The Blast has assistant coach and forward David Bascome back in uniform tonight. Bascome tore the ACL in his left knee in December, underwent surgery and has been cleared to play this weekend, as the Philadelphia KiXX defeated the defending Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Champion Baltimore Blast 13-12 in front of 8,384 fans at the 1st Mariner Arena.
With the victory, Philadelphia is assured of no worse than the number three seed in the 2007 MISL Playoffs. Midfielder Sandre Naumoski recorded the game-winning goal on a pass from Edgar Bartolomeu with only 40 seconds remaining in regulation. Pat Morris, serving as sixth attacker, earned the victory in net for Philadelphia, while Sagu (12-10) took the loss between the posts for the Blast.
The hosting Blast took an early advantage, 2-0, as forward Lee Tschantret knocked home a pass from teammate Tarik Walker at the three-minute mark of the opening period of play. The defending champs increased their lead to four, 4-0, when defender Mike Lookingland deposited a feed from Matt Watson into the back of the net at 9:28. Just over a minute later (10:46), Denison Cabral and Carlos Garcia hooked up for a give-and-go to extend Baltimore’s lead to 6-0.
Garcia notched a breakaway two-point goal to lengthen the Blast advantage to eight, 8-0, at 3:48 of the second quarter. KiXX player/coach Don D'Ambra finally ended the team's scoring drought, registering a two-point tally at 4:17. Forward Dino Delevski cut Philadelphia’s deficit in half, 8-4, connecting on a pass from D’Ambra at 9:25 of the frame.
In his first action since March 10, forward John Barry Nusum pulled the KiXX within two, 8-6, on an assist from Edgar Bartolomeu at 2:39 of the third stanza. Baltimore quickly responded to regain their four-point advantage, 10-6, as Cabral lofted a two-point shootout goal over Pappas at 3:38; the Blast received the shootout opportunity after midfielder Sandre Naumoski was called for a two-minute holding infraction. A mere 30 seconds later, Watson followed to extend the host’s lead, 12-6, on a dish from Wendell Regis. D’Ambra blasted home a restart pass from Delevski to cut the deficit back to four, 12-8, at 8:36 of the quarter. Three-time MISL Defender of the Year Genoni Martinez found the top corner of the net for a three-point score to pull Philadelphia within one, 12-11, at 11:01; newcomer and Philadelphia native Tony Donatelli recorded the assist on the play.
After over 14 minutes of scoreless action, Philadelphia took their first lead of the night, 13-12, as Sandre Naumoski registered a two-point restart goal on a pass from Bartolomeu with only 20 seconds remaining. The KiXX held on to secure their berth in the 2007 MISL Playoffs.
|
