Second half explosion ignites Wave to 6-2 win over Edmonton
August 20, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Milwaukee Wave United News Release
Milwaukee, WI- Milwaukee Wave United, the Wave's A-League (outdoor) team exploded for a team-record tying six goals in the second half Thursday night (8/19) to romp to a 6-2 win over Edmonton F.C. in front of 2,490 fans at Uihlein Soccer Park. Forward Greg Howes scored the first of a natural hat trick (three straight goals) in the 80th minute to break a 2-2 tie as Wave United tallied four unanswered goals in the final ten minutes of the contest. The win improved Milwaukee's overall record to 11-10-4 (37 points) while Edmonton fell to 4-15-6 (18 points). It was also Wave United's third straight victory as Milwaukee completed a four-game game sweep of the season series with Edmonton. The triumph also elevated Wave United into a fourth place tie with the Minnesota Thunder (11-9-4), which dropped a 2-1 decision at Vancouver. Both Milwaukee (three games left) and Minnesota (four games remaining) finish the season on the road, with the final playoff spot in the Western Conference up for grabs between the two clubs.
Edmonton scored the only goal of the first half on a penalty kick by Gordon Chin in the 45th minute. Chin converted from the penalty spot after Eric Munoz was fouled at the top of the box on poor challenge by Milwaukee's Nick Walls.
Wave United evened the score in the 58th minute on a header by Todd Dusosky from Marcelo Fontana. Milwaukee took its first lead just two minutes later when Johnny Torres nailed a penalty kick after Jamar Beasley was taken down in the box by Simon Kassaye. Kassaye, who was issued a yellow card on the foul, would pick up another caution in the 62nd minute thus rendering Edmonton a man down from for the rest of the match.
Nevertheless, Edmonton managed to even the score again (2-2) when Sipho Sibiya scored on a deflected free kick in the 76th minute. However, Howes answered with the first of his three goals just four minutes later (off a ground hugging cross from Fontana) to put Milwaukee on top for good. He added two more in the next seven minutes, including a sensational blast from the top of the box off a corner kick from Torres to make it 4-2 in the 84th minute.
Milwaukee launched a season high 24 shots to just nine for Edmonton. Wave United goalkeeper Jim Larkin posted two saves while counterpart Nick Stankov had six for Edmonton. Stankov's brother Rob replaced him in the last two minutes and it was the latter who was victimized on a blast by Ibrahim Kante that resulted in a goal for Milwaukee in the 90th minute.
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USL First Division Stories from August 20, 2004
- Timbers second round playoff tickets on sale Monday - Portland Timbers
- Win Over Minnesota Moves Caps Close To Playoffs - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Best in the West: Timbers wrap up Western Conference title with 5-0 win - Portland Timbers
- Second half explosion ignites Wave to 6-2 win over Edmonton - Milwaukee Wave United
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