Sockers Close In on MISL Sweep With 3-2 Win Over Force

Zoran Karic scored 1:28 into overtime Sunday night to lift San Diego to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Force at the Richfield Coliseum, moving the Sockers to within one game of a sweep in the Major Indoor Soccer League best-of-seven final series.

The Sockers, seeking a fourth MISL title, can achieve a four-game sweep by winning Tuesday night at the Coliseum.

Karic took a pass from Fernando Clavijo on a 3-on-1 break that was initiated by Socker midfielder Brian Quinn.

Quinn passed to a streaking Clavijo along the left sideline. Cleveland goalkeeper P.J. Johns went to cover Clavijo, who found Karic racing unmarked down the right wing for his second goal of the playoffs.

The Force, making its first appearance in the championship series, forced the overtime when Craig Allen scored a sixth-attacker goal with 1:55 remaining, tying the score, 2-2. Allen redirected a corner kick by Force captain Kai Haaskivi past Sockers’ goalie Zoltan Toth, who entered the game earlier in the fourth quarter in relief of injured Jim Gorsek.

Gorsek injured his nose in a collision with Allen 1:46 into the quarter.

The Sockers took a 1-0 lead 11:51 into the game when Juli Veee scored his 10th goal of the playoffs, assisted by Quinn.

Haaskivi tied the score 17 seconds later with a free-kick goal that found its way between two San Diego defenders and past Gorsek.

After a scoreless second quarter, the Sockers took a 2-1 lead on Waad Hirmez’s power-play goal at 10:43 of the third quarter.

A victory Tuesday night by the Sockers will make San Diego the first team to sweep four games in a MISL championship series. The Sockers won MISL titles in 1983, 1985 and 1986.