Blitzz 4, Nova 0You'd have a hard time convincing the Boulder Nova that the Utah Blitzz team it faced Saturday night was the same squad it blanked 2-0 back in April.
This Blitzz team was vastly superior both defensively and offensively, and it showed as it blanked Boulder, 4-0, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"The biggest player of all tonight was Rich Breza," said Blitzz coach Chris Agnello. "He keeps a defense honest and forces them to drop other players back to help."
Breza and midfielder Matt West weren't even members of the Blitzz during that loss, so, obviously, they weren't options to play, while Adolfo Ovalle and Jason Fullmer missed the trip for varying reasons.
The Blitzz are an entirely different team with those four on the field.
"Having Breza up there gives other people the chance to score," said forward B.J. McNicol, who scored twice. "Plus, there's a little more cohesion. That was only our third game, but now we're clicking."
McNicol opened the scoring in the 19th minute as he received a headed pass from Ovalle and volleyed just inside the far post.
The goal was a welcome sight for Agnello, because up until that point his team had played sketchy defense. On two separate occasions Blitzz defenders allowed a Nova forward to get past them, but both times keeper Eric Landon snuffed the breakaways.
"That's what he's paid to do, but then it gets frustrating for them because they can't even score on a breakaway," said Agnello.
The Blitzz had plenty of scoring opportunities during the remainder of the first half, but nobody could finish. That wasn't a problem in the second half.
Just over a minute into the second half McNicol tapped in a garbage goal after four different Nova defenders failed to clear the ball. Two minutes later Shawn Cassella received a pass from Breza on the right side of the box and unspooled a shot inside the far post.
"Anytime you score a goal, the other team is in a situation where they have to score goals, and that opens space up behind them," said Agnello.
Cassella's goal was a classic case of an exposed defense.
A hamstring injury to Breza in the 58th minute forced Agnello to sub him out, which was actually welcomed. All season the Blitzz have played in tight games, meaning Agnello had to keep his starters on the field for most of the game. With the comfortable cushion against the Nova, five Blitzz substitutes were used.
"I've been waiting all season to get those guys in," said Agnello.
One of those subs was Jorge Estrada, a former Highland High standout. He started the second half and created a couple of good scoring chances with some nice runs at the left midfield position. His most promising came in the 86th minute as he beat a defender and raced toward the goalie on a breakaway. Just as he wound up to shoot he was tackled from behind by Robert Birch, who was red-carded for the dangerous tackle.
Rob Karas converted on the penalty kick, giving Utah the 4-0 victory in front of 1,924 fans. The win improved Utah to 6-3-1 overall and 5-2 in the league.
"No one likes to lose at home and by four goals, no matter who you're playing," said McNicol about bouncing back for the 4-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Tuesday. "It was nice to come back and get our rhythm."
The Rapids might not be the only MLS team Utah plays this year. The Blitzz have an open date on July 15th, and they're working on bringing in a Mexican First Division team or potentially the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS. The Galaxy feature U.S. national team player Cobi Jones and Mexican superstar Luis "El Matador" Hernandez. Nothing has been finalized yet.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com