St Louis Lions News Release - www.stllions.com
Sunday, May 27, 2007
ST LOUIS, MO -- Following a run of 15 games without defeat, carrying over from last season, the St Louis Lions suffered their second defeat in three days. Saturday night the Lions were defeated 3-1 by the Kansas City Brass. The victory put Kansas City in first place in the Heartland Division which also gave them a place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Due to torrential rain thirty minutes before the kick off the game was moved to the turf field of CBC High School.
“We had to get the game in by the 28th, I personally would rather had played on the grass field, but the officials said the field was unplayable. We just had to get the game in, one option we had was that Terry (Michler-assistant coach) had access to the CBC field,” said Coach Tony Glavin.
“I think it was more of an advantage to Kansas City playing on the turf field, as it is something they are used to doing, though that isn’t an excuse. Though I think there was more of an adjustment for us than them,” added Glavin.
St Louis was missing forward and joint leading scorer Tommy Heinemann from the game. Heinemann is currently away with a church group on a mission and will miss the next game against Des Moines Menace as well.
“We definitely missed Tommy up front, their central defender was a big lad, about six foot five or something, and we couldn’t get anything past him. Tommy has gone for ten days , so we will be without him for the next game as well” said Glavin.
The Brass got on the scoreboard first. A corner kick from Keith Gorczyca went across the Lions goal and Garret Guthrie was at the far post to put the ball into the back of the net.
“That was a goal that should never have happened,” said Glavin “We defended very badly, the player on the back post should have cut it out, very bad defending.”
Two minutes later Kansas City went two up when the Lions gave up a free kick in their midfield. Kevin Nekuda took the kick putting a high ball into the St Louis penalty box. Joshua White went up for the ball with the Lions goalkeeper Brian Forrest and managed to win the ball in the air and guided it into the net.
“I felt Brain (Forrest) should have stayed on his line, if he couldn’t get to the ball cleanly. Their defender coming in was a big lad and he gave us all kinds of problems,” said Glavin.
St Louis came out for the second half making one change. Joe Genovese replaced Pietro Scazullo. Chris Anzalone took up the wide right position and Genovese dropped in behind striker Rackley Thomas.
“Pietro had picked up a knock, and I felt we needed to keep playing wide, so I chose to move Chris to the outside, he can do a good job there, plus the time that we have brought Joe into the game he has given us a lift. We had dug a hole for our selves and we needed to find a way out of it. Both Terry and myself felt we could score within the first ten minutes and stop them from scoring we could take something out of the game.” said Glavin
Within minutes the change took effect. Thomas scored an unassisted goal in the 47th minute, bringing the Lions within one goal of their opponents.
“After we scored that goal so early in the second half, I felt we should have built on the momentum, which is something we did not do. But you have to give Kansas City credit, they have given up very few goals this season, so we didn‘t expect it to be easy,” said Glavin.
Three minutes from time it was Kansas City that scored the next goal, and putting any chance of an equalizing goal from St Louis out of reach.
The Brass were awarded a free kick by the half way line and Joshua Howard surprised everyone, not least Forrest in the Lions goal, when he noticed Forrest off his line and took a shot that went directly into the net.”
“I haven’t spoken with Brian (Forrest) about that goal , I can only guess that he felt the free kick was given to us. And because of that he was out of position.”
In the final minute of play Rackley Thomas went down afTer a tackle in the centre circle, he was carried off the pitch and later taken to hospital by an ambulance.
“Well the good news is that Leech (Thomas) has a sprain, nothing is broken, I haven’t spoken with the trainer, I don’t know how long he will be out,” said Glavin.
One of these two teams was going to play in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup, by virtue of having the best record over the last four games. Kansas City were ahead on goal difference, but the number one tie breaker was head to head competition.
“Obviously I felt we had a good chance of advancing into the cup. But I felt the circumstances were detrimental to us, having to change fields and play on turf, again I am not making excuses but they (KC) adapted better than we did,” said Glavin.
In both this defeat and the defeat by Springfield Demize on Thursday, the Lions gave up three goals in each game. The Lions did not give up three goals in any game last season, or the first three games of this season.
“Of the six goals, five of the six goals were errors, everyone of them could have been avoided,” said Glavin.
“defensive errors, players making the wrong pass, or giving the ball up in dangerous situations, most of them should have been avoided,” added Glavin.
The next Lions home game is June 3rd at 5pm when they welcome Des Moines Menace. Prior to the game the Super 20 also Des Moines at 2pm
