Silver Knights Fall to Blast on the Road
January 24, 2014 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Silver Knights (8-5) traveled on Friday, Jan. 24, for a rematch against the Baltimore Blast (9-3). The Silver Knights had narrowly edged the Blast five days earlier, and looked to repeat the feat on the night. Unfortunately for the Silver Knights, they fell short of expectations, comprehensively losing 10-5 against the Blast.
The Silver Knights started well enough, with good spells of possession. However the Blast soon got the better of the game, pinning the Silver Knights back. The Blast patiently worked the ball up the field, and created some good chances on goal.
The Blast soon found the opening when Marcelo Moreira - who was making his second start of the season tonight - parried Lucas Roque's shot, but it was Mike Lookingland who arrived late to blast the loose ball in (6'). The Blast's midfield pressure suffocated the Silver Knights and forced them into a number of turnovers. In fact, the Silver Knights barely created any danger and never got close enough to test Blast goalkeeper William Vanzela in the first period.
Machel Millwood sounded the charge and found the equalizer (19') from Antonio Manfut's assist. The Blast still monopolized possession however, and so nullified much of the Silver Knights's offensive play. The Blast was incisive in their forward play as, which Lucio Gonzaga illustrated to perfection.
The Blast player opened up the Silver Knights' defense with a clever one-two with Adauto Neto to fire on goal. Moreira managed to block but spilled the ball, which Gonzaga latched on to first before firing it into the net (24'). The Blast now led 4-2, with the Silver Knights seemingly out of ideas.
It took a power-play for the Silver Knights to find the opening. The Silver Knights worked the ball around the arc until Millwood squared it to Kenardo Forbes. The long-range specialist took aim and rocketed his shot into the top-corner (29'). It was Forbes' fifth 3-point goal of the season, and it gave the Silver Knights a 5-4 lead.
The moment was short-lived however. Still with a man down, Lookingland unleashed a powerful shot from midfield. Moreira dove to save, but Tony Donatelli applied the touch (29') to redirect it past the Silver Knights' goalkeeper. And so a second before the bell, the Blast recovered to lead 6-5 at halftime.
The Silver Knights returned from the half with more energy and fight. They still struggled to create any meaningful chances however. Off of the restart it was Adauto Neto who widened the gap though, Patrick Healey finding the Brazilian and making it 8-5 for the Blast. It was Healey again who created the next goal. The Blast broke on the Silver Knights and Adriano Dos Santos tapped in (55') to finish a three-on-one counter.
Healy had a particularly strong game. The Blast player not only provided two assists, but particularly impressed in his defensive display to blunt Millwood's impact. The Silver Knights tried to get back into the game, forcing the issue with the extra attacker, but the Blast's five-point lead was unassailable at that point.
So in the end the Blast defeated the Silver Knights 10-5. It was a game where the Silver Knights really struggled to get out of first gear. In fact it was a game where the Blast never allowed them to do so. They controlled the game throughout, and limited the Silver Knights to very few chances.
The Silver Knights home tomorrow, January 25th for a match up against the Pennsylvania Roar at 7:00pm EST. The meeting will also feature a pre-game March to the Match. Fans & Supporters will meet at the Ale 'n' Angus Pub (238 Harrison Street) for some pre game drinks (5pm-6:40 pm) with 40 Below, Believe in Syracuse, The Silver Knight Foundation and the Salt City Supporters. The March to Match will leave at 6:40 p.m., taking a shorter and much "warmer" route to the War Memorial.
The Salt City side has had success against the expansion club, besting the Keystone State franchise in a pair of road games. The Knights topped the Roar in the opening match of the season 18-7 on November 15, 2013, and equaled that feat on December 1, 2013 in a 10-9 victory at Santander Arena. FW Slavisa Ubiparapovic has been a terror for Pennsylvania, scoring five of his 11 total goals on the year in the triumphs.
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Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from January 24, 2014
- Comets Win Big on Retro Night - Kansas City Comets
- Ambush Lose Third in a Row - St. Louis Ambush
- Blast Wins in Rematch against Silver Knights - Baltimore Blast
- Silver Knights Fall to Blast on the Road - Syracuse Silver Knights
- 42 Year Old Mechanic Finally Gets Pro Soccer Call - Rochester Lancers
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