Pittsburgh Pays for Gorsek’s Rage, 4-2
Socker goalkeeper Jim Gorsek has been in a rage all week. His veins started bulging Tuesday night in Kansas City. His teeth became clenched in Chicago.
In Pittsburgh, he nearly lost his temper during a brilliant performance in the Sockers’ 4-2 win against the Spirit Sunday afternoon at the Civic Arena.
The victory extended the Sockers’ team-record winning streak to 13 games. That ties them with Pittsburgh (1979-80 season) for the second-longest streak in Major Indoor Soccer League history. The New York Arrows won 19 straight in 1980-81.
As Sockers fans know, winning is only half the story with this team. There are as many adventures and confrontations off the field as on it.
Just ask Gorsek.
His week of fury began Tuesday night in Kansas City. Gorsek was criticized by the Comet players for calling a timeout with less than two minutes to play and the Sockers leading, 13-3.
“I did it because my leg was hurting,” Gorsek said. “Everything got blown out of proportion. I didn’t call it for the reasons they thought I did.”
On Thursday, Gorsek learned that he wasn’t selected to the Western Division All-Star team. Slobo Ilijevski of the St. Louis Steamers was named the starting goalkeeper.
“I was disappointed, but I guess they give it to goalkeepers who play all the time,” Gorsek said.
Gorsek is 10-2 and leads the MISL with a 3.50 goals-against average, but he alternates with Zoltan Toth.
As if that wasn’t enough, Gorsek’s teammates have been ribbing him mercilessly since the team left San Diego. In Kansas City, they broke the key to his hotel room and a locksmith had to called during the middle of the night.
The next morning, Cha Cha Namdar, one of the culprits in the key escapade, marched onto the team bus and declared: “I don’t want any trouble, I just want to do the Jimmy Gorsek shuffle.”
The madder Gorsek got, the more his teammates kept at him.
Gorsek got into the act Saturday night when he and some teammates went from room to room and poured buckets of water on each other.
“We soaked just about everyone with water,” Gorsek said. “Everybody got wiped out in their hotel rooms. It was a way to ease some tension and we had a good time.”
Gorsek, the serious American, has learned to take part in the pranks employed by the Sockers’ wild European traveling party.
He has also managed to hold onto his beloved rage.
It should come as no surprise that Gorsek was at his absolute best Sunday when his fury reached its zenith. He made 20 saves on 33 shots and helped orchestrate the Sockers’ defense in a very impressive win.
“He was faultless,” Coach Ron Newman said. “Did you see the way he stopped some of those shots at point-blank range? It was his best game of the year.
“It was an absolutely brilliant effort. We kept tremendous pressure on them and we did all the little things right. It was a classic game from our point of view. I don’t know if the indoor game can be played any better.”
The Sockers not only beat a Pittsburgh team that is 10-3 at home, but they were extremely artistic in doing so.
Juli Veee scored on a line-drive header from near the left sideboard to give San Diego a 1-0 lead in the first quarter. Most headers are tapped, but this one was smashed.
Two missed headers from point-blank range by the Spirit’s Ian Sybis and Zee Kapka and nine saves by Gorsek enabled the Sockers to lead, 1-0, at halftime.
The Socker offense got going midway through the third quarter. Jean Willrich and Brian Quinn scored 23 seconds apart to make it 3-0.
Champions seem to copy champions. Chicago Bear quarterback Jim McMahon head-butted his linemen after scoring a touchdown. Now, the Sockers head-butt after scoring a goal. At least the Bears wear helmets when they do it.
Branko Segota scored his 32nd goal of the season on a rocket from the top of the circle to give the Sockers a 4-0 lead early in the final quarter.
The next challenge for a club which thrives on playing games within games was to get Gorsek his first regular-season shutout.
Despite playing with a sore right thigh that became increasingly annoying in the second half, Gorsek was playing like a man possessed.
He screamed at his defenders, flailed his arms and grabbed any loose ball and player near the goalmouth.
“If that happened and they were attacking, I’d flinch, but I wouldn’t take my eye off the ball,” Gorsek said.
What he lacks in style, he more than makes up for in anticipation and competitiveness.
“He is very, very awkward, but just when you think you have him beat, he sticks his hand out here and his knee and foot out there,” Spirit forward Paul Child said. “He comes up with crucial saves at crucial times.”
One save Gorsek could not be expected to make was on a penalty kick by Godfrey Ingram with 11:47 to play.
With the shutout on the line, Fernando Clavijo was called for tripping Ingram inside the penalty box. Ingram fell to the ground and Gorsek almost hit the roof.
“I was worried about him blowing up,” Newman said. “That wasn’t a penalty, but he (Ingram) has faked out better referees than this.”
On Ingram’s 25-footer, Gorsek guessed correctly, but the ball slid under him.
“He was leaning to his right and I guessed he’d go that way,” he said. “But I didn’t have time to react and couldn’t get down quick enough.”
Late in the game, Stan Terlecki scored on a two-on-one break when the Sockers suffered a rare defensive lapse. This time, Gorsek jumped up and down, slammed the ball on the field and had to be calmed down by Newman during a stoppage of play.
“I apologized to Hugo (Perez) after the game for blowing up,” Gorsek said. “I shouldn’t get that upset.”
His teammates wouldn’t allow him to remain upset.
In the locker room after the game, they huddled in a circle and held a mock team prayer.
“Thanks for giving us the win,” they said. “We especially appreciate your help and guidance because we had to win with Jimmy Gorsek in goal.”
Socker Notes Will Steve Zungul be sold to the Tacoma Stars or Pittsburgh Spirit or will he remain with the Sockers? Zungul said he will fly to San Jose today to meet with Carl Berg, minority owner of the Sockers and Zungul’s business consultant and former owner when he was with the Earthquakes. Zungul spoke with Spirit officials when he was in Pittsburgh this weekend. “We think we could come to terms with Steve Zungul but I don’t know if we can work out something with the Sockers,” said Chris Wright, Spirit general manager. “I don’t think we can come near the figure Tacoma is offering.” Socker owner Bob Bell has said he plans to speak with Zungul today.
