Sidekicks Lose Opener
Allen, TX – Despite immense improvement, for the second season in a row the Dallas Sidekicks (0-1) dropped their season opener to the Missouri Comets (2-0). Dallas midfielder Ricardinho shined, leading the team with a hat trick, but the effort was not enough to thwart Missouri and forward Max Touloute, who scored four goals in the match. Dallas’ strong conditioning showed on the field, and a slim 11 minutes in penalties was a vast improvement from last season’s 22.
The first ten minutes of the match went scoreless, a possession battle between the two sides before Sidekicks rookie Rubencho scored the first goal of Dallas’ season, muscling around Missouri’s defense at 10:17. Just seven seconds later Touloute netted an equalizer, followed closely by a goal from his teammate Ramone Palmer to put the Comets up 2-1 at 12:31.
Throughout the match Missouri goalkeeper Boris Pardo displayed a knack for playing up, inserting himself into the attack. This backfired 1:24 into the second quarter, Pardo losing the ball at midfield to Sidekicks defender Cody Ellis whose long shot tied the game. At 9:43 Ricardinho capitalized on a penalty shot, awarded after Sidekicks rookie TJ Nelson was
taken down by Pardo in the box to end a breakaway. The Sidekicks would take their 3-2 lead into halftime.
Five goals were scored in the third quarter, Sidekicks forward Paulo da Silva kicking things off, scoring on a pass from Ricardinho. Missouri answered with two straight, Kevin Ten Eyck netting his first of the night, the ball rolling along the crossbar and in past Sidekicks goalkeeper Juan Gamboa. Dallas and Missouri went on to trade goals, Touloute and Ricardinho both with their second of the match. At 14:26, Touloute completed a hat trick to even out the score at five-a-piece.
Early in the fourth quarter Dallas midfielder RJ Luevano put the Sidekicks up 6-5, but after that it was all Missouri. John Sosa and Leo Gibson each netted a goal, followed by Touloute with his fourth of the night to cement an 8-6 victory for the Comets.
The Sidekicks are back at Allen Event Center next Friday, Nov. 20 to take on the Las Vegas Legends (1-0), who just announced the signing of former Sidekicks high-scorer Nestor Hernandez. The next weekend the team hits the road for their first meeting with the Syracuse Silver Knights at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov.28. Two matches in Tacoma follow, the Sidekicks taking on the Stars Friday, Dec. 4 at 9:35 p.m. and Sunday, Dec, 6 at 5:05 p.m. The team is then back at Allen Event Center for four straight games, firstly taking on the San Diego Sockers at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.
