Los Angeles Blues News Release -- www.bluessoccerclub.com
Monday, April 4, 2011
FULLERTON, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Blues hosted a selection of young, rising players from Orange County on Saturday night in a match whose proceeds went to benefit the Japan relief efforts of the American Red Cross. The Blues dominated their opponents throughout the 90 minutes to come away with a 7-0 victory behind the play of numerous former MLS players and two veterans of the Mexican Priméra Division.
The first ten minutes saw only a couple of highlights as the All-Stars enjoyed some dangerous play on the left side while the Blues Tomislav Colic fired just over the bar following a textbook spin inside the penalty area. But the hosts would not be denied on the quarter-hour mark. Argentine playmaker Walter Gaitán had his jersey pulled about 25 yards out and executed beautifully on the ensuing free-kick, his curling left-footed shot bouncing off the inside of the right post and into the net.
The agile Colic nearly doubled the advantage a few minutes later, sliding in to redirect a low cross by streaking defender Josh Suggs, only to see the ball shake the outside of the net. But the Blues extended their lead in the 22nd minute as former Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Josh Tudela released Chukwudi Chijindu with a great through ball and the speedy striker found himself one-on-one with opposing goalkeeper Luis Trujillo. While Chijindu saw his low shot bounce off the right post, the rebound fell straight to Gaitán, who slotted into the open net to complete his brace.
Blues goalkeeper Oscar Dautt finally saw some action just after the half-hour mark, as he collided with several players trying to punch out a cross. The former Puebla, Tigres and Monterrey star then quickly recovered to sprint across the box and block the ensuing volley attempt by Nazario Miramontes. Instead of a goal for the visitors, it was the USL PRO side finding net at the other end moments from the break. Gaitán was instrumental again, as he received the ball deep in the penalty area and lobbed it over the onrushing Trujillo. The Orange County goalkeeper scrambled to get back and prevent the goal but dropped the ball under pressure from Colic, who pounced and slotted into the empty net.
Following a number of changes at halftime, the Blues picked up right where they had left off in the first half. In the 51st minute, substitute Cesar Rivera passed the ball to Colic at the top of the penalty area and continued his run. Colic sent it straight back to his teammate with a beautiful backheel and Rivera confidently slotted past Trujillo for the game’s best goal.
While the Orange County goalkeeper had no chance on the home side’s fourth tally, it was his mistake in the 56th minute that helped the Blues extend their lead to 5-0. Midfielder Gerardo Bravo released a long-range effort that was spilled by Trujillo for an easy tuck-away by the alert Chijindu. The Blues added a sixth just before the hour mark thanks to another goalkeeping error for Orange County as Trujillo failed to get his body behind another long-distance effort by Gerardo Bravo that found the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. But Trujillo would finally redeem himself in the 71st minute of play. A streaking Gerardo Bravo sent a low cross in from the right that was initially spilled by the Orange County shot-stopper, who then quickly recovered to make an athletic save on substitute Israel Sesay’s follow-up effort from close range.
Sesay was again unfortunate not to score in the 82nd minute, as he fired wide from inside the penalty area following a nice cut back to his left foot. The 20-year-old forward had received the ball on a nice through ball down the left flank by his former Los Angeles Galaxy team-mate Mike Randolph. The Blues then rounded out the scoreline moments from the final whistle, Federico Cino releasing Gerardo Bravo down the right flank only to see his fellow midfielder’s low cross elude everyone in the area. Sesay was fastest to react and pick up the ball on the left side of the box. After some skillful dribbling, he sent a determined close-range blast off the hand of Trujillo and inside the near post.
The Blues will be facing a much tougher task when they travel to take on Sevilla FC Puerto Rico in their April 15 USL PRO season opener. Their first home game at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton is on May 1 against Antigua Barracuda FC with a 5 p.m. kickoff.