Sockers Play ‘Me and My Shadow’ Gig : Zungul and Segota Are Complementary
Wherever Steve Zungul goes, Branko Segota seems to follow. Or is it the other way around?
On the road, the two Sockers are virtually inseparable roommates. And on the field, opponents also have trouble keeping them apart.
Segota had two goals in Game 1 of the Major Indoor Soccer League championship series Friday night, both off Zungul assists. Zungul had one goal, and, naturally, it was assisted by Segota.
In order to avenge its 5-4 loss Friday, Baltimore probably will have to keep Zungul from getting the ball to Segota in Game 2 at 6:05 tonight at the Sports Arena. And it will have to keep Segota from getting the ball to Zungul.
The problem seems clear, but the solution is difficult to figure.
Segota has 17 playoff goals and 4 assists. Zungul has assisted on Segota’s last 4 goals, 5 of his last 6, 8 of 10 and 10 of 17.
Zungul has 8 playoff goals and 15 assists. Segota has assisted on two straight Zungul goals and three of five. Two of Zungul’s remaining three goals were unassisted, and George Katakalidis assisted on the other.
It is obviously more than coincidence that San Diego’s two leading scorers rely so heavily upon each other.
“We’ve played together a long time and understand each other,” Segota said. “Stevie’s fun to play with. I know I’ll get the ball from him, and he knows he’ll get it from me. We have a very good relationship on the field.”
Zungul has been known for strained relationships with teammates during heated moments of games. He often yells at teammates for failing to get him the ball or failing to score off one of his passes.
And though Zungul has 15 assists, but he is unhappy to have scored only eight goals in nine playoff games.
“I understand Branko’s game perfectly, and he understands me perfectly,” Zungul said. “I just wish the others could understand me. If they have the chance, they should give me the ball.”
Baltimore, which allowed the MISL’s fewest goals this year, always seems to frustrate Zungul. When the Blast beat the Sockers, 6-3, on Jan. 17, Zungul complained that teammates were not getting the ball to him. He did not score that night.
In three regular-season games against Baltimore, Zungul had two goals and two assists and Segota had one goal and one assist. The Blast, which plays a well-disciplined defense, had Bruce Savage cover Zungul one-on-one.
However, Savage suffered a sprained right toe in Game 1 Friday and is questionable tonight. Defenders Mike Stankovic (sprained left foot) and Max Thompson (torn knee ligaments) definitely won’t play. The inactive list further includes forward Paul Kitson (sprained right ankle) and midfielder Bernd Holzenbein (bruised ribs).
Kenny Cooper, Blast coach, knows it will be extremely difficult to stop Zungul and Segota with defenders who practically must introduce themselves to each other.
“Let’s be realistic,” Cooper said. “Stankovic plays well, and Savage did a good job stopping Zungul during the season. We need a line that can expose (Zungul and Segota). Without Stankovic and Kitson, it’s difficult to expose them. Once we get Stankovic and Kitson back, maybe we can neutralize them.”
The Blast does not expect the two back until Game 4. But even then, Baltimore may have difficulties with Zungul and Segota.
Historically, Zungul and Segota have been outstanding in postseason play. Zungul led the New York Arrows to four straight MISL championships from 1979 to 1982 with 64 goals and 20 assists in 21 games, an average of four points a game. Segota had 17 goals and 9 assists in 10 playoff games for the Arrows from 1979 to 1981.
Ironically, both men struggled in this year’s three-game quarterfinal sweep of Kansas City. Zungul was held scoreless in two games and had three goals and four assists in an 11-7 win. Segota had four goals in the 11-7 game, was shut out another game and scored the deciding goal in a 3-2 win in Game 3.
“At first, neither of them was in the picture in tough games,” said Ron Newman, Socker coach. “We wondered if they could get themselves up for the playoffs. Lately, they’ve been coming through in flying colors again. They’ve been looking for each other all of the time.”
Socker Notes
Ron Newman was still upset Saturday that the Sockers had let Baltimore come back from a 5-2 deficit in the final 4 1/2 minutes of Game 1. But contrasting the game with San Diego’s 8-1 win over Minnesota in Game 1 of the semifinals, Newman said the close game may be better for the Sockers in the long run. “Baltimore has to feel like it has a chance after coming back at the end,” Newman said. “I think it will come out confident (tonight) because of that. Then again, Baltimore didn’t see us at our best like Minnesota did in the first game of that series. We didn’t come out as ready for the second game of the Minnesota series (a 6-5 Socker overtime win). Maybe things will work in reverse against Baltimore.” . . . Two Sockers attempted motivational tactics for the crowd during Friday’s pre-game introductions. Eric Geyer waved the “Geyer Dryer” hand towels, which became a trademark of the Sockers’ win over Baltimore in the 1982-83 MISL championship series. And Jim Gorsek carried a stuffed parrot, upside-down, onto the floor. The parrot was compliments of Minnesota goalkeeper Tino Lettieri, who is very unpopular hereabouts. Lettieri gave Gorsek the parrot after last Sunday’s game in Minnesota, which the Sockers lost the next day when Commissioner Francis Dale ruled that they had used an ineligible player in the shootout. “Jimmy asked me for the parrot,” Lettieri said last week, “and he deserved it.” MISL CHAMPIONSHIP AT A GLANCE SOCKERS VS. BLAST (BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES) Game 1 Sockers 5, Blast 4 Game 2 Today Sports Arena 6:05 p.m. Game 3 May 23 Baltimore 4:35 p.m. Game 4 May 25 Baltimore 10:30 a.m. Game 5 May 28 Sports Arena 7:35 p.m. Game 6 May 30 Baltimore 4:35 p.m. Game 7 June 1 Sports Arena 7:35 p.m.
