The San Diego Sockers take home Game one of the Ron Newman Cup final, with help from Christian Gutierrez (2) and some help from four other goalscorers as they dominate the Ontario Fury, 7-3.

fury players celebrating after Thiago Goncalves’s goal in the first half. Photo Credit: Blake Blechner (@lafccentral) — **fury players celebrating after Thiago Goncalves’s goal in the first half.** Photo Credit: Blake Blechner (@lafccentral)

The Sockers started the game with the tenacity of a Ron Newman Cup starving team. A very quick three goals from Sockers Midfielders, Brandon Escoto and Hiram Ruiz, and Forward Kraig Chiles, in the the first five minutes of the game. For the remainder of the first quarter, San Diego were cruising in cruise control, and the Fury didn’t respond until a screamer from Thiago Goncalves in the second quarter brought the deficit to two.

But the momentum continued to rise for the Sockers after Guerrero Pino finished off a 2v1 play with a combover header, and extend the lead to 3, bringing San Diego ahead 4-1 at the half. There was a lot of lack of creativity from Ontario in all thirds of the field. Surely Coach of the Year winner, Jimmy Nordberg, emphasized that problem in the locker room, but was not recognizable at the start of the third quarter.

Thiago Goncalves scores the only goal for the Fury in the first half, but was not much of a difference maker entering the second. Photo Credit: Blake Blechner (@lafccentral) — **Thiago Goncalves scores the only goal for the Fury in the first half, but was not much of a difference maker entering the second.** Photo Credit: Blake Blechner (@lafccentral)

With 12:30 left in the beginning of the third, Leonardo De Oliviera decided to kickstart San Diego’s momentum with a screamer from behind the yellow line in the attacking third. A goal so gorgeous, a challenge flag was initiated by Fury coach, Jimmy Nordberg, to ensure that the ball hit top bins. The call was upheld, and the lead was lengthened in favor of the Sockers, 5-1.

And the goals kept on coming after Christian Gutierrez curls one around a two-man Fury wall for the score. The beautiful free kick goal from Gutierrez made 1st MASL All-Team striker, Franck Tayou, hungry for a comeback, and Tayou initiated that comeback with a power play goal a few moments later, bringing the Fury four goals from an equalizer. Entering the fourth, Fury Coach, Jimmy Nordberg, recognized the urgency that his team needed to fulfill in order to bring his squad back into the game. With that, Nordberg pulled his goalkeeper and replaced him with a field player to help support the backline. A desperate but much-needed tactical change for Ontario.

Franck Tayou was able to grab a brace in the second half, but it was too late and wasn’t enough to complete the comeback Ontario needed to secure the win. Photo Credit; Blake Blechner (@lafccentral) — **Franck Tayou was able to grab a brace in the second half, but it was too late and wasn’t enough to complete the comeback Ontario needed to secure the win.** Photo Credit; Blake Blechner (@lafccentral)

The tactical change wasn’t enough to bring the Fury back into the game, but put Tayou on the score sheet , only for Christian Gutierrez to put the dagger with an empty-net goal with seconds left in the game. That empty-netter was enough to put the Fury away, as the San Diego Sockers take Game one of the Ron Newman Cup. Game 2 will be played this Sunday, again in Ontario. A must-win match for the Fury, who also need to force a mini-game in order to keep their Ron Newman Cup hopes alive. Game will be broadcasted live via the Ron Newman Cup’s Broadcast partner, SoccerSam Faustazzo. For more info, Visit Here.