Comets Beat Chicago, Win Series and Retake Top of the Central
Published on February 6, 2016 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Kansas City Comets News Release
INDEPENDENCE, Missouri - The Missouri Comets (13-3) suffered at the end, but defeated the Chicago Mustangs (13-4) 7-6 in front of 3,308 fans at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena to win the series 2-1 and retake the top of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Central Division.
Reigning league MVP Leo Gibson was named Borden Man of the Match after recording one goal and three assists for a total of four points.
Despite a tremendous come-from-behind effort led by "Bofo" Bautista, who shortened the lead for the visitors with three goals in the final five minutes, Missouri was able to earn a hard fought and valuable victory at home. Bautista finished the match with a total of five points off of four tallies and one assist.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski's team will now visit the Milwaukee Wave in the first of a three-game road trip before returning home for the regular season finale against the Baltimore Blast on Saturday, February 27.
Both Missouri and Chicago created several opportunities in the first quarter. However, goalkeepers Boris Pardo and Jesus Flores had great saves before defender Kevin Ten Eyck put the Comets on the board with 45 seconds left in period assisted by Gibson for a 1-0 partial score.
Two minutes into the second stanza, Chicago's Martinez found the back of the net to level the contest at one unassisted but three unanswered goals from team captain Vahid Assadpour, Stefan Stokic and Gibson ended the half 4-1 in favor of the home side.
Throughout the third quarter, Flores and Pardo shined again with multiple acrobatic saves on both ends with the lone tally being scored by defender Robert Palmer at the 5:46 mark to extend the lead and make it a four-goal game.
A total of seven goals were scored between both teams in the final period. Bautista notched his first one followed by Ramone Palmer's 17th of the season to make it 6-2 but Chicago's Trajche Lostovski's first goal of the season and Comets' Lucas Rodriguez tally made it 7-3 before Bautista scored three straight to end the match 7-6 for Missouri's thirteenth win of the campaign.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 6, 2016
- Chicago Mustangs Lose to Missouri Comets by One, 6-7 - Chicago Mustangs
- Comets Beat Chicago, Win Series and Retake Top of the Central - Kansas City Comets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
