STOMPERS’ DOMINANT EFFORT SEES NO RESULT

The Stompers are beginning to fall into an early season hole with three straight losses. East Bay FC welcomed the Golden Gate Conference leaders, Sacramento Gold FC, to their new home in Hayward, but again could not take advantage of playing on their home field.

The Gold came out of the gates flying as a through ball went to Daniel Lomeli on the right side. He then put in a dangerous cross that saw Emmanuel Vasquez of the Stompers see his attempted clearance turned into his own net for an own goal just five minutes in.

Sacramento looked to be dominating the early parts of the game, but the Stompers were able to find a chance on the counter attack. Right back Prince Bere beat his man on the overlap and put in an inch perfect cross that Jovian Amirikai headed home to level the score before the 15th minute.

The equalizing goal saw the Stompers begin to control the game. While most of that possession was in their own half, they were the ones creating the best of the chances. A dangerous free kick by Stompers standout Jorge Salazar was saved by Sacramento captain and keeper John Connolly, and another great run and cross by right back Bere saw no one on the end of it. The half would end one apiece.

The Stompers took control early in the second half pushing higher and higher up the field in search of the go ahead goal. Both of the best early second half chance fell to East Bay’s Joel Sandavol as he saw one effort fly by the post and the other saved.

With all the possession and dominance, the backline of the Stompers was unlocked with one perfect pass by Eric Solero to Sammy Gonzalez who scored the go ahead goal with a volleyed golazo to make it 2-1 to the Gold in the 70th minute.

Prince Bere had a chance to immediately tie up the score as a mistake in the Sacramento back line put him through on goal. Unfortunately for the Stompers his effort went straight at the keeper.

The Gold were able to double their advantage when Man of the Match Sammy Gonzales got the assist to Sacramento’s main goal scorer, Jose Martinez who made no mistake to make the score 3-1 with just five minutes to play.

The Stompers led another late comeback effort when they saw a free kick on the edge of the box spilled by Sacramento goalkeeper John Connolly and tapped home by the Stompers substitute Salifu Jatta late into stoppage time.

The Stompers would receive one more chance when Jatta attempted a back heal that was on target but went straight to the keeper as the game finished 3-2, leaving the Stompers with just three points from their first four games.