Ontario Fury Defeats Turlock Express at Home
As the 2018/19 MASL regular season enters its final weeks of play, top teams across the league continue their push for a playoff spot. Ontario won its third consecutive match on Saturday, with the Fury on the bubble for a playoff berth in the Pacific Division.
MASL Soccer News: Ontario Fury continues its playoff hunt following a 12-2 victory over Turlock Express in the Inland Empire. The Fury welcomed 3,041 supporters to Citizens Business Bank Arena on Saturday night in a crucial Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) matchup for the hosts.
Ontario was led by Jermaine Jones who recorded four goals and one assist in the dominant victory. Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Francisco Cordeiro and William Raygoza each tallied a brace in the home victory, while Maicon De Abreu netted one goal and recorded four assists.
It took Ontario just 20 seconds to find the back of the net for the opening goal. A shot off the end line boards was directed into the path of an unmarked De Abreu who scored with a one-time, deflected finish.
Jones extended Ontario’s lead with five minutes remaining in the opening quarter for his first tally of the night.
The Fury capitalized on the breakaway when Anibal Echeverria set up Jones down the right flank for the stretched finish to the far, bottom post.
With under four minutes left of the half, an unmarked Raygoza received a pass from De Abreu in the middle of the pitch, took a touch forward and calmly finished with a left-footed strike. Ontario held a 3-0 lead at halftime.
Although Turlock was able to find the target, the visiting club was unable to break through the Ontario defense. Turlock tallied 12 shots on goal in the first half, while the Fury recorded 15 on target.
Less than a minute into the second half, Ontario found the back of the net with Raygoza scoring his second of the night.
A long ball up the left sideline to Jones was flicked to the top of the penalty area for Raygoza who finished a bouncing ball with a one-time finish.
Evan McNeeley added his name to the scoresheet one minute and a half later with a low, left-footed strike from long range. Toth was credited with the assist as Ontario took a commanding 5-0 lead.
Jones scored his second goal of the night on the power play four minutes and 19 seconds into the third quarter.
Five minutes later, Jones tallied his hat-trick goal to give Ontario the 7-0 advantage.
Turlock found the back of the net with under five minutes left of the third quarter. After a failed clearance off the end line boards by Ontario, Omar Tapia won a 50-50 tackle that Adrian Gutierrez pounced on for the finish.
With 20 second left of the third quarter, Ontario dispossessed Turlock in its own half and went on the 3-v-1 counter attack.
Anibal Echeverria played Gonzalez to his right who scored a chipped finish for his first of the night. The Fury held an 8-1 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The hosts continued to display its dominance with an additional four goals scored in the final quarter. Gonzalez and Jones each tallied another goal, while Cordeiro scored his two goals of the night.
Matthew Germain found the back of the net for Turlock’s second goal.
Ontario recorded a 12-2 victory and remains in the hunt for a 2018/19 MASL playoff berth. The Fury and the Tacoma Stars are in a tight playoff race, with the final matches of the regular season deciding second place of the Pacific Division.
The Fury will now prepare to host Landon Donovan and the San Diego Sockers on Thursday, April 4, at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. PT.
