Opportunities Go to Waste in Zodiac Loss
After giving up 11 goals in its last three games, the Zodiac’s primary focus on Saturday was its defense.
Now, if it can only fix the offense.
The U.S. Pro-40, a collection of Major League Soccer developmental players, scored a 2-1 A-League victory at Santa Ana Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 958.
The Zodiac gave up two goals, both by David Hayes, in the 49th and 55th minutes. Pro-40 (7-4) remained atop the Central Division.
The Zodiac (4-5), which got its only goal on Steve Patterson’s penalty kick in the 67th minute, is in second place in the Pacific Division.
But the Zodiac didn’t lose this game in the second half, when it gave up the goals, but in the first half, when it missed too many scoring opportunities.
“We had at least five clean chances, and we missed the post by two inches,” said sweeper Kenny Hesse. “We can’t finish on this team.
“In the first half, we should have been up, 4-0.”
Hesse wouldn’t get any argument from forward Jose Vasquez, who was among the guilty.
“The missed opportunities really cost us,” Vasquez said. “We should have put in one or two in the first half, and time ran out on us at the end.”
Pro-40 goalkeeper Jim Welch (nine saves) made two outstanding saves in the final two minutes, knocking away headers by Vasquez and Gustavo Leal.
But the scoreless first half had less to do with Welch and more to do with the Zodiac.
Patterson twice was turned away, once when his shot from five yards went just wide, the other when he beat Welch but defender Darren Sawatzky made a kick save inches from the goal mouth.
Vasquez whiffed on another opportunity from 10 yards, and he also missed just wide from 15 yards.
The Zodiac’s first-half problems haunted it right away in the second half as the unmarked Hayes (property of the D.C. United) tapped in a rebound.
Hayes got his second goal when, without a defender within 10 yards, he kicked past goalkeeper Mike Littman (eight saves).
Both goals, Hesse said, were “mental breakdowns . . . ball-watching.”
