DEL MAR–At halftime of Thursday night’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Vitesse Dallas, Chiky Luna was looking for answers.
“I think I was trying a little too hard with my shot,” said Luna, who had 14 goals coming in but was scoreless in 3 1/2 games, “I had a few chances in the first half and didn’t get quite the right shot off.”
After a word of advice from the Sockers’ sage veteran Paul Wright, Luna turned it around. And then some.
Luna scored twice in the first three minutes of the second half, and finished with a season-high five goals, as the Sockers outpaced a spirited Vitesse Dallas side 11-7 at the Del Mar Arena.
“Paul Wright pulled me aside at halftime and told me to just relax on my shot,” said Luna, “After I scored one, I felt like the goal was huge and they started falling in.”
Luna’s monster effort pulled out a game that was in doubt from the first whistle until late in the fourth quarter. His fourth goal was a power play tally that snapped a 7-7 tie with 4:29 remaining. His fifth (and 19th of the season), at the 3:25 mark, finally gave the Sockers some breathing room.
Watch a postgame video interview with Chiky Luna after the jump: Continue Reading →
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