Like Son, Like Father: Perez Leads Sockers
Taking a cue from his 4-year-old son, Socker midfielder Hugo Perez scored the key goal in San Diego’s 4-2 victory against the Dallas Sidekicks Saturday night at the Sports Arena.
Just minutes after Hugo Perez Jr. kicked a right-footer in the net from the top of the penalty box in a between-quarters exhibition, his father followed with a left-footer from nearly the same spot.
That goal, which was set up by a long pass off the boards from Branko Segota, gave the Sockers a 2-1 lead at 59 seconds of the fourth quarter. And it gave the Sockers momentum.
Just 29 seconds after Perez scored, Raffaele Ruotolo chipped in a right-footer from the left of the goal to make it 3-1.
The Sockers (7-4) were on their way to their third straight victory in front of 8,655.
Ade Coker made it 4-1 at 10:37. Sidekick midfielder Ed Radwanski scored with 19 seconds remaining.
Socker goalkeeper Zoltan Toth, the only San Diego goalie to dress for the game because Jim Gorsek is out with a broken left hand, made 19 saves on 30 shots and improved his record to 6-0. Sidekick goalkeeper Krys Sobieski made 17 saves on 29 shots. “Zoalie was magnificent again,” Socker Coach Ron Newman said. “They had a lot of chances that bounced in front of the goal and Zoalie was bloody brilliant.”
The Socker defense was also impressive, shutting out high-scoring Sidekick forward Tatu, who entered the game with a team-leading 11 goals and 4 assists. “We kept the shirt on Tatu’s back,” Newman said.
Tatu is known for tossing his shirt into the stands after scoring a goal. On Saturday night, Tatu was shut out for only the second time in 10 games this season.
“Usually the coach would like me or Fernando (Clavijo) to take him,” Socker defender Kevin Crow said. “We’re fortunate that we have four or five guys who can score points consistently. They have one or two. If you neutralize Tatu, you’re in good shape.”
Dallas (6-4) has not beaten the Sockers in eight tries since they entered the league in the 1984-85 season. Two years ago, the Sidekicks were 0-10 at this time, and last year they were 4-6 after 10 games.
“They have experience now,” Perez said. “But I think we looked fitter in this game than in all the games we’ve played this season. We had a lot of one-touch and two-touch passes.”
Socker Notes
Socker midfielder Branko Segota--who received a smattering of boos when he was introduced before the game and had a goal and an assist in the game--said Saturday that if he cannot agree upon a contract with the Sockers, he “will just play out his option and not agree to be traded or sold. Bob (Bell) said if we can’t get it (a contract), it’s better that I go. I think it would be better to be a free agent.” Segota is in the option year of a no-cut, no-trade contract. Bell, the Sockers’ general managing partner, said he has received numerous calls from MISL teams about Segota’s availability, but that he “has not been discussing the issue with them.” Last Tuesday, Segota decided at the last minute to turn down a six-year, $1.25-million contract that would have been the longest and most lucrative in Major Indoor Soccer League history. Segota said he wanted a two- or three-year contract and more money up front. On Friday, Segota and Bell met for 1 1/2 hours. “We talked about several alternative ways to structure the contract,” Bell said. “A lot of the time was spent talking about general philosophical matters like the salary cap ($1.25-million per MISL team) and where the league and the Sockers are headed. I’m optimistic. I told him it was not worth dragging it on. He agreed that it (contract negotiation) was affecting his play. For the benefit of the team and him, we agreed it would be best to resolve it as soon as possible. He (Segota) has to get back to me. I think I’ve done everything I can.” Hal Kolker, the agent who represented Segota throughout contract negotiations that began at the end of last summer, was not at the meeting with Segota and Bell Friday. “I think he (Kolker) has washed his hands of it,” Bell said. “Branko is going to negotiate now.” Said Segota: “I want to think about it (the contract) more. I’m not ready to say anything yet. I need at least another week. I will propose some things to him (Bell). I hope we can do something. I don’t want to leave San Diego.” . . . Former Socker defender Eric Geyer, now an assistant coach with the Chicago Sting, coached the slumping Sting in place of Willy Roy the past two games. Reports out of Chicago say that Roy did not show up for either of the past two games. Under Geyer, Chicago (2-8) beat New York, 7-2, Friday and lost to St. Louis, 8-6, Saturday. A press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago.
