Silver Knights Knock off the Mustangs in a 23-16 Thriller
February 19, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
SYRACUSE, New York - Four goals from Kenardo Forbes powered the Syracuse Silver Knights (11-7, Eastern Division #2) to a 23-16 win over the Chicago Mustangs (11-8, Central Division #3).
An early mistake by Silver Knight goalie Rick Pflasterer led to the opening goal in the game which put the Mustangs up 2-0. Syracuse's keeper mishandled a back pass from Darren Toby allowing Mustang midfielder Taylor Bond to score a closed range back heel goal only 30 seconds into the match.
Minutes later the Silver Knights equalized through Slav Ubiparipovic. Syracuse's forward beat his defender to a through ball and calmly slotted home a left-footed shot into the right corner of Jesus Flores' goal tying the game at 2.
At the 7:41 mark in the first quarter the Mustangs scored again off of a direct free kick. Nate Bourdeau attempted to clear a ball, but kicked it out of play resulting in a top of the area free kick for Chicago. Eifran Wilo Martinez made a swooping run up to the ball seconds later and rifled his shot past Pflasterer putting the Mustangs up 4-2 over the Knights.
Late in the second quarter Neto tied up the match once again, on the power play. Syracuse was on the man advantage after Chicago forward Ephraim Beard fouled the Brazilian away from the ball. A minute and a half later Neto snuck behind the Mustangs' defense and slid his shot past a diving Flores making the score 4-4.
The Mustangs opened the scoring in the second half after a Silver Knights defensive break down. Beard received a pass and was all alone on Syracuse's defensive end. Pflasterer dashed out of his goal to try and close down the Mustangs attacker but it was to no avail and Beard coolly finished the chance to put his team up 6-4.
Two minutes later Domenico Vitale had his pocket picked and Bond scored his second goal of the game on a break away making the score 8-4 in favor of the Mustangs.
With 6:19 to go in the third quarter Kenardo Forbes scored one of the goals of the season. The forward received a layoff and rifled home a one-time shot from outside of the arc on the right side. Forbes' three-point cracker made the score 8-7 Chicago.
50 seconds later Martinez scored his second goal of the game off of a misplaced Vitale clearance putting the Mustangs up 10-7. The forward was unmarked and volleyed home from right in the middle of Pflasterer's penalty area.
Once again though, the Knights responded with a two-pointer of their own. Antonio Manfut received a pass just inside the arc after a poor clearance from Flores. The 20-year old turned and buried his shot into the top left corner making the score 10-9 Mustangs.
Just seconds into the fourth quarter, Syracuse took its first lead of the night. Cory Elenio ripped a long drive and Bourdeau scored off of the rebound putting the Knights up 11-10.
The lead did not last long however, as Chicago midfielder Bogar Moreno ripped a shot from the right side, which trickled past Pflasterer. Moreno's first goal of the night put the Mustangs back up by one.
Moments after that goal Bo Jelovac put in a two-point tap in for the 'Cuse after a poor clearance from the Mustangs. That goal put the Knights back up by one once again 13-12.
With 11:30 to play in the match Martinez completed his hat trick for Chicago. The forward volleyed home a right-footed rebound from close-range to put his team back on top 14-13.
Forbes may have scored the best goal of the game, but with just under 8 minutes to go in the match Elenio scored a second Syracuse beauty. The forward collected a rebound outside of the arc on the right and ripped a three-point volley into the back of the net to put the Knights up 16-14.
Later on, Syracuse added to its lead on the power play through Forbes. The Jamaican scored a two-point volley from the left side of the arc to put the 'Cuse up by four, 18-14.
Chicago answered yet again just minutes later on a Trajche Lostovski left footed strike making the score 18-16 Syracuse. The Mustang forward placed his shot into the top right corner of Pflasterer's goal from a tight angle to cut Chicago's deficit to only two points.
With 45 seconds left to play in the match Forbes completed his hat trick and iced the win for the Orange, Silver and Black. The forward slotted home a close-ranged right-footed effort on the power play putting the score at 20-16.
That was not the end of the scoring though, Forbes put in a three-point empty-netter with 1.7 seconds left in the game to make the final score 23-16.
Post game head coach Tommy Tanner said, "I think we're playing better right now than we have all year...I thought we played very, very well tonight offensively."
The Orange, Silver and Black next play the Rochester Lancers (9-9 #3 in Eastern Division) at the War Memorial Sunday at 4:00 pm. Tickets to all Silver Knights home games are available at the CNY Family Sports Center, online at www.syracusesilverknights.com or over the phone at 315-303-7261.
SSK is playoff bound taking on the Thruway Rival Lancers on March 8 th at 4pm at the War Memorial for game 2 of the playoff series.
Call today to get your tickets! Call by March 1 st to receive our early bird fan appreciation discount where all tickets will be $2 off the regular rate.
Call 303-7261 or visit the office at 7201 Jones Road in Syracuse today you better hurry!
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 19, 2015
- Silver Knights Knock off the Mustangs in a 23-16 Thriller - Syracuse Silver Knights
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