Sockers Finally Win One for the Road, Edge Sting

Ron Newman, Socker coach, adheres to the old saying that “turnabout is fair play.” After Wednesday night’s match against the Chicago Sting, another appropriate axiom would be “it’s about time.”

Paul Dougherty’s goal with 1 minute 16 seconds left in regulation gave the Sockers a 4-3 victory over Chicago in front of 5,117 at Rosemont Horizon.

Carlos Melian scored twice for the Sockers (23-18), who hadn’t won a road game since Feb. 21. Waad Hirmez added the other goal. Mickey Zyayo, Batata and Frank Klopas scored for Chicago (21-21).

“I’m sorry for (Sting Coach) Erich Geyer, but he did steal one from us,” said Newman, referring to the Sting’s 5-4 overtime upset of the Sockers Jan. 10 at the Sports Arena.

“We had to win,” Newman said. “Like I said, we have the young lads who need to be inspired and win on the road.”

The Sockers, who had lost three straight road matches after defeating Cleveland, 6-5, in overtime Feb. 21, didn’t get scoring from their usual powerhouses. Instead San Diego, which was outshot by Chicago, 30-17, had a balanced attack.

“You’d have expected players like Branko (Segota) and Cheezy (Jean Willrich) to score,” Newman said. “It was good to see Carlos and Paul do it. It’s just pleasing to win the game. We had to play desperate at times.”

Said Geyer, a former Socker defender: “San Diego has speed, defense and excellent goalkeeping. We let San Diego play their game.”

Before Wednesday’s match, Chicago owner Lee Stern announced that the suspension of Karl-Heinz Granitza would continue for the rest of the regular season and--if the Sting qualifies--any postseason competition. Granitza, the Sting’s all-time leading scorer, was suspended by Stern March 21 for “insubordination” after he got into a shouting match with Stern. He will be paid until his contract ends June 30.

“It was necessary to announce a decision for team morale and for the fans,” Stern said. “We need to do this to go ahead.”

Stern said that Granitza, who remains unavailable for comment, called him Wednesday afternoon to discuss the incident. Stern said Granitza declined an invitation to address the media Wednesday, but indicated he would hold his own news conference in the near future.

Sting president Kenny Stern said, “If I were him, I’d start talking to other other teams right now if he wants to continue playing in the MISL next season.”

Does that mean Granitza, who came to Chicago in 1978, has played his last game with Chicago?

“You can take it as it sounds,” Lee Stern said. “I hoped this situation could be resolved with Karl playing, but this was the first time I’ve spoken to him since our discussion and shouting match. I didn’t hear any apology.”

Lee Stern, who said he considered releasing Granitza, said he’d like to stop paying him. “Releasing Karl and not paying him crossed my mind . . . maybe a little bit,” he said. “I would have liked to suspend him without pay, but I just think he was deserving of his contract continuing, although he wasn’t deserving of playing with the team.”

Will anyone pick up Granitza and his $65,000 salary?

“Someone desperate for goal-scorers,” Newman said.