HEMET, CA (Tuesday, June 13, 2000) - The A-League San Diego Flash defeated the D3 Pro League Riverside County Elite 2-1 in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup second round match at West Valley Stadium Tuesday evening. The Flash will meet the winner of Wednesday’s MLS Los Angeles Galaxy/A-League Seattle Sounders match in the third round of the tournament on July 25.
A strange event happened in the 12th minute, Flash midfielder Carlos Farias’ direct free kick was saved by Elite goalkeeper Tim Gorman; who suffered a dislocated shoulder and had to leave the match. Usually the reserve goalkeeper would replace the starter, but Elite coach Rob Manriquez failed to list Eric Kenas on the official game day roster and he could not play. Defender Kevin Brown was sent in to be the Elite netminder.
San Diego tried to take advantage of the inexperienced Brown, but failed, as he made three saves in the following 15 minutes. Brown made saves on shots by Mauricio Alegre, and two by Farias.The teams would play the last half-hour mostly in the Elite half of the field.
In the 44th minute, Ryan Cox’s unassuming long-ball from midfield to the right corner led to an Elite tally. Joe Owen beat a lackadaisical P.J. Brown to the ball and took a uncontested shot from nine yards out that beat Flash goalkeeper Tom Tate.
The Flash had a chance to tie the match just minutes after the intermission. Owen fouled a Flash forward in the box, which led to a Farias penalty kick attempt. Farias, who is 8-for-8 in his A-League career, hit the crossbar and the Elite was awarded a goal kick.
The Elite's reprieve would be short, as San Diego scored twice in a four-minute span not wanting to be the first upset victim of the tournament. In the 60th minute, Farias atoned for his missed penalty and scored on a classic Farias shot. His 26-yard blast from the right side hit the upper left corner. Farias was not finished, as his cross into the box was put in by a charging Shandley Phillips for a 2-1 lead. Phillips, a second half sub, first-timed the shot from eight yards out past Brown.
Despite being a part of the same family, as the teams are operated by the San Diego Soccer Development Corporation, both teams played a hard and physical contest against one another. "We knew that it would be physical, even though both teams respect and know each other," stated Flash coach Colin Clarke.
Farias, who had a three-point evening and would be ejected in the 72nd minute for his second caution, moves into second place behind Mugurel Dumitru (6g-0a, 12) for Open Cup scoring on the team with four goals and two assists for 10 points. Tate, who improved his Open Cup record to 2-1, has been the only goalkeeper in Open Cup history for the team.
Despite the loss, Elite head coach Manriquez was pleased, "Brilliant, anytime you are ahead of a good team such as the Flash, you have to be proud and say you did a good job." However, Clarke had a different view, I am very disappointed, but happy that we are in the next round. They (Elite) did well, they got a goal."
San Diego returns to A-League action on the road Friday against the Seattle Sounders and the Bay Area Seals on Sunday. Riverside County travels to meet the Central Coast Roadrunners (San Luis Obispo, Ca.) in D3 Pro League play Friday.
HIGHLIGHTS
RC- 5’ - Bryan Hill’s deflected shot misses just wide of right post.
SD- 10’ - Mauricio Alegre’s shot saved by Tim Gorman.
SD- 12’ - Farias’ free kick saved by Gorman, who injures his shoulder.
RC- 12’ - Defender Kevin Brown replaced the injured Gorman in goal, the reserve goalkeeper Eric Kenas was not listed on the official lineup and could not play.
SD- 17’ - Alegre’s shot saved by Brown
RC- 44’ - GOAL - Joe Owen beats P.J. Brown in the right corner and scores on a 9-yard shot.
SD- 48’ Owen foul results in a penalty kick for Farias, who hits the crossbar on the attempt.
SD- 56’ - GOAL - Farias’ 26-yard shot goes into the uppeer left corner
SD- 60’ - GOAL - Phillips from inside the box puts home a Farias cross from the right side.
SD- 72’ - Farias ejected for two cautions.
RC- 79’ - Craig Dean saves a Jerome Watson shot off the line.
RC- 85’ - Brown makes a diving save on a Carlos Calderson shot.
SCORING
SD- 0 2- 2
RC- 1 0- 1
RC- 44’ - OWEN (Cox)
SD- 56’ - FARIAS (UA)
SD- 60’ - PHILLIPS (Farias)
SD- Tate, Munro, Annicchero, Brown, O’Brien, Farias( RC 72’), Alegre, Hetherington(Phillips 45’), Jara, Baena(Watson 55’), Dumitru(Calderson 73’)
RC- Gorman(Brown 12’), Dean, Glebov, Macedo(Simovski 61’), Cox, Owen, Baker(Romo 71’), Bertello, Cummins(Laing 86’) , Hill, Robles
SHOTS: SD 15, RC 8
SAVES: SD 0, RC 5,(Gorman 1, Brown 4)
FOULS: SD 16, RC 14
CRNRS: SD 9, RC 0
OSIDES: SD 1, RC 2
CAUTIONS:
SD: Watson 62’; Farias 72’
RC: Bertello 9', Cummins 12’, Glebov 43'
EJECTIONS: Farias 72’
ATTN: 548
REFEREES: Kevin Stott, Emiliano Monje, AR: Bryan Elliott, Arnold Baldeaux, 5th: Kia Dehpaneh
WEATHER: Clear and 79 degrees
http://www.nctimes.com/news/061400/v.html
http://www.uniontrib.com/news/uniontrib/wed/index.html
http://www.press-enterprise.com/news/
A PERFECT IMAGE, P.R. Firm - Jonathan Greene
"Southern California's Sports Business and Soccer P.R. Firm"
Presented By:
Computer Mart Plus
2036 Dairy Mart Rd, #128
San Ysidro, CA 92173
619/428-9599
www.sdflash.com
