Accelerators 11, Alliance 4
Dustin Munroe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Saturday, February 02, 2008
The Saskatoon Accelerators got the franchise started on the right foot at home, scoring an 11-4 triumph over the Winnipeg Alliance in their Canadian Major Indoor League Soccer home debut Friday.
Minor infractions in the defensive zone threatened to sink the Accelerators' maiden voyage. With endless ricochets off the boards and ball placements often just feet from the net, the Alliance showed that free kicks can be very dangerous in the indoor game. All three of Winnipeg's goals -- that weren't accidentally scored by one of Saskatoon's players -- came on free kicks in the first half.
Saskatoon had trouble turning its ample opportunities into goals early, but began to make the most of its chances as the game progressed, to the delight of the fans at Credit Union Centre.
The first quarter was all Accelerators, except on the scoreboard. The Alliance led 2-1.
The 14-minute wait for the Accelerators' first goal was well worth it. A sweet play in the offensive zone saw Ronny Torres glance a pass off a teammate's foot, right to Jerson Hamilton in the slot. Hamilton powered the ball home to tie the score 1-1.
Hamilton and teammate Jordan Schidlowsky both earned hat tricks.
Winnipeg tied it seconds later as the first-quarter buzzer drew near.
The Accelerators' robust offence and a goalkeeper substitution allowed the team to earn a 4-3 lead by the end of the half.
Starting 'keeper Anibal Bravo-Farias allowed only two goals during his 15 minutes of play. Evan Campbell was spectacular after taking over. He thwarted a nicely executed one-timer attempt on his first challenge of the game and went on to make more stellar saves through the final three quarters.
Schidlowsky scored twice to help the Accelerators take the lead at the half.
Saskatoon made good on a four-minute power play in the third quarter to go up 5-3.
Winnipeg's play descended into a chippy and half-hearted effort in the fourth and Saskatoon piled on six goals as a result.
Jay Tomchuk, Chris Devlin, Hamilton, with two, Schidlowsky and Murphy all padded their statistics with strikes in the fourth quarter.
Richard Gray exemplified the Alliance's frustration by trying to get into a pushing match with the Accelerators. He was ejected and Saskatoon was rewarded with a five-minute power play.
Devlin exhibited creativity on the ensuing man advantage as he deflected the ball into the net off of his puffed out chest.
Accelerators defender Michael Veszi scored a goal he wishes he could have back, as he tipped the ball past his own goalie for Winnipeg's fourth goal.
A minor soccer league showcase at intermission and a high percentage of kids in the stands showed a key demographic of the new pro league.
It looked like many of the kids in the stands had as much fun chasing the game balls that bounced out of play as they did in watching the action on the field.
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