Comets Drop Game One to the Baltimore Blast in Overtime
Published on March 24, 2016 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Kansas City Comets News Release
INDEPENDENCE, Missouri - Just when it seemed as if the Missouri Comets would head to Royal Farms Arena with a one-game advantage, the Baltimore were able to come back from a two-goal deficit in the final quarter to tie the game and eventually win 4-3 just six seconds into overtime.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski's team is now obligated to win game two on Tuesday night to force the third and deciding mini-game, which will determine the finalist. Those games will be streamed live on GoLive Sports Cast with kickoff scheduled at 6:05 p.m. CT.
Three different players scored for the Comets, while goalkeeper Boris Pardo recorded 11 saves, while Andrew Hoxie led the Blast with two assists. In goal, William Vanzela totaled ten saves.
Less than two minutes into the match, midfielder Lucas Rodriguez put the Comets on the board after simply tapping in a ball from Ramone Palmer. However, nine seconds later, the visitors equalized via Levi Houapeu to end the quarter 1-1.
Once again, Missouri regained the lead early in the second when Bryan Perez notched his second goal of the playoffs assisted by John Sosa at the 0:55 mark to make it 2-1. Despite multiple scoring opportunities, both teams headed to the locker rooms with a one-goal separating them.
Just like in the second quarter, only one goal was scored in the third when defender Stefan Stokic found the back of the net assisted by Max Touloute to extend the lead ending the period with a partial 3-1 score.
Throughout the fourth quarter, Baltimore kept the pressure on the Comets' own half but it wasn't until Coach Danny Kelly put in Pat Healey as the sixth attacker when the Blast shortened the lead with a rocket from Lucas Roque.
Ninety seconds later, Adriano Dos Santos equalized after beating Pardo with a right-footed shot off a pass from Hoxie to make it 3-3 and force the golden-goal overtime.
Six seconds into overtime Healey sent the ball to the Comets' box before Pereira oddly tapped the ball before bouncing into Pardo's goal to take game one 4-3.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 24, 2016
- Blast Defeat Comets 4-3 in OT - Baltimore Blast
- Comets Drop Game One to the Baltimore Blast in Overtime - Kansas City Comets
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