For Openers, Lazers Blow Lead, Still Win, 8-7

The Los Angeles Lazers, eager to get a fast start after a dismal showing last season, looked as though they would run away with their Major Indoor Soccer League opener Friday night against the New York Express.

But only after blowing a 7-2 fourth-quarter lead did the Lazers escape with an 8-7 victory before 6,163 fans at the Forum.

The Lazers built the lead with a cooperative effort by both newcomers and veterans. They were led by new forward Paul Kitson and Willie Molano on offense with two goals apiece, and on defense by new goalie David Brcic.

Early in the fourth period, Brcic was kicked in the face, and it was shortly thereafter that the cave-in began. Brcic gave way to goalie John Baretta, who quickly gave up three goals, making the score 7-5 with about five minutes remaining. The breakdown angered Lazer Coach Peter Wall.

“To play so well, then play so badly is really unprofessional,” Wall said.

“We had a nice cushion and thought we’d run the time out, and you just don’t do that.”

Brcic was able to return, and the Lazers responded with a goal by forward Stuart Lee, giving Los Angeles an 8-5 lead.

Then, with just under three minutes remaining, the Express pulled their goalie and scored twice more before time ran out, losing their exciting debut in the MISL.

Excitement, according to Express goalie and President Shep Messing, is the key to having a successful organization.

“We must be exciting in order to succeed,” Messing said. “I don’t think a win was a must for us tonight.”

Indoor soccer has failed twice before in New York, and it is Messing who was responsible for bringing the Express into being.

New York got on the board first when Michael Collins bounced the ball off the glass and Njego Pesa blasted it past Brcic after 6:04 of the first period.

After that, the Lazers had trouble keeping the ball out of their zone until Molano took a pass from Greg Ion and scored a tying goal at 12:03.

In the second period, the Lazers began to dominate. Just 2:36 into the period, Kitson drilled a hard 15-foot unassisted shot past Messing, giving the Lazers a 2-1 lead.

But the Express tied the game when midfielder Luis Alberta tapped in a shot through a crowded goal area.

The Lazers continued to apply pressure, taking 16 shots to 7 by the Express, including goals by Erhardt Kapp and Molano, who got his second on a breakaway.

Then came goals by Darko Birjukov and Ion to run the margin to 6-2 entering the final period.