Zodiac Loses Lead, Then Shootout to U.S. Pro-40

What appeared to be a hard-fought A-League victory for the Zodiac Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium turned into overtime and then frustration as U.S. Pro-40 won in a shootout, 3-0.

The game, played before a subdued announced crowd of 623, was tied 1-1 after 105 minutes. The Zodiac scored with six minutes left in regulation on a header by P.J. Polowski, but U.S. Pro-40 answered four minutes later on a deflected goal by midfielder Judah Cooks.

After 15 minutes of scoreless overtime, U.S. Pro connected on three of its four shootout opportunities but the Zodiac’s Polowski, Steve Patterson and Kenny Hesse were all turned away by U.S. Pro goalkeeper Scott Vallow, a rookie from Bowling Green University.

The Zodiac’s second loss in three games was somewhat controversial as an overtime rebound goal by Jose Vasquez was nullified because of an offside call.

“We can’t lose like that,” co-Coach Ricard Minaya said. “That should have been a goal.”

The loss marred a stellar outing by Zodiac goalkeeper Mike Littman, who kept his team in the game with several diving saves. U.S. Pro-40 (1-0), an MLS developmental team, badly outplayed the Zodiac in the first half.

“Up 1-0 with five minutes left, what can you do?” Littman said. “It happens. The bottom line is we have to put away our opportunities.”

Littman kept Pro-40 scoreless by coming out of goal and challenging the Pro-40 forwards, who were quicker to the ball than the Zodiac defenders.

“That’s what they do,” Minaya said. “They run, they run and they run, non-stop. We wanted to let them get tired and that’s what they did.”

Littman, who is sharing time with Dan Abdalla, finished with eight saves but he only had one in the shootout.

“He played fairly good,” Minaya said. “He came up with some big saves when he needed to.”