Carlos ''Chile'' Farias netted a hat trick and seven other Baltimore Blast players scored goals as the reigning Major Indoor Soccer League champions romped to a 12-3 victory Friday night over host Milwaukee Wave in the opener of MISL Championship series.
Farias, who played two games with the MLS's San Jose Clash in 1999, broke a 3-3 tie 11:12 into the third quarter, and Baltimore scored seven fourth-quarter goals to grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 2 is Saturday night, also at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee.
Marcelo Fontana gave Milwaukee a quick lead just 22 seconds into the match, but goals by Allen Eller, Chris Handsor and Tarik Walker sent Baltimore to a 3-1 halftime lead. MISL scoring champion Greg Howes and Giuliano Oliveiro netted third-quarter goals to pull the Wave even, but the Blast was dominant the rest of the way.
Walker and Giuliano Celenza scored two goals, and Danny Kelly, Billy Nelson and Denison Cabral added goals for Baltimore.
Wave defender Loveless Ackah was ejected in the fourth quarter and will be suspended for Saturday's match.
The Blast beat Milwaukee, two games to one, in last year's championship series but had lost three of four to the Wave — including both games in Milwaukee — this season.
MAJOR INDOOR SOCCER LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP
Milwaukee Wave vs. Baltimore Blast
Best-of-five series
April 23: Baltimore 12 Milwaukee 3
Baltimore leads series, 1-0
April 24: at Milwaukee, 7:35 p.m. CDT
May 1: at Baltimore, 7:35 p.m. EDT
*May 2: at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m. EDT
*May 8: at Milwaukee, 7:35 p.m. CDT
* – if necessary