December 17, 2023 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Empire Strykers News Release
Ontario, Calif. – After a disappointing home opener against the Baltimore Blast this past Friday, the Empire Strykers have a near-instant opportunity for redemption when they travel to take on long-time rival San Diego Sockers on Sunday. The match at Pechanga Arena comes on the heels of a meeting with Baltimore that featured the historic indoor debut of Mexican star Marco Fabián, whose goal and two assists couldn’t prevent Empire from falling 5-7 and dropping to 1-3 on their Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) campaign.
The Strykers and the Sockers are set to clash on Sunday, December 17, at 6:05 p.m. PT, with all the action being streamed live via the MASL’s channels on Twitch and Canela.
Another big-name Empire player, Claude Bilal Dielna, enjoyed a strong outing against the Blast, providing a steady presence in the back and scoring a memorable goal in the opening half.
“We played well, and I still think things are going in the right direction,” offered Dielna. “Sometimes small details make the difference, and that’s what happened on Friday night. We all don’t like to lose, so when it happens, you cannot be okay with that. At the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world, but we have to react quickly and work hard so we don’t develop a routine of losing. If we stay together and learn from the game, we will get better results in the next games.”
The 35-year-old Dielna joined the club during the offseason, having made a name for himself in the outdoor game. Among a number of other stops, he has laced up for AC Ajaccio of the French Ligue 1, for England’s Nottingham Forest, and for Major League Soccer (MLS) outfits New England Revolution and Portland Timbers. In the second quarter of the Strykers’ home opener against the Blast, Dielna rifled a long-range bullet into the upper ninety to level the score at 2-2.
“Most of the goals in my career were from far, so I know that I can score like that,” said Dielna. “When I have a chance, I normally give it a try. If it works out like it did against Baltimore, it’s a great feeling. Of course it’s nice for me, but I’m even more happy for the fans and because it helps the team.”
Another quality showing from Empire’s veteran defender would go a long way toward Dielna and company bouncing back Sunday at 3-0 San Diego. A traditional powerhouse of the sport, the Sockers lifted the 2021-22 Ron Newman Cup trophy, followed by a dominant…
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