Sockers Win, 5-3, Retain MISL Title

Midfielder Brian Quinn scored two goals and assisted on another Monday night as the San Diego Sockers beat the Minnesota Strikers, 5-3, to win the Major Indoor Soccer League championship.

The Sockers, who rebounded from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series, claimed their second straight MISL title and fifth consecutive indoor crown, including two in the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

San Diego held a 2-1 halftime lead in Monday night’s seventh game and established control with three straight goals to take a 5-1 advantage early in the final period.

Minnesota countered with a pair of goals in the fourth quarter, but the teams went scoreless over the final 4:07 of play before a sellout crowd of 12,881 at the San Diego Sports Arena.

Ade Coker had one goal and one assist for the Sockers. The other San Diego goals were scored by Gary Collier and Branko Segota.

Thompson Usiyan had one goal and one assist for Minnesota. Jan Goossens and Mike Jeffries also scored for the Strikers.

The Strikers lost despite outshooting the Sockers, 46-22. San Diego goalkeeper Jim Gorsek was credited with 20 saves while Minnesota goalkeeper Tino Lettieri had 11 saves.

Minnesota pulled its goalkeeper in favor of a sixth attacker with 1:49 remaining but wasn’t able to get any closer than the final two-goal margin.

The Sockers won the series opener, 5-2, but the Strikers then won the next three games, by scores of 6-1, 7-2, and 4-3.

San Diego forced a seventh game by winning the fifth game, 7-4, and the sixth game, 6-3.