouls. In addition to the fouls, there were a couple of controversial calls in both games.

"I think we played incredible soccer," said coach Nick Ranieri. "We played 4 games in 8 days all in incredible heat."

Ranieri went on to mention that there were a number of bad calls by the referees that could have changed the outcome of the games.

The first game of the weekend, played Friday July 4, started out with El Paso attacking hard in the opening 30 minutes. The attacking paid off in the 28th minute when Laurenco Andrade took a pass from Enrique Cervantes and placed a shot that keeper Eric Pattison nearly saved, but was deflected up into the goal.

El Paso's second goal was the first controversial call. El Paso midfielder Freddy Juarez appeared to be 4-5 yards behind the Cincinnati defense when he received the ball from Jose Abarca. All of the Cincinnati defenders and Pattison stopped and expected an offsides call, but none came. With Pattison not quite ready, Juarez was able to put the ball under the keeper and into the goal.

The Riverhawks came out fired up in the second half and pressed hard. Cincinnati let loose many shots, but were stopped by the posts, the crossbar, and keeper Scott Alexander. Riverhawks midfielder Joaquin Palomeque, who came on in the 53rd minute, received a red card in the 65th minute, the second controversial call of the game. Palomoque's foul on Abarca should have only warranted a yellow, but referee Ricardo Valenzuela thought otherwise.

The two teams met up again the following Sunday, July 6 for another match. This game saw three Riverhawks players score and a few more questionable calls.

Cincinnati scored quickly in the 9th minute off a cross by midfielder Edward Child. Child played a ball from the endline to forward Marcel Matis who shot the ball past Alexander for his third goal of the season.

Cincinnati struck again early in the second half. Midfielder Andres Murraigui served a ball to forward Juan Sastoque who blasted a one-touch shot past Alexander. A large contingent of Riverhawks fans, many of who came to cheer on Sastoque and Midland, TX native Jeremie Piette, went crazy.

El Paso did not give up and scored in both the 56th and 71st minutes to tie the game. This period also saw the Riverhawks receive their second red card of the weekend. Child was bringing the ball down the far side when an El Paso player grabbed his shirt to prevent him from going forward. In an attempt to get the player to release him, Child swung his arm back to try and free himself. Referee Jesse Johnson called the foul on Child and ejected him from the game.

The game remained tied until the 89th minute when El Paso was called for tripping Sastoque in the penalty area setting up a penalty kick for Cincinnati. Midfielder Allen Eller converted the kick which proved to be the game winner.

In the closing minutes, the game seemed to get out of hand with three Patriots receiving red cards. Andrade and Abarca were both sent off in the five minutes of stoppage time added to the half and Victor Arreola was red carded when he got in the face of Johnson immediately after the game.

The win puts Cincinnati back in second place heading into Friday's match up with Central Division leading Minnesota Thunder. Cincinnati also became the A-league's second highest scoring team with 29 goals scored on the season so far.

"We will give it our best," said Ranieri when asked about the game. "Our goal is to win and we will do what it takes."

The Riverhawks return home to the Town & Country Sports Complex for their first match up with the Milwaukee Wave United, July 19 at 7:05 pm.

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A-League Stories from July 9, 2003


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