Los Angeles Blues News Release -- www.bluessoccerclub.com
Thursday, May 12, 2011
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Blues recorded a hard earned victory on Thursday night, beating the Charlotte Eagles 2-1 behind goals by Mike Randolph and Chukwudi Chijindu. The Eagles’ Darren Toby equalized late in the game, but the home side pressed for the game winner and was rewarded moments from full time.
The Blues took an early lead in the sixth minute of play, goalkeeper Oscar Dautt launching a long ball over the top that was flicked on awkwardly by an Eagles defender and found the blistering speed of Randolph. The former Los Angeles Galaxy man broke on goal and coolly slotted past onrushing Eagles netminder Eric Reed.
The visitors showed a strong reaction and nearly equalized just three minutes later, Los Angeles failing to clear a corner from the right and allowing defender Weston Roberts to redirect it on frame from close range. Dautt did well to leave his feet and tip the ball wide. The Eagles created another outstanding opportunity in the 17th minute, as Walter Moore raced down the left flank and took the ball down beautifully on his chest. The 26-year-old took a couple more touches and blasted a wicked half-volley towards goal that beat Dautt, only to go off the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.
The Blues recovered nicely from the pair of Eagles opportunities and created two quality chances of their own, Chijindu coming close on each occasion. In the 20th minute, the striker displayed some great footwork in the area and released a dangerous effort that forced a nice diving save from Reed. The 25-year-old on loan from Chivas USA looked even more impressive on the dribble at the half-hour mark as he received the ball from Randolph on the left side of the box and cut it back to his right foot before curling a nice shot across that whistled inches wide of the far post.
The Eagles had the final dangerous look of the first period, Sierra Leone international forward Sallieu Bundu being brought down hard on the edge of the penalty area and setting up a free-kick opportunity for Jorge Herrera, who sent a right-footed curler toward the far post. Dautt reacted well to go down to his left and tip the ball wide.
The Blues made three changes at halftime, most significantly brining on Argentine superstar Walter Gaitán, who had missed his side’s home opener against Antigua Barracuda FC due to a quadriceps injury. Also returning from injury was forward Cesar Rivera, who replaced Jhonatan Bravo up top and instantly looked to link up with Gaitán to rediscover the trademark chemistry shared by the duo earlier in the season.
In the 51st minute of play, the two substitutes combined beautifully and nearly doubled the lead for the home team. Rivera showed some nice technique on the right and laid the ball off to Gaitán, who hit a great curling shot from the top of the penalty area. The ball dipped sharply and forced Reed to scramble back and leave his feet for a spectacular tip over the crossbar.
Rivera added to his strong display in the 72nd minute, working his magic on the left flank before cutting to his right and releasing a curling effort that had Reed beaten. The Charlotte backline took a deep breath of relief as the ball bounced off the crossbar. Three minutes later, another of the Blues’ attacking bright spots nearly put his name on the score sheet, as Randolph found himself open in the box and hit a hard close-range shot on target that sent Reed to the ground for a solid block.
The Eagles displayed increased urgency to find an equalizer late in the second half, and they would be rewarded. After Jorge Herrera saw his 78th minute blast from 25 yards out whistle just high of the crossbar, he released Darren Toby with a wonderfully threaded through-ball just five minutes later, and the striker had plenty of time to calmly slot past a helpless Dautt for an easy finish.
The goal sent shock waves through Centennial High School’s Husky Stadium, but the Blues reacted quickly and would not be denied the three points. In the 88th minute, Randolph found Rivera with a beautiful heel pass and the 24-year-old passed the ball on to Chijindu in the penalty area. The striker faked out two defenders with a nifty move and cut to his left before hitting an unstoppable low shot for the game’s best-worked goal.
The Eagles will have a chance for revenge this coming Saturday, as the two teams face off again at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. Kickoff is at 7.30 p.m. PST.