Sockers Dismantle a Faltering Blast, 9-3
Ron Newman matching wits with Kenny Cooper. Stan Stamenkovic being booed by the San Diego fans whenever he touches the ball. The Sockers complaining because the benches at the Civic Center are not equal distance from midfield.
The Sockers vs. the Baltimore Blast is a rivalry filled with intrigue and tradition.
San Diego defeated Baltimore three games to two to win the 1982-83 Major Indoor Soccer League championship and four games to one to capture the title last season.
In 1983-84, when the Sockers defeated the Cosmos to win the North American League Soccer League championship, the Blast defeated the New York Arrows to win the MISL title.
Earlier this season, after the Sockers sold Steve Zungul to Tacoma, Cooper declared the Blast would defeat the Sockers if his team reached the championship series.
That if is becoming much more iffy.
The Sockers demolished the Blast, 9-3, Saturday night in front of 11,852 fans at the San Diego Sports Arena. It was the Blast’s fourth straight defeat and their seventh in the last eight games.
“They (Blast) looked a little despondent,” Newman said. “They are lacking a bit in confidence and not really believing in themselves.”
Baltimore in the championship series this year?
“We’ve got ourselves in somewhat of a desperate situation,” Cooper said.
The Blast is fighting to make the playoffs in the evenly balanced Eastern Division, and they are playing without defender Mike Stankovic (sprained left shoulder) and with a subpar Stamenkovic (who returned to action Saturday night after missing three games with cellulitis in his left leg).
The Blast is 22-21, has lost eight straight on the road and is clutching to the fourth and final playoff spot in their division.
Baltimore is two games back of Cleveland and a game behind both Minnesota and Dallas. With five games remaining in the regular season, the Blast is 1 1/2 games in front of both Pittsburgh and Chicago (a 4-3 winner in overtime in Los Angeles Saturday night).
Baltimore plays Cleveland, Minnesota and Pittsburgh at home and Pittsburgh and Chicago on the road.
It doesn’t really matter who the Sockers play in their final five regular season games.
While Baltimore sweats, the Sockers will continue to coast into the playoffs.
San Diego is 32-11 and has clinched the best record in the league and the home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
On Saturday night, San Diego scored four power-play goals and outran, outshot and outplayed the Blast.
“That was vintage San Diego,” Cooper said. “They put on a clinic.
On Saturday night, San Diego led, 2-1, after one quarter, 5-2 at halftime and 7-2 after three quarters. They were scoring at will against a defense that had allowed only eight goals in its previous three games and had the leading goalkeeper in the league in Keith Van Eron.
After allowing nine goals, Van Eron still has the league’s top goals-against average at 3.73. However, Socker goalkeeper Jim Gorsek is right behind him at 3.74. Gorsek made 7 saves on 13 shots Saturday to up his record to 17-2.
Jean Willrich, Ade Coker and Wadd Hirmez scored two goals apiece, and Fernando Clavijo, Tim Bartro and Kevin Crow added one each for the Sockers.
Branko Segota had three assists to pull within three points of Zungul and Erik Rasmussen of Wichita in the MISL scoring race.
Billy Ronson scored two goals and Dave MacWilliams had one for a Blast team that barely resembled the one San Diego fans are used to seeing.
Socker Notes Saturday night’s game between the Sockers and Blast will be broadcast on ESPN today at 1 p.m. . . . Socker player representative Kevin Crow said the MISL does not want to allow players from San Diego, Chicago or Minnesota (NASL franchises that moved into the MISL) to vote on union matters. Upset, Crow said, “We pay good money (union dues) and we can’t vote on crucial matters.” A possible strike date of March 27 has been set. “I think management will come around,” Crow said, “but we don’t want a salary cap.”
