Silver Knights Seize First Place with Road Win
December 28, 2013 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Syracuse Silver Knights News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Silver Knights (6-1) traveled to the Independence Events Center on Saturday to face the Missouri Comets (4-2) in a battle for first place. The trip marks the start of a three-game road swing. The Silver Knights looked forward to get going on the right foot, especially given their previous winless streak (0-4) at the Independence Events Center. Star performer, Kenardo Forbes, would be the hero on the night as his hat-trick sealed top spot in the MISL, as the Silver Knights defeated the Comets 18-15.
The game started out evenly balanced, with the Comets narrowly edging the Silver Knights in terms of attacking play. The Silver Knights opened the scoring first however, slightly against the run of play. Nelson Santana launched a long pass in the opposite penalty area and found Machel Millwood. The powerful midfielder held off his man and turned to shoot (3') past Danny Waltman.
The Comets were moving the ball well and pressing the Silver Knights effectively, often outnumbering the ball-carrier and breaking effectively. Their pressure soon paid off as the Comets took advantage of the power-play. Vahid Assadpour found Leo Gibson in the box. The Comets forward accurately shot past Brian O'Quinn to bring the score level.
It was a busy quarter for the referees, who handed out four blue cards. The Silver Knights took advantage of the power-play themselves. Santana laid off the ball outside the arc to the on-rushing Forbes who unleashed an unstoppable drive (9') into the top-corner. The Silver Knights now held the lead again at 5-2. Right as the first quarter ended, with the Silver Knights still benefiting from a power-play, Millwood found Neto in the corner who fired a fierce shot (15') into the far-post. The Silver Knights thus ended the first quarter with a 7-2 lead.
The most potent offense of the MISL quickly showed their mettle in the second quarter however. Milan Ivanovic drove at the defense and slalomed past three challenges before squaring it to Gibson. Gibson made no mistakes and turned in the cross (19') to cut the Silver Knights' lead. A minute later, Assadpour blasted in (20') Bryan Perez's pass off the restart to level the score.
The Silver Knights were well under pressure, with the Comets tearing through their defense and stifling their offense. And it was Gibson who would come to punish the Silver Knights. The on-form forward drove down the channel and fired (24') past O'Quinn to beat him at his near-post. With Gibson completing a first-half hat-trick, the Comets overturned their deficit to regain the lead.
The Silver Knights retaliated to tie the score at 9-9. Forbes drove forward and found the unmarked Santana who blasted (27') past Waltman. But just as the Silver Knights thought to have regained some grip on the game, the Comets came forward again. Assadpour ran across the arc before firing a powerful shot (30') past O'Quinn, restoring the Comets' lead at 11-9.
The second half resumed just as the last quarter had ended. The Comets dominated play and attacked relentlessly. The Silver Knights' defense barely held on, and they soon once again succumbed to the Comets' pressure. A poor clearance led to Assadpour picking up the ball. The Comets player fired in (32') to complete a hat-trick of his own.
An uncharacteristic mistake from the Comets saw Neto pickpocket Waltman (37') and fire into an empty net, cutting into their opponents' lead as the Silver Knights trailed 13-11. It was Forbes who gave the Silver Knights a lifeline in the final moments of the quarter. Millwood found Forbes at the top of the arc. The Silver Knights' leading points earner blasted another screamer into the top corner (45') and turned the game on its head by restoring the Silver Knights' lead, 14-13.
Comets would not take it lying down however, and with first place on the line, the fight-back was on. Assadpour slid in Alvarez at the back-post who fired in the through ball (50') past O'Quinn to restore the Comets lead, 15-14.
The penultimate moment of the game arrived five minutes from fulltime as the Silver Knights benefited from a penalty. Neto stepped up but failed to round Waltman. Fortune favored the Silver Knights however as Waltman was called on a handball and a new penalty was awarded. This time Santana stepped forward. The Silver Knights defender made no mistake and confidently converted (55') with the score now 16-15 in the Silver Knights' favor.
The Silver Knights fought hard to hold off MISL's best attacking team. It came down to narrow margins in the end but the Silver Knights finally got their first win at the Independence Events Center. It was Forbes who decided it all. The Silver Knights dynamo stole the ball in midfield, drove forward, and fired in a powerful drive (60') to seal his hat-trick and the win.
The Silver Knights road trip continues tomorrow as the team takes on the St. Louis Ambush at 3:00pm ET. The Knights return home the the Oncenter War Memorial on January 10th. To become a Silver Knights Supporter, call their office at 315-303-7261 and get your tickets today!
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from December 28, 2013
- Comets Lose in Final Minutes - Kansas City Comets
- Injury-Ridden Ambush Lose to Milwaukee 24-4 - St. Louis Ambush
- Silver Knights Seize First Place with Road Win - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Carlos Munoz Hat Trick Seals Wave Victory Against Ambush - Milwaukee Wave
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