BLAST DEFEAT UTICA CITY 6-2

Baltimore, MD (February 24, 2019) – The Blast would collect their second win over Utica City FC to improve to 10-6 on the season.

The Blast would start the game with several close chances and found a goal three minutes into the game. Elton de Oliveira collected the ball from William Vanzela’s long throw and fired a shot past the Utica goalkeeper. The Blast would continue their hot start with a goal from Tony Donatelli to extend the Blast’s lead 2-0. Both teams would end the first quarter a man down after an altercation between Adriano Dos Santos and Utica City’s Bo Jelovac. Utica City would get on the scoreboard with a goal from former Blast midfielder Lucio Gonzaga with only one second remaining. The teams would head into the first quarter break with the Blast leading 2-1.

Both teams would be held scoreless through the second quarter. The Utica goalkeeper made excellent saves including several reflex saves to keep the Blast off the scoreboard. William Vanzela would equal the Utica goalkeeper’s effort in net with several excellent saves as well. The teams would head into the break with the Blast leading 2-1.

Jonatas Melo would erase the scoring drought four minutes into the second half with his thirteenth goal of the season. Utica City would answer the Blast a few minutes later, with a goal coming from defender Domenico Vitale, to make the score 3-2 Blast. The teams would craft excellent chances, but both goalkeepers would deny every opportunity. The Blast would head into the fourth quarter with a 3-2 lead.

Adriano Dos Santos would steal the ball off of the Utica goalkeeper’s pass and immediately poke the ball into the net to extend the Blast’s lead to 4-2. Jonatas Melo would grab his second goal of the game off an Andrew Hoxie assist to make the score 5-2 Blast. Lucio Gonzaga would enter the game as Utica City’s sixth attacker with 4:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. A blue card was issued to Utica City as the last defender tripped Jamie Thomas on his way into goal. Tony Donatelli would score the resulting penalty kick to put the Blast ahead 6-2. The Blast would hold onto the 6-2 lead for their tenth win of the season.

Tony Donatelli and Jonatas Melo both recorded a team high two points for the Blast. William Vanzela recorded sixteen saves in the Blast victory. The Blast improve to 10-6 on the season. The Blast travel to Canada to take on the Mississauga Metrostars on Sunday March 3^rd at 3:05 p.m. You can watch the game live on MASLtv.

MASL Match Report February 24, 2019
Baltimore Blast vs. Utica City FC
Venue: SECU Arena
Attendance: 3,321
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. EST

Scoring Summary:
Goals 1 2 3 4 F
Baltimore 2 0 1 3 6
Utica City 1 0 1 0 2