Lazers Win Third Straight at Home, 5-2

Despite having the worst home record in the Major Indoor Soccer League, the Los Angeles Lazers won their third straight game at the Forum, defeating the Cleveland Force, 5-2, before 4,404 fans Thursday night.

It was the fifth win in their last seven games for the Lazers, who are now wearing their black road uniforms for home games, too. It also completed a four-game season sweep of the Force, which had defeated the Lazers 15 of 16 times before this season.

“We are like the Raiders because we are hard-nosed and we like to win in black,” Lazer Coach Keith Tozer said.

In a scoreless first period dominated by the Lazers, the Force was frustrated by brilliant goalkeeping by the Lazers’ David Brcic, who made four saves. The Lazers continually attacked Force goaltender P.J. Johns.

The action picked up in the second quarter as the Lazers’ relentless attack finally paid off at 10:45. With the Lazers playing short-handed, forward Jim Gabarra broke free and scored on a left-footed shot past three Force defenders for his 12th goal of the season.

The Force tied the match, 1-1, with less than a minute left before halftime. Rui Felgueira drilled a right-footed breakaway shot off Brcic to score his fourth goal of the season. Felgueira’s goal was set up by an assist from midfielder Andy Schmetzer.

The Lazers scored their second goal with 5:40 left in the third quarter when Chris Whyte got his 18th goal of the season. Whyte forced in a right-footed shot past a crowd of Cleveland defensemen after receiving an assist from Thompson Usiyan.

The Force tied the match, 2-2, with 4:02 left in the third quarter when Bobby Joe Esposito made a breakaway shot past Brcic. It was Esposito’s first goal since Dec. 29.

The Lazers dominated the fourth quarter, starting with Michael Collins’ 16th goal of the season. Chico Borja’s masterful drive enabled Collins to give the Lazers the lead for good.

Lazer forward Chris Chueden then scored twice, including his 100th career goal with 1:17 left in the game after the Force had pulled its goalkeeper.