Hobbled Sockers Suffer Another Defeat, Injury

The Sockers, resembling more of a traveling infirmary than an indoor soccer team, lost another game and another player Saturday night at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

The Sidekicks (8-5) won, 4-1, and Socker defender George Fernandez, who set a record of 92 consecutive games played Dec. 2 against Wichita, went down in the second quarter with a concussion when he was struck in the head with the ball on a shot from Bruno Ferretti. Fernandez is doubtful for tonight’s 6:05 game against the Cleveland Crunch at the San Diego Sports Arena.

“This year is becoming a nightmare,” Socker Coach Ron Newman said. “We’ve got to work harder. We’ve got to dig deeper and battle. We’re losing our players rapidly.”

If Fernandez is unable to play tonight, he will be the third full-time starter out with injury, the others being defender Ralph Black and midfielder Brian Quinn. The Sockers (6-7) were thin in the back at the beginning of the season and are getting thinner.

Still, Newman said he expected more of his team.

“I was surprised,” he said. “I felt some good vibes (before the game). But when we went out there, there was nothing there.”

Midfielder Branko Segota scored the Sockers’ lone goal, his 11th, 29 seconds into the second quarter, tying the score, 1-1.