ONTARIO FURY OPEN SEASON WITH 12-6 VICTORY

by Bill Norris

The Ontario Fury, Driven by Mark Christopher Chevrolet, broke open a 2-2 game in the third quarter as they opened the 2017-18 Major Arena Soccer League season with a 12-6 victory over the Turlock Express at Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Thiago Goncalves had three goals and an assist, while Leonardo de Oliveira had a goal and three assists for the Fury, with de Oliveira setting up Goncalves on Ontario’s first two goals, giving Ontario a 2-1 lead at the half.

Turlock tied the game 48 seconds into the second half on a goal by Matthew Germain. But just 2:17 later, Tino Nunez put the Fury ahead for good, turning and firing past Turlock goaltender Edgar Martinez.

Leading 6-4 at the end of three, the floodgates opened for the Fury in the opening three minutes of the quarter. Defender Corey Maret fired a bullet from outside the yellow line just 1:34 into the quarter. With the Fury opening up a three-goal lead, the Express, who had strongly defended in their own zone in the first three quarters, were forced to open up their defense to push forward, and the Fury made them pay.

Douglas Lima ran down a loose ball in the corner and won a battle to poke the ball home just 2:15 into the quarter, and he was followed 19 seconds later by Maicon de Abreu’s second goal of the game.

Chico Francisco Cordeiro had a goal and three assists for the Fury, with Corona’s Jose Miranda making 10 saves in his professional debut in goal for Ontario.

Martinez had a strong game in goal for the Express, making 25 saves for Turlock. Ivan Campos had two goals and an assist for the Express, who fell to 0-2 on the young season.

The Fury now head out on the road for a five-game trip away from Citizens Business Bank Arena, with stops in Syracuse, Harrisburg, San Diego, Baltimore and Harrisburg set over the next three weekends of action. Ontario will return home Dec. 10 to host El Paso at 3 p.m.