San Diego Sockers and Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) News:
Soccer Match Update: Las Vegas 3- Sockers 4
Chris Toth’s highlight reel saves were the difference as the San Diego Sockers outlasted the Las Vegas Legends 4-3 in front of 2,109 at the Valley View Casino Center.
Toth is a third generation goalie and has come into his own in the recent year. Fast, fabulous and determined to be the clearly designated player who prevents the competition from scoring — Toth defends his goal with style and precision.
With the win, the Sockers improve to 9-6 on the season, snapping the Legends four-game winning streak in the process.
In a chess match between Sockers coaches Phil Salvagio and the Legends’ Mariano Bollella, The Sockers held a 3-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
Due to a few late scratches, Brian Farber made a shock return for the line-up for his first game of the season. He celebrated by opening the scoring 1:05 into the second quarter, sticking the ball home after a smart lay-off from Kraig Chiles.
Anthony Medina then gave the Sockers a 2-0 lead as he won the ball in the box and held off his defender before turning and curling the ball into the corner with six minutes remaining in the first half.
It looked like it might be lights out for Las Vegas early in the third quarter when Chiles gave the Sockers a three goal cushion with a close range finish after the ball was pinged in by Luan Sales Olivera.
Instead the Legends came roaring back into contention. Just over a minute later Ivan Simental took advantage of a mistake from Victor Quiroz to slide the ball underneath Toth.
Ivan Campos pulled the Legends within one, smashing in a pass from Eric Guzman.
Las Vegas could have cut the deficit sooner or possibly gone ahead but Toth made save after save, from a flying stop in the second quarter to a flurry of quick reaction stops as his cage was peppered in the third.
“There were a couple of tight ones where the ball was coming across the goal,” Toth said of his saves. “Those are more reaction saves. Most of the times there were standard saves, but there were a couple that stood out for sure.”
The Sockers restored their two goal lead in the fourth as Chiles notched his 20th assist of the season. A carbon copy of his first assist, Chiles showed as the target and laid the ball off for a streaking Olivera to tuck it into the corner.
It proved to be a massive strike as the Legends went to the sixth attacker with just over three minutes left. Campos found space inside the crease to power home his second of the match to pull Vegas within one.
With the defense hunkered down and a herculean effort from Toth, the Sockers were able to hang on for the victory to firmly put themselves back in the Pacific Division playoff race.
“It’s a good win,” Chiles said. “It keeps the momentum rolling and this is the time you need to peak if you want to win the championship. We need to take this momentum and move into the playoffs on a four or five game winning streak, win another four or five games and be champions. That’s the goal.”
The Sockers have a chance to extend their winning streak to three games when they travel to Ontario to face the Fury this Sunday, January 31st at 3:05pm PT.
