Sidekicks Defeated by Ambush During 2021-2022 Home Opener
December 9, 2021 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Dallas Sidekicks News Release
The Sidekicks kicked off their home opener on Saturday, December 4th against the St. Louis Ambush with an 8-4 loss. The 2021-2022 season started off with full swing with a brand-new European turf, a new sound system, and a new team filled with many newcomers starting their first professional indoor season.
Dallas had a strong start at the beginning of the first quarter with rookie forward Luiz Morales opening the score sheet with an assist from defender, Mike Jones. Shortly after the restart, St. Louis made a run and tried to tie the game back. However, Sidekick's goalkeeper, Estevan Vazquez, made a diving save to keep the game at 1-0. At the 6 minutes mark, Felipe De Sousa passed the ball off the board to the front of the goal and Brenden Lee finished the pass into the net making the Sidekicks lead 2-0. The lead was short lived when St. Louis Ambush player, Pepe Junqueira, scored in the 9th minute and Ado Jahic scored in the 12th minute making the score 2-2.
The 2nd quarter only had St. Louis goals coming from Ambush players: Niko Karidis, Pepe Junqueira, his second of the game, and Sam Guernsey which made the score 2-5. Going into the locker room at halftime, Estevan Vazquez said, "The goals we've given up haven't been too special and have been mainly [mistakes] on us."
After halftime, the Sidekicks made a goalkeeper change with Juan Gamboa coming in for Vazquez. Despite the regrouping during halftime, the Sidekicks let a goal in from Marcel Berry making it 2-6 Ambush.
Quickly into the 4th quarter, Ambush player, Vadim Cojocov, scored making it 2-7. Seven minutes into the 4th quarter, Ambush player, Robert Kristo, went for a penalty kick and Juan Gamboa made a massive save which then was bounced off the boards and Gamboa finally was able to save it completely. Ambush then increased their lead again when William Eskay scored at an empty net because the Sidekicks were using the 6th attacker with Julio Varela. During a Sidekicks power play, Morales notched another goal into the corner which made a late attempt into a comeback. 2 minutes later, Morales scored another goal making a hat trick in his first professional game making it 4-8. Despite the Sidekicks' energy picking back up from these goals, it was too little, too late and the Sidekicks ended their home opener to a loss.
Man of the Match for the Sidekicks was awarded to Luiz Morales, after a strong first professional game in the Major Arena Soccer League.
The Sidekicks return to the Credit Union of Texas Event Center this Saturday, December 11. They will take on the Kansas City Comets at 7pm. Tickets are on sale NOW at www.dallassidekicks.com/tickets or call 469-393-0160.
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