Perez Sets Pace in Salsa’s Victory Over Vancouver
Hugo Perez made his debut with the Salsa Saturday night and the veteran midfielder from the U.S. national team quickly made his presence felt in the American Professional Soccer League.
Perez, who played for the United States in this summer’s World Cup, scored a goal in the first half and his combative, free-wheeling play helped the Salsa turn back the Vancouver 86ers, 2-1, at Titan Stadium.
The victory assured the Salsa a spot in the four-team APSL playoffs, which begin Sept. 30. The Salsa is 10-8 with two regular-season games remaining. They will play at Vancouver Wednesday night and at home Sept. 25 against Colorado.
The victory also moved the Salsa into second place in the league behind Seattle. Colorado dumped Montreal out of second, 2-1, earlier in the day.
In the playoffs, the top team in the regular season will play the fourth-place team and the second- and third-place teams will meet in the semifinals.
But the successful arrival of Perez was the night’s highlight. “He brought a whole different dimension to our game,” said Rick Davis, Salsa coach and general manager. “Take away even the great goal he scored, and he made some moves out there tonight that very few players in the world could have made.”
Perez was clearly the most popular player for autograph seekers among the crowd of 2,478 after the game.
“It’s a good feeling,” Perez said. “It was important for me to score in my first game. It’s important to get things started on the right track.”
The game got off to a lively start with the first two shots producing two goals.
Vancouver’s Dale Mitchell scored the game’s first in the sixth minute on a kick into the corner from 20 yards that sailed cleanly past Salsa goalkeeper Mike Littman.
The Salsa came back to tie the score in the eighth minute of the game on a goal by Danny Pena, on an assist from Paulinho.
Perez’s goal came in the 26th minute of the first half, with Paulinho, the APSL’s leading goal-scorer, getting his second assist of the game.
