SD Sockers Continue Stellar Form With Road Win
The San Diego Sockers recorded the second win of their four-game road trip with a victory over the Dallas Sidekicks. The match welcomed a season-best crowd of 4,356 supporters, with many staying for over an hour after the match to get Landon Donovan’s autograph. The Sockers (19-1) improved to 10-0 on the road and with a 3-0 record against Dallas (8-13).
Related Article: San Diego Sockers Cruise to 16th Straight Victory
MASL Soccer News: The San Diego Sockers edged the Dallas Sidekicks with a 13-3 road victory on Sunday at Allen Event Center in Texas.
The Sockers were led by an explosive offense with three players recording hat-tricks on the night. Kraig Chiles netted a hat-trick and tallied two assists. Brian Farber scored three goals and tallied one assist, while Brandon Escoto recorded three goals. Leonardo de Oliveira recorded four assists.
The Sockers took control of the match early when a Farber wall pass to Chiles into the penalty area was calmly converted for the opening goal four minutes in.
Three minutes later, Chiles struck a free kick through the wall and into the back of the net for his 25th of the season and second of the afternoon.
San Diego continued the surge less than 90 seconds later when Leonardo de Oliveira found Cesar Cerda for a tap-in finish. The Sockers held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
De Oliveira’s passing expertise was on further display in the second quarter, with a no-look pass from the left wing to Farber who was sent in one-v-one with Dallas goalkeeper Juan Gamboa. Farber stretched past Gamboa before finishing from a tight angle for his 10th goal of the season. Less than a minute later, an unmarked Hiram Ruiz on the left wing finished the rebound of a Chiles shot for his fourth goal of the weekend.
Carlos Videla scored a goal for Dallas ten minutes into the second quarter. Videla found open space in the middle of the arc for the finish. The Sockers entered halftime with a 5-1 advantage.
Landon Donovan had an impact early in the third quarter. After intercepting a pass in the attacking third, Donovan provided a lay off to Eduardo Velez at the far post for a tap-in goal and a 6-1 lead.
The San Diego Sockers continued to pounce on every opportunity they were provided during the match. In the third quarter, Christian Segura slotted a pass through the defender’s legs to set up Chiles for his third goal of the night. Next, Christian Gutierrez passed the ball off the left end line boards to Travis Pittman, who recorded his ninth goal of the year. The Sockers held an 8-1 lead with under nine minutes left of the match. The Sockers tallied five more goals in the final quarter, with Escoto and Farber each netting twice to complete their hat-tricks.
San Diego continues its four-match road trip next Sunday versus the Tacoma Stars. Kickoff is at 5:05 p.m. PT.
