IMPACT DROP SEASON OPENER VS COLORADO

Glendale, AZ - In their home opener for their inaugural Major Arena Soccer League 2 season, the Arizona Impact lose a close 6-7 match against their Western Conference rivals the Colorado Inferno.

Colorado jumped right out of the gate to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter with two goals apiece by Armando Gonzalez and Jairo Gomez before the Impact came roaring back to tie it up before the away team led 5-6 at the half.

The Inferno’s lone second half goal by Francisco Rivas was enough to put the game away as the Impact also scored one goal in the second half that wasn’t enough.

There were bright spots for the Impact however, as Viktor Rodakovic led all scorers with four points on three goals and one assists. Player of the match Chris Ramsell added two goals of his own in his first ever indoor match.

“It’s a team game. A lot more so than outdoor I think. I can’t really take all the credit for my performance. I’m just getting used to the game and trying to listen to what the coaches are telling me and just hopefully trying to catch on” said Ramsell.

Although the Impact lost, it was still a promising performance for a team missing some of their key players such as Matt Marcum and Phil Jackson. With their first game in the past, Head Coach Mike Cudmore believes that this team will turn it around on their California road trip against the Ontario Fury II and San Diego Sockers 2.

“In the second half we were 100% better, in the first half we were lost and not in the rotation that we needed to be in. I’m not worried. This is going to be a good strong team. We were missing a few key starters. Once we get them back I think the league is going to be after us” said Coach Cudmore.

One of the most noticeable struggles the Impact had was the mistakes they had on substitution.

The MASL Rules state on substitutions:

Rule 3.4 A: Substitutions shall not be allowed following infractions whistled where the ball has not left the field of play. (i.e., fouls and three-line violations)

The Impact suffered from this rule on multiple occasions leading to a couple of Inferno goals.

“A lot of mental mistakes. Substitution is a new rule for them so that caught us off guard. Put us on a couple of 2-minute penalties where we were a man-down and they just capitalized on our mistakes” said Coach Cudmore.

The Impact head to Ontario, California on the 16th to play the Fury II before going south to San Diego to face the Sockers 2 on the 17th.