The Odds Favor Sockers in Win
The odds of blocking a penalty kick in soccer aren’t much better than the chances of making a profit gambling in Las Vegas.
Sometimes you might come out ahead, but you really can’t expect to.
Socker goalie Jim Gorsek had one of those unexpected moments on Saturday night, blocking a Petar Baralic penalty kick. Along with three goals from Jean Willrich, the play highlighted San Diego’s 6-1 win over Kansas City in front of 11,254 fans in the Sports Arena.
Baralic’s penalty kick came 1:09 before halftime with the Sockers leading, 3-0. Baralic took a shot at the lower-left corner, but Gorsek got a hand on it at the last second.
“I thought it was a very good kick,” Baralic said. “He was guessing and going to one side. Unfortunately for me, he went to the right side. To be honest, I thought it was in.”
Gorsek said he made the save by reacting to Baralic, not by guessing.
“The key to a penalty kick is in standing there and not moving until the shot is taken,” Gorsek said. “Hopefully, you’ll get a hand on the ball. That’s what I did.”
When the fourth period began with the Sockers leading, 4-0, Gorsek got more than a hand from the crowd. Numerous people began chanting, “Gor-sek, Gor-sek.”
Nineteen seconds into the fourth period, Kansas City’s Charlie Carey had a point-blank shot blocked by Gorsek. At the two-minute mark, Gorsek made outstanding saves on consecutive shots by Mark Frederickson and Benny Tabak.
Finally at 2:42 of the period, Carlos Salguero spoiled Gorsek’s attempt at his first career indoor shutout. Salguero took a pass from Tabak and put it in the bottom right hand corner of the net. Even so, Gorsek received another ovation from the crowd.
“It’s always nice when the crowd is behind you like that,” Gorsek said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the shutout, but you have to keep hoping. That’s the ultimate feat.”
More than anything, the Sockers were simply hoping Gorsek could make it through the night without injury, which he did while making 20 saves.
Zoltan Toth, the team’s other goalie, is out at least three more weeks with a broken bone in the fourth finger of his right hand. Midfielder Brian Quinn, the third-string goalie, did not play Saturday because of a strained hamstring. That left Steve Zungul, the team’s leading scorer, as the backup goalie.
“Hopefully, I won’t get hurt,” Gorsek said. “You can’t worry about things like that. When you worry, that’s when it happens.”
From the outset, Coach Ron Newman was concerned about his team’s lack of depth. Ade Coker also missed the game with a strained knee and Steve Daley was hobbled by a bruised knee.
Willrich helped ease the pain early, scoring the game’s first goal at 8:37 of the first period on a power play. Kansas City had killed 17 of the 18 previous power plays it had faced.
At 2:41 of the second period, Willrich made it a two-goal lead off a give-and-go pass from Kaz Deyna. Zungul increased the lead to 3-0 at 5:25, heading the ball off the boards then kicking it into the net.
Willrich scored the only third-period goal, stealing the ball from Carey and kicking it past Manny Schwartz at 13:22. Salguero’s goal cut San Diego’s lead to 4-1.
The Sockers scored their final two goals after Schwartz was pulled midway through the fourth period.
Hugo Perez, playing his first game since a two-month suspension, raced the length of the field to beat Charlie Fajkus at 11:34. Fajkus, a midfielder, donned the goalie’s jersey after Schwartz came out.
Zungul scored his second goal at 13:39 off a Willrich pass. Willrich actually had a chance to score, but instead elected to pass the ball.
“I could’ve scored,” Willrich said, “but Stevie Zungul is our goal leader. He should get the goal because he’s the best in the league. It was too, too easy of a shot. They pulled the goalkeeper, and it was like everyone could score.”
The Sockers are 14-4 and Kansas City is 4-12. San Diego has won 20 of its last 21 home games.
“They are so superior,” Baralic said. “Even their third line can play well. They’re just so good tactically.”
