US P-40: Matt Napoleon, Keith Beach, Michael Green, Carlos Parra, Seth Trembley, Mario Longo, Sergio Salas (Scott Bower 60'), Antonio Martinez, Shaker Asad (ejected 37'), Fabio Zuniga, Esmundo Rodriguez.
San Diego: Tom Tate, David Banks, Jason Annicchero, Jaime Munro, Mike Slivinski, Leighton O'Brien (Carlos Calderson 70'), Carlos Farias, Nate Hetherington (Geoff Huber 76'), Mauricio Alegre (Noah Gins 68'), Guillermo Jara (Emmanuel Ayim 64'), Mugurel Dumitru (Jerome Watson 64').
Goals:
San Diego '10 Nate Hetherington (A. Leighton O'Brien)
San Diego '20 Guillermo Jara (Jason Annicchero)
San Diego '27 Mugurel Dumitru (Nate Hetherington)
San Diego '64 Jerome Watson (Emmanuel Ayim)
San Diego '72 Emmanuel Ayim (PK)
The Flash got a confidence-boosting 5-0 win against a US Pro-40 team that had only 12 men total on it's game day roster. Early on the Flash dominated play, and were able to score in the 10th minute off a Nate Hetherington header that got by an outstretched Matt Napoleon. The header was a result of a well placed pass from Leighton O'Brien. Nate's goal was all the Flash needed, but they continued to pour it on, and the Flash stuck five goals total past the MLS reserves.
It was pretty obvious from about minute 15 that the P-40's were mentally out of it. There were lots of players yelling at each other and pointing to where the other should be. It looked every bit the team that hadn't played together at all, and was just thrown together a day or two prior. Especially upset was Seth Trembly, who was the loudest voice against his own teammates, and against the ref. Seth was particularly upset at the Flash's second goal by Guillermo Jara, claiming that he was offside. But after the game at the player's party we were able to watch a tape of the game, and there was no way "G" was offside on that one. In addition to Seth, P-40 player Shaker Asad got particularly upset at a Flash player, and took a swing at him, for which he received a red card at minute '37. The US P-40's were down to 10 men the rest of the night.
Mugurel Dumitru also had a goal, and after the game I was able to talk with him a bit. "That's the best we've played all year," said Mugie, "and if we can play like that on Tuesday we should make it a close game against the Galaxy." Most of the players are excited to play them in the next US Open Cup round, and are aware that they may bring a depleted squad as well, since six of their regular starters are playing in World Cup qualifiers on Sunday. And also, Galaxy midfielder Simon Elliott came out of the game against Tampa Bay early, fighting the flu, and Zak Ibsen also left the game with an injury, and we have the makings of a Galaxy reserve team.
San Diego Flash forward Mark Baena did not play against the US P-40's, still nursing the ankle injury suffered in the Flash's last US Open Cup game against the Riverside County Elite. It is not clear if he will be in the lineup against the Galaxy. But since this team has been playing for over a month now without Mark, they may be able to hold together enough to give the Galaxy a run. The Flash will be without Carlos "Chile" Farias against the Galaxy, because of a red card he earned against Riverside County.
Against the P-40's the Flash were without defender P.J. Brown, who had to sit out due to an accumulation of yellow card points. And defensive midfielder Kevin Legg sat out the game with a slight heel problem, but should be back against the Galaxy. "Leggy" will most likely run the midfield in "Chile's" absence. With a confidence building win like this one, spirits are high for the Flash's chances against Los Angeles on Tuesday. It should be great!
-Eric Bekins-
