COMETS SURRENDER 3-GOAL LEAD TO AMBUSH, LOSE 5-4

by Pete Richmire

ST. CHARLES, MO. – The Comets (4-4-3) took a 4-1 lead over the Ambush (4-4-1) at The Family Arena but a last-second goal sent the game to overtime where St. Louis pulled out a 5-4 win in front of 2,599 fans.

St. Louis had a 1-0 lead with 7:10 remaining in the 1st quarter on an inadvertent own goal by the Comets which was credited to Lucas Almeida. Almeida’s shot was saved by Comets’ keeper Steven Tekesky but the momentum of a Kansas City defender slid the ball into the goal from about four feet out.

The Comets reeled off the next four goals, beginning with Christian Anderaos from the top of the box after Leo Gibson fed him a pass from the left corner. Anderaos made a couple of moves between Ambush defenders and beat St. Louis keeper Paulo Nascimento for the tying goal at 1-1.

The Comets took a 2-1 lead on the first of back-to-back goals by Ray Lee, this one with 22 seconds to go in the opening frame on a restart assist from John Sosa.

His second goal was an unassisted effort just inside two minutes to play in the opening half.

The first last-second goal of the game came on Anderaos’ second of the night, this one was also assisted by Gibson to take a 4-1 lead into the locker room at the break.

The second half belonged to the Ambush. They picked up 3rd quarter goals from Christian Briggs and Robert Kristo to cut Kansas City’s lead to 4-3 headed to the 4th quarter.

The Comets came within one second of sealing the win, but the Ambush went on a super-power play and Kristo scored his second of the night with 0.9 seconds on the clock forcing the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, it was Duduca Carvalho who nailed the win on a restart goal to notch the 5-4 win.

This was the fifth meeting this season between the teams and they will face off one more time during the regular season. That game will take place at Cable Dahmer Arena on Saturday, February 4, and will be a contest not to be missed.

It’s Retro/Alumni Night tomorrow at Cable Dahmer Arena when the Comets take on their Eastern Division rival Milwaukee Wave with a 7:05 kick-off. The Comets will be wearing exclusive Retro Kits that will be auctioned off during the game. Also, tomorrow will be your chance to meet Alumni from many years of Kansas City professional indoor soccer. Don’t miss out on this once-a-year event! Tickets for that date and all Comets home games are available at www.kccomets.com/tickets.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – STL Almeida-3 7:50; KC Anderaos-2 (Gibson) 9:06; KC Lee-1 (Sosa) 14:38. Penalties – None.

2nd – KC Lee-2 13:11; KC Anderaos-3 (Gibson) 14:59. Penalties – None.

3rd – STL Briggs-3 (Stimac) 4:19; STL Kristo-5 6:08. Penalties – None.

4th – STL Kristo-6 (Carvalho) 14:59 pp – six attackers. Penalties – KC Sosa (bc- unsportsmanlike conduct) 8:11; STL Ellis (bc- unsportsmanlike conduct) 8:11; STL Nascimento (bc- tripping) 9:05; KC Sinclair (bc- contact above the shoulder/elbow) 13:43

OT – STL Carvalho-5 2:17


Power Play – Comets 0/2, St. Louis 1/2

Penalty Minutes – Comets 4, St. Louis 4

Fouls – Comets 19, St. Louis 13

Shots – Comets 25, St. Louis 25

Attendance – 2,599