The Week That Was: Omaha Kings, Chicago PAO and Canadian Crusaders Take Home a Win

Chicago, Ill - It was an exciting first week of matches in the Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS). 

The Canadian Crusaders (Toronto, Canada) headed to Chicago for a doubleheader, facing both the Chicago Mustangs (Chicago, Ill.) and Panathinaikos Chicago (Chicago PAO). Toronto made a strong debut with a 7-6 victory over the Mustangs in their inaugural game but narrowly fell to Chicago PAO on Sunday in a hard-fought 5-4 loss. It was also Chicago PAO’s inaugural game in the MLIS. 

Meanwhile, Omaha traveled to Colorado to take on the Colorado Bucks, securing a 5-4 victory in another close matchup.

Toronto vs Chicago Mustangs

Toronto came out strong in the first quarter, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead with two goals from Sebastián López, and one from Isa Abdulah and Raouf Mohamed. Chicago responded late in the quarter with Jose Ibarra’s power-play goal, narrowing the gap to 4-1. The Mustangs pushed back in the second quarter with a shootout goal from Nestor Dominguez, but Mohamed’s second goal extended Toronto’s lead to 5-2 by halftime.

Chicago made a comeback in the second half with goals from Ibarra and Dominguez. Despite Toronto maintaining control with goals from Daniel Chamale and López’s shootout finish, Chicago’s six-attacker in the final minutes nearly turned the game around. Late goals from Dominguez and Gerardo Perez brought the Mustangs within one, but Toronto held on for a 7-7 victory.

Omaha vs Colorado

The Kings, last year’s MLIS runners-up, traveled to Colorado for a closely contested game. The lead changed hands several times, with the score remaining within one goal or tied for most of the match, but ultimately led to a 5-4 win in Omaha’s favor.

Leonides Mejia led the way for Omaha, securing a hat trick and earning Man of the Match honors.

Toronto vs Chicago PAO

The game began with Chicago PAO taking an early lead, courtesy of Ruben Ortiz's goal just 58 seconds in. Toronto equalized early in the second quarter with López converting a shootout opportunity, but Chicago regained the advantage through Jason Ybarra’s power-play goal, ending the half at 2-1 in their favor.

The second half saw Alex Filian extending Chicago’s lead to 3-1 before Mohamed brought Toronto back within one. Chicago quickly answered with Alexander Guerra’s goal, only for López to strike again, making it 4-3. In the fourth quarter, Joshua Garcia’s goal tied the game at 4-4, but Ortiz’s late power-play goal sealed a narrow 5-4 victory for Chicago PAO.