PASL San Diego Sockers

Monterrey Beats Sockers in Sudden-Death Shootout 6-5

Published on November 17, 2013 under Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release


SAN DIEGO--The Monterrey Flash won only the second overtime shootout in the history of the Professional Arena Soccer League, beating the San Diego Sockers 6-5 after winning the shootout 2-1. The three-leg shootout came after a full overtime period saw no change in a 5-5 score. Erick Tovar netted the goal in the top half of the third leg, and the Sockers fell in stunning defeat when team captain Aaron Susi's bid deflected off the crossbar and out.

After not losing at home in their first four seasons of PASL play, the Sockers are now 0-2 for the first time in franchise history since their restart in 2009. 3,922 took in the game at the Valley View Casino Center, an indoor classic that ended with the normally thrilled fans scratching their heads.

"It's definitely unfamiliar territory," said Sockers midfielder Anthony Medina, who scored his first two goals of the season, "We thought we had put last week's loss (a 5-3 season-opening home loss to Dallas) behind us and came out with a much better gameplan today. We didn't finish some chances and let (the Flash) get back in the game. It's disappointing."

The Sockers led 5-3 in the closing five minutes only to see a pair of brilliant goals off the left foot of Monterrey's Jose Luis Birche tie the game. First Birche twisted a shot from behind the red line past goalkeeper Chris Toth (15 saves) with 3:32 remaining to narrow the score to 5-4. Then, after the Sockers were called for a six fouls penalty, Birche mirrored his previous strike, scoring from almost the exact same spot on a shot where Toth was screened, equalizing with 2:16 remaining.

San Diego and Monterrey battled in a furious fifteen minute overtime that saw the Sockers with the two best chances to win. Chiky Luna's flick over the head of Flash keeper Juventino Morales (15 saves) was ticketed for the back of the net and a golden goal with less than five minutes remaining in OT, only to be saved off the line at the last second by a leaping player/head coach Genoni Martinez. With just over two minutes remaining, Kraig Chiles' set piece blast was saved by a sprawling Morales. San Diego earned a six-fouls power play for the final 1:25 of OT but could not solve the Monterrey defense.

The Flash (3-0) were a perfect 4-for-4 killing San Diego power plays and have stopped all thirteen man advantages against this season.

"We thought we could fight off Monterrey and keep them off the board but give the Flash credit, they didn't give up," said Medina.

San Diego flashed their "Sockers Magic" early in the game, scoring in the final two minutes of each of the first three quarters. The game's opening tally came on Medina's goal off a Chiles assist with 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Sockers gave up an Erick Tovar goal early in the second quarter but answered back, with Chiles netting a free kick for his second goal of the season with 7:06 remaining before halftime.

It was the only successful conversion for San Diego in ten offensive zone free kicks. The Sockers were 0-for-4 on top-of-the-box kicks and 0-for-4 on corners for a total of 1-for-18 on set pieces.

Medina scored late again to close the first half, converting a clever goal wall pass by Susi with 1:09 left in the second quarter for a 3-1 halftime advantage.

While Birche's first goal of the game brought Monterrey within 3-2 with 4:03 to play in the third quarter, Eric Wunderle answered back on a hard working goal with nine seconds left before the break. Eric hustled to win a long distribution from Toth on the bench wall and then beat a surging Morales before touching the ball into an open net while getting dragged down from behind. The Sockers led 4-2 after three quarters.

The fourth saw Monterrey send an early shockwave through the crowd, converting a power play after defender Ze Roberto was called for a handball just outside the San Diego crease. Tovar's second of the game on a Genoni assist made it 4-3, but Roberto answered back with a rebound goal at 7:12, giving the Sockers a seemingly comfortable two goal lead.

Then came Birche, and the back-to-back twisters from beyond the red line, and a brand new world of questions for a proud team that finds itself in a bad place.

"We need to have a short-term memory and get ready for next weekend," said Medina, "We need to get things right quickly. We can't lose track of our original goals. It's still early but it's very disappointing to drop the first two at home."

The Sockers next head out for a season-long four game road trip, starting with back-to-back games next Friday and Saturday at the Turlock Express (2-0) and Sacramento Surge (0-3). San Diego next returns home on December 21st to face the Express.

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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from November 17, 2013


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