Sockers Can’t Finish Off the Blast : San Diego Blows 3-Goal Lead and Loses in Overtime, 6-5

The Sockers used to put teams away when they were up by three goals. They were known for their finishers and for finishing opponents.

It has been a different story this season. After losing only two games all last season when they led after three quarters, the Sockers are 5-5 in that situation this season.

San Diego blew a three-goal halftime lead and two-goal fourth quarter edge in losing to the Baltimore Blast, 6-5, in sudden-death overtime Wednesday night in the Sports Arena.

Blast forward Keith Furphy, who tied the score with just 48 seconds remaining in regulation, scored on a right-footer from inside the penalty box with 1:58 left in the 15-minute overtime period.

“It used to be when we were ahead 4-1, we’d go ahead 5-1,” said Socker defender Kevin Crow. “Now we continually go 4-2 instead of 5-1.”

Said Socker Coach Ron Newman: “In the first period, we were brilliant. It was like the old times. But for some reason we don’t go out in the second half and deal with same challenges. We have to get punished before we get going. Everyone isn’t willing to work for everyone else. This is terribly disappointing.”

San Diego drops to 8-7 and is 2-5 in overtime.

Said Socker midfielder Brian Quinn in a quiet San Diego locker room: “We were flat in the second half. The comparison between the first half and second half was like chalk and cheese.”

The negative numbers are beginning to mount for the Sockers this season.

They lost to Kansas City after beating them 15 straight times. They lost home-and-home series to Los Angeles and Tacoma for the first time. After going 21-3 during the regular season at home last season, the Sockers are 4-3 at home this season.

And then came Wednesday night’s game played in front of 8,641. Tradition and the game seemed to belong to the Sockers.

San Diego had won 10 of 11 games against the Blast in San Diego. Two goals by Jean Willrich and goals by Juli Veee, Hugo Peez and Fernando Clavijo gave the Sockers a 5-3 edge going into the final quarter.

With 6:31 remaining in regulation, Baltimore pulled goalkeeper Scott Manning and put in a sixth attacker. Child scored with 5:05 to play and Manning returned. With just more than two minutes to play, the Blast replaced Manning with a sixth attacker. Furphy tied the score on a 25-footer from the left wing with 48 seconds to play.

Coming into Wednesday night’s game, the Blast (10-5) was in first place in the Eastern Division of the Major Indoor Soccer League and led the league in defense.

But Baltimore had previously displayed so little offense that defender Richard Chinapoo entered Wednesday’s game tied for the team scoring lead with 19 points. Chinapoo did not play Wednesday because of a sprained left knee.

The Blast was also a tired team, having spent 30 hours traveling from Baltimore to San Diego because of a hostage situation at the Dallas airport Monday. In addition, Baltimore had lost five of seven after getting off to a 7-0 start.

“This was possibly one of the biggest victories in the history of this franchise,” said Blast Coach Kenny Cooper. “To win here after going through the adversity we’ve been through is incredible.”

Socker Notes

Goalkeeper Jim Gorsek, out with a broken left hand, said he may try to get the same type of rubberized brace used by Blast goalkeeper Keith Van Eron, who has a broken finger. Gorsek has missed five games and said the hand is still sore. He hopes to return for the game in Minnesota Jan. 14. . . . Defender George Katakalidis left Wednesday’s game with a sprained left toe.