Injury-Riddled Lazers Get Off to Slow Start, Lose Fourth in a Row

After winning their first three games of the Major Indoor Soccer League season, the injury-riddled Los Angeles Lazers have lost four in a row, their latest setback coming Friday night in Dallas when they were beaten, 6-4, by the Sidekicks before 6,323 fans.

Brazilian star Tatu scored just 58 seconds into the game, and the Sidekicks built a 3-0 lead before the Lazers, 7 of whose 20 players are out due to injuries or illness, found their feet.

“We got ourselves in a hole, down 3-0, but we fought back very well in midgame,” Lazer Coach Peter Wall said. “It was a pretty good performance overall with what we had, but I wish we’d started (playing well) sooner than 15 minutes into the game.”

The Lazers, who trailed at halftime, 4-2, and after three periods, 4-3, got goals from Darko Birjukov, Stuart Lee, Greg Ion and Gus Mokalis. Pedro DeBrito scored twice for the Sidekicks (5-3).

The Lazers’ next game, the 200th in their history and 100th at home, is Sunday at 1:30 p.m. against the Kansas City Comets at the Forum.