During a couple of stretches in Saturday night's Major Indoor Soccer League game at 1st Mariner Arena, the Baltimore Blast didn't resemble one of the league front-runners and the visiting Chicago Riot certainly didn't look like the basement dweller.
But with five straight goals producing 10 unanswered points in a 14-minute stretch of the first half, the Blast was able to build enough of a cushion to avoid a potentially disastrous meltdown in the fourth quarter and pull out out a not-so-impressive 18-17 win over the Riot before an announced crowd of 6,916.
Midfielder Pat Healey and forward Lucio Gonzaga each scored two goals as the Blast improved to 9-3, a half-game behind the Milwaukee Wave (10-3) for first place. The Riot, which had a 4-2 lead early, fell to 2-8. The teams meet again at 8 p.m. Sunday in Chicago.
This win came with some scary moments against an inferior opponent.
When Giuliano Celenza scored on a penalty kick to give the Blast an 18-11 advantage with 8:51 left to play, the home team seemed in charge. But, instead, it surrendered three two-point goals from the Riot and then held onto an 18-17 lead for the final 2:46 of play.
"We just became complacent and that's the frustrating thing," said Blast assistant coach David Bascome. "It's tough because it's on them, the players as well as on us as coaches. But at the end of the day, we just have to stay focused and kind of drive each other, picking up each other. Every time we play the game we got to come to win — we can not afford to have that complacency."
The pivotal first-half
The pivotal first-half run from the Blast combined precise passing, pinpoint finishing and two power-play goals that built a 14-6 halftime lead.
Trailing 4-2, the Blast got answers from Mike Lookingland and Healey to take a 6-4 lead after one quarter.
The second quarter featured three textbook goals from the Blast.
Forward Matt Watson made a strong run with the ball starting at midfield and then, once close, sent a ball across to Worteh Sampson for an easy tap-in to make it 10-4. With 3:33 left in the half and the Blast on the power play, Sampson sent a ball from the corner to the front for defender Pat Morris, who neatly found the left corner for a 12-4 advantage.
After the Riot – who were led by midfielder Miodrag Djerisilo's three goals — made it 12-6 with less than three minutes to play in the half, Healey buried a shot from the right side that quickly found the lower left corner. The home team fired 19 first-half shots at Riot backup goalkeeper Ante Copp, who was filling in for injured starter Jeff Richey.
"It tends to happen when you get up a big lead, and I guess a last place team, you kind of figure you got the game. Obviously we took it for granted, and in indoor, things happen so fast. Give them credit, they fought back, but we took the foot off the pedal, and obviously gave them hope," said Blast captain Robbie Aristodemo. "Obviously [we have to learn] not to take your foot off the pedal. We all know we have to play for 60 minutes. Tonight we didn't, and that's obviously a good lesson to learn midway through the season."
Chicago 4 2 3 8-- 17
Blast 6 8 2 2-- 18
First quarter
Scoring: 1. Chicago, Maher, 2 pt., 2:48; 2. Blast, Gonzaga, 2 pt. (Millwood), 4:48; 3. Chicago, Djerisilo, 2 pt. (Sullo), 8:14; 4. Blast, Lookingland, 2 pt., (Ferdinand), 11:42; 5. Blast, Healey, 2 pt., (Millwood), pp., 14:17.
Penalties: Chicago, Maher, (holding), 12:38.
Second quarter
Scoring: 6. Blast, Garcia, 2 pt., Ukah, 3:09; 7. Blast, Sampson, 2 pt., (Watson), 6:48; 8. Blast, Morris, 2 pt., (Sampson), pp., 11:27; 9. Chicago, Gallo, 2 pt., (Djerisilo), 12:03; 10. Blast, Healey, 2 pt., (Aristodemo), 14:07.
Penalties: Chicago, Santeliz, (too many men), 9:42.
Third quarter
Scoring: 11. Chicago, Mesanovic, 3 pt., :27; 12. Blast, Gonzaga, 2 pt., (Sampson), 9:14.
Penalties: None.
Fourth quarter
Scoring: 13. Chicago, Djersilo, 2 pt., (Kletzien ), 4:40; 14. Blast, Celenza, 2 pt., (penalty kick), 6:09; 14. Chicago, Maher, 2 pt., (Gallo), 6:15; 15. Chicago, Lukin, 2 pt., (Maher), 7:52: 16. Chicago, Naumoski, 2 pt., (Maher),12:14 .
Penalties: Chicago, Sullo, (pushing), 6:05.
Shots on goal: Chicago 5-2-5-4 -- 16; Blast 10-9-5-5 -- 29 .
Power-play opportunities: Chicago 0-for-0; Blast 2-for-2.
Saves: Chicago -- Cop 2-2-3-2 -- 9; Blast, Sagu 1-0-3-1 -- 5.
A – 6,916.