Kansas City Comets faced unique tactic last weekend. Here’s how they answered it
The Kansas City Comets were well-prepared for the Empire Strykers last weekend, coming away with a 7-5 victory at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.
The Strykers came in with a unique attacking strategy, using their goalkeeper as the equivalent of a sixth attacker for much of the game. The Comets went down 1-0 in the first quarter but made some adjustments before going on a six-goal run in the middle two quarters to take a 6-1 lead.
Comets coach Stefan Stokic said his staff’s strategy “went as planned.” They “tweaked it a little bit once we played against it. I think it worked until the last five minutes,” he added.
Stokic was happy with the performance but disappointed his team closed the game so poorly. The Comets conceded three goals in the fourth quarter, leaving a sour taste from an otherwise satisfactory performance.
This was the first time Stokic had to prepare for such a bold strategy, but he credited Strykers coach Onua Obasi for trying something new in the Major Arena Soccer League.
Empire shuffled its goalkeepers around, splitting time between Brandon Gomez and Brian Orozco throughout the game; Gomez had an assist and took three shots while Orozco shot once.
The Comets also had to defend against Marco Fabián, a former Mexico National Team star. The 2012 Olympic Gold medalist has taken the league by storm with 44 goals in his first 27 games.
“We know what Fabián does; he shoots from everywhere and anywhere,” Stokic said. “We had to make sure we were close to him defensively and take away his right foot.”
Stokic was pleased with how his team dealt with the World Cup veteran. Fabián still managed to score twice with the help of a deflection in the first quarter before a rocket from distance late in the third.
Rian Marques and Nacho Flores shined brightest throughout the contest. Marques scored two goals and assisted one, extending his hot start to the season as he leads the MASL with 20 points from 12 goals and eight assists.
It was a special night for Flores, who scored his first two goals of the season, in addition to an assist, in front of his family visiting from Chile. The defender’s family members were scheduled to fly back home to Chile earlier in the week, but flight cancellations allowed them to extend their stay in Kansas City.
“I needed it for my confidence,” Flores said about scoring his first two goals of the season, dedicating them to his wife. “Sometimes it’s hard when you don’t score and it puts some pressure on.”
MASL champions on deck
The Comets now turn to some championship-caliber competition as they visit the San Diego Sockers on Wednesday, Jan. 15, before hosting the Chihuahua Savage on Jan. 25.
The Comets will pay their inaugural visit to the newly opened Frontwave Arena on Wednesday night at 9:35 p.m. Central, streaming for free on CBS Sports Golazo Network.
San Diego won back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022. The Sockers won their first four games in their brand-new home, but the Comets managed to beat them at their old home last season.
The Savage are the current back-to-back MASL champions, having won in 2023 and defeated the Comets last year. Tickets to the Ron Newman Cup Finals rematch on Jan. 25 are available at kccomets.com/tickets.