Intense Rivalry Ends In Defeat for Sockers
The San Diego Sockers faced the Las Vegas Legends for the third straight year for the championship title.
Ivan Campos scored a hat trick and the Legends pitched a first half shutout before withstanding a furious rally, holding off the San Diego Sockers 7-6 in a Major Arena Soccer League Pacific Division elimination playoff at the Valley View Casino Center. Trailing 3-0 at intermission, the Sockers netted six times in the second half but gave up critical responses and never managed to even the score line for the crowd of 4,279.
“It’s frustrating,” said team captain Kraig Chiles, who was held scoreless for the second consecutive game by Las Vegas, the only two game streak without a point in his career, “In the first half we looked flat. In the second half we looked better, but we gave up goals too quickly after scoring and it got us in the end.”
The Legends become the first team in the history of the Sockers indoor franchise to eliminate San Diego from the playoffs in back-to-back years, and the first opponent in Sockers history to win twice in the Valley View Casino Center. It was the first home playoff loss in Sockers history as well.
Counting playoffs, Las Vegas has beaten San Diego in five of seven contests, the best streak any opponent has mounted against the 14-time indoor champions.
While the Sockers rattled the crossbar and post five times in the first half, it was Las Vegas that was able to find the back of the net. San Diego’s knack for goals late in quarters was turned on then at the end of the first, when Christian Segura sprang unmarked and tucked a near post shot with eight seconds remaining for a 1-0 lead.
Campos then began his hat trick with a pair of second quarter counter-attack goals, each coming after the Sockers had either a great or good chance spoiled on offense. Trailing 3-0, San Diego picked up quick third quarter tallies from Chiky Luna (two goals) and Eduardo Velez, but Campos soared in for his third goal of the night just fifteen seconds after the Velez score to re-establish a 4-2 lead.
Nick Perera, Jeff Hughes and Brian Farber scored late as the Sockers mounted a furious comeback, but Las Vegas midfielder Ricardinho‘s goal against San Diego’s sixth attacker formation just sixteen seconds after the Sockers pulled their keeper proved to be the winning score.
The Legends advance to the MASL Western Conference Final against either the Monterrey Flash or Dallas Sidekicks, who play on Sunday, March 15th.
Photo Credit: Aaron Jaffe
