Arizona United Falls to Chivas Reserves 4-0

The Arizona United SC soccer team failed to find the spark it needed to challenge Chivas USA Reserves and found itself on the losing end of a 4-0 game played at Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday.

Arizona United started well against Chivas; however they quickly fell behind when two goals in less than a minute were scored by the Goats.

During the 13th minute of the game Chivas' Kristopher Tyrpak won a challenge against United's Tyler Ruthven, quickly turned and fired shot from 22 yards out that Arizona goalkeeper Evan Newton had no chance to save.

Arizona United Goalkeeper Evan Newton sprawls in an attempt to block a shot by Chivas USA Reserve's Ryan Finley during the first half of United's 4-0 loss to the goats. The ball, tipped by a block attempt by Joey Dillon, was directed over Newton and into net for Chivas' second goal of the game.

Just moments later, Tyrpak sent in a backward crossing pass from the left side into the penalty area where Chivas' Ryan Finley directed the ball toward net. The ball deflected off of United's Joey Dillon leaving Newton no chance to save the shot and the score was quickly 2-0 in favor of the visitors from Los Angeles.

Then in the 41st minute an attempt clear the ball by Arizona's Daniel Antunez found the chest of Finley. Finley quickly settled the ball down and made a looping kick over an out of position Newton to make the score 3-0.

Arizona United's Daniel Antunez leaps in an attempt
 to head the ball toward the Chivas USA Reserves'
 net during the second half of Arizona 4-0 loss to the Goats.

"We knew they were going to be a dynamic team," Antunez said following the game. "We were a little bit exposed to two or three mistakes we had in the midfield where we couldn't recover.

"If we could have knocked one in or maybe two it would have been a different outcome."

Antunez had to leave the game with an abductor injury during the second half of the game saying the demanding schedule of traveling to games on both coasts and a phyical match against Orlando City was staring to take its toll on players.

Chivas added a fourth goal in the 74th minute of the game when a penalty kick was awarded following a straight red card issued to Tyler Ruthven for contact with Tyrpak in the Chivas attacking penalty area.
Finley took the penalty kick an fired the ball in to Newton's right.

Arizona United Head Coach Mike Dellorusso made it quite clear following the game that he's expecting composure and decisiveness from his team.

"We had better play at the beginning (of the game). Dellorusso said. "But that's about it.

"We looked a little shell-shocked (after the first two goals). We need to be better at dealing with adversity."

Dellorusso also hinted he needs a forward player or players to step up to give the team an offensive advantage.

He said the team "is not being efficient in the attacking third. We'll discuss it and we'll see who wants to score goals."

Next up Arizona United will host OKC Energy FC in the third round of the US Open Cup. Then the team hits the road for games at Orange County and Sacramento.

If United wins its game against OKC their next Open Cup opponent will be the MLS team LA Galaxy whose roster includes Landon Donovan who is arguably the best soccer player in US history.