CRUNCH SECURES WIN, OMAHA BEATS CHICAGO SATURDAY BUT FALLS SHORT IN SUNDAY MATCH: THE WEEK THAT 1/22

Crunch Defeats Ohio Extreme

What an eventful weekend in the MLIS! Kicking off with the Cleveland Crunch hosting the Ohio Extreme on home turf, the Crunch maintained their winning streak, delighting a packed audience and advancing to a 2-1 record. 

Derezic was named the MetroHealth ‘Man of the Match' with 9 points, 4 goals and 5 assists. When asked about the energy of the sold out crowd he said, “Yeah you want to prove to them…[they] definitely give us that little extra boost of energy.” Derezic talked about the unselfish play by the offense tonight which led to the success of the team. “[We] moved the ball very well, executed what we needed to execute…everything is just coming together.”

The Crunch will host the undefeated Grand Rapids this week on Saturday, February 3 at the Soccer Sportsplex. 

Things Heat Up in Chicago

In an intense weekend showdown, the Omaha Kings embarked on a journey to the Windy City for consecutive matches against the Chicago Mustangs on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Both contests proved to be nail-biters, both culminating in a narrow +1 deficit. 

Saturday’s first period saw an early lead for the Chicago Mustangs, with Dario Gamboa scoring the opening goal at 1:49, assisted by Nestor Dominguez. The Mustangs extended their lead in the second period, with Nestor Dominguez finding the net at 10:18. The Omaha Kings made a comeback in the third period, tying the game at 2-2 with goals from Bobby Jaffery and Gabi Gaiotto. The tension escalated in the fourth period, witnessing a back-and-forth battle as both teams traded goals. The match concluded with a thrilling overtime period, where the Omaha Kings secured a 6-5 victory with a power-play goal from Andy Rodriguez at 4:19.

However, the match wasn't without its share of penalties. Throughout the game, players from both teams faced infractions, ranging from holding to tripping. Omaha’s Leonides Mejia, Manuel Lira and Stevie Siy. The intensity reached its peak in overtime, marked by a yellow card for Alejandro Morales of the Chicago Mustangs due to a referee crease violation and a red card for Luis Batalla for violent conduct or serious foul play. The weekend series between the Omaha Kings and the Chicago Mustangs truly delivered an action-packed spectacle for fans, leaving an indelible mark on the MLIS season.

Sunday’s Showdown

Sunday’s match was another intense feat, with the score ending 10-9 in favor of Chicago – ultimately putting an end to Omaha’s undefeated season. The game unfolded with intense action from the start, as Bernardo Torres of the Omaha Kings opened the scoring at the 7:50 mark. The Chicago Mustangs quickly responded, with Gabriel Uno (assisted by Ramon Orozco) leveling the score at 1-1 at 10:36. A shootout goal from Gabriel Jurado at 12:26 gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead, but Stevie Siy of the Omaha Kings swiftly equalized at 13:16.

The second period saw more shootout success for Jurado, extending Chicago's lead to 3-2 at 4:08. Nestor Dominguez, assisted by Alejandro Morales, added another goal for the Mustangs at 5:53. The Omaha Kings fought back, with Daniel Zuckweiler narrowing the gap to 4-3 at 14:58. The third period witnessed a flurry of goals, including contributions from Morales, Bernardo Torres, Jeff Sumaili and Gabi Gaiotto, resulting in a 6-5 lead for the Kings. A shootout goal from Torres at 13:10 further solidified Omaha's advantage. However, the Mustangs staged a remarkable comeback in the fourth period, ultimately securing a 10-9 victory with goals from Dario Gamboa, Sergei Wawrzyniak and Gabriel Uno. The match was not without its penalties, with players from both teams facing various infractions, adding to the drama of this weekend encounter.