Zungul, Segota Show Why They’re Two of the Best in League
San Diego Socker forward Steve Zungul isn’t a betting man, but he thought the odds of the Kansas City Comets holding him and Branko Segota without a goal for two straight playoff games was at least 10,000 to 1.
Actually, he said that bet should be taken off the board. Segota added that the odds should be at least 100 to 1.
Were they ever right.
Zungul had three goals and four assists and Segota had four goals in the Socker 11-7 Major Indoor Soccer League playoff win over the Kansas City Comets on Friday night at the San Diego Sports Arena.
What a difference from Wednesday night.
When neither Zungul or Segota scored in the Socker 4-3 overtime win Wednesday night, that was news.
A player knows he’s truly great when there is more talk about his failures than achievements.
There was a lot of talk after Wednesday night’s game. There was a lot of admiration after Friday night’s game. Admiration at the incredible skills of two players that indoor soccer fans have almost come to take for granted.
Friday’s brilliant performances further pointed out the unlikely nature of the events that transpired on Wednesday night.
How could the first teammates on an MISL team to ever score over 100 points each in one season be shut out for even a quarter? For them to go an entire game without lighting up the red goal light is almost unheard of.
After all, Zungul had scored in 23 straight MISL playoff games before Wednesday’s game, and had won an unprecedented third MISL triple crown with 68 goals, a league-record 68 assists and 136 points.
Segota finished the regular-season as the MISL’s third leading scorer with 40 goals and 66 assists. Wednesday night, his only point came when he assisted on Brian Quinn game-winning goal in overtime.
“We hadn’t played a game in 10 days going into Wednesday’s game,” Zungul said. “I felt much better tonight. I knew it was just a matter of time before me and Branko came back. “
After the Sockers fell behind by a field goal, 3-0 after less than six minutes of play, the Socker offensive machine wound up.
Zungul got good inside position in front of the goal, and knocked in a header past goalkeeper Manny Schwartz. Zungul’s headers are harder than some players strongest kicks.
“When we were down 3-0 and 4-1,” said Zungul, “we didn’t feel that we lost the game. We maintained the same attitude on the bench.”
Call it confidence and defiance. The Sockers know they can score, and score fast.
Trailing 4-2 in the second quarter, Zungul flicked the ball to Hugo Perez on a free kick, and Perez beat three Comet defenders lined up near the goal and Schwartz.
Forty-five seconds later, Segota drilled a bullet from the right of the circle into the right corner. Guess who got the assist?
“Steve and I understand each other,” Segota said. “We know what the other will do.”
The two played together on the New York Arrows, and they’ve been setting offensive records ever since.
Segota’s most memorable goal of the night came on a header that gave the Sockers a 5-4 lead at 5 5/833 of the second quarter. San Diego was never headed from that point on.
On that power-play goal, Jean Willrich drilled a pass off the left sideboard that went over the goal and straight to a diving Segota, who scored on a header just before he hit the ground.
After that, the goals came fast and furious. They concluded with Segota’s empty net goal with 1:16 to play. The assist went to The Big Z.
“I can’t think of another one-two combination that plays on the same line that is as good as they are individually and collectively,” said Comet forward Laurie Abrahams.
