February 16, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers’ Brandon Escoto on game night
(San Diego Sockers)
SAN DIEGO – Brandon Escoto and Felipé Gonzalez each scored two goals as the San Diego Sockers beat the Texas Outlaws 8-4 on Thursday night at Pechanga Arena San Diego. Playing without four of the club’s top six scorers, the Sockers (13-2, 38 points) netted four goals in the first quarter and four more in the fourth to complete a season sweep of the Outlaws (9-8-1, 27 points).
San Diego gutted out a 5-4 win over Texas on Tuesday but lost top scorer Tavoy Morgan and second-leading scorer Charlie Gonzalez to leg injuries. In addition, top playmaking midfielders Leonardo de Oliveira (knee) and Gabriel Costa (wrist) were sidelined. When the Outlaws flew in their second-and-third leading scorers, Sebastian Mendez and David Ortiz, from the U.S. Futsal National Team training camp in Argentina a day earlier than scheduled, Texas seemed to regain a firepower advantage.
However, a spirited Sockers defensive effort kept both Mendez and Ortiz off the scoreboard entirely. Texas again relied upon defender-turned-forward Uzi Tayou, who scored two goals for the second straight match, but fell to 0-3 against San Diego.
“It was two different matches,” said Sockers head coach Phil Salvagio, “Tuesday was a tough match and Texas flew in their (U.S. Futsal) National Team guys today but they were a little tired. We had some players out, so it was two different teams from Tuesday, but we played much better.”
The Sockers took an early 1-0 lead on Escoto’s first of the night and 18th of the season, a skipping quick shot from the left mid-wall that came off the hand of goalkeeper Eduardo “Pollo” Cortes into the net at 1:49. Uzi Tayou answered back with an artistic back-heel flick at the back post, rifling a ball home on Erik Macias’ pass at 6:39 for a 1-1 tie.
When Macias laced a half-volley through the Sockers’ set-piece defense at 11:07, Texas took their first and only lead of the match at 2-1. San Diego electrified the home crowd with three goals in the next three minutes. After a blue card was shown to the Outlaws’ Darren Mitchell for hands to the face, the Sockers converted the ensuing power play. Kraig Chiles’ pass to the top of the crease found Drew Ruggles, who put his left foot through the ball for an equalizing goal at 12:27, his sixth of the season.
One minute later, the newest Socker made his presence felt. Flavio…