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Joe Navarino and Alexander Vargas both scored twice, and Lenoard Doramodou also scored as the New York Freedom topped the Willamette Valley Firebirds 5-2 the the PDL Consolation match before about 400 in Spokane. The Freedom didn't waste much time in setting the tone for the match. In the 4th minute, forward Joe Navarino got behind the Firebirds defense from a pass from Mario Galloa, and played the cross from midair and beat Firebirds goalkeeper Paul Merten to the upper left corner to put the Freedom up 1-0 on their very first shot of the match. |
| Greg Howes scored on this free kick to make the score 3-1 New York |
The Firebirds threatened a few times in the next 30 minutes, but were not able to make a good final touch on-net, a trend which had started the previous evening in the semifinal vs. Spokane. In the 34th minute, a low cross from Marcin Pachowicz found Alexander Vargas behind the Firebirds defense, and he beat Merten low to put the Freedom up 2-0.
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In the 40th minute, Joe Navarino scored again when a corner kick deflected out to him, standing just outside the box. He trapped the ball and put a perfect curving shot into the far upper corner to put the Eastern Conference champions up 3-0 at halftime. In the second half, the Firebirds substituted in their regular goalkeeper and two forwards, and their attack benefitted from the fresh legs. In the 54th minute, the Firebirds pulled one goal closer when midfielder put a free kick into the net from 25 yards out, with the shot beating New York goalkeeper Roberto Sir by rebounding in off the left upright. But New York responded 11 minutes later when they put in a free kick of their own. It was Alexander Vargas finding the net this time, as his free kick from about 30 yards out went through the wall and into the net, giving Firebirds goalkeeper Bryan Hill no chance, as he was guarding the other half of the net from the free kick. |  |
| Jason Crevar heads on goal but the shot is saved by Roberto Sir |
In the 83rd minute, New York put away any hope of a Firebird comeback when Joe Navarino played a perfect pass from midfield into the path of defender Leonad Doramodou, who made a run to the right side and beat the Firebirds offside trap. He came in alone from 35 yards out, and beat Hill to put New York up 5-1.
Willamette Valley did score once more in the 84th minute, when forward Scott Tedder played a perect cross to the feet of midfielder Greg Howes, who one-timed to the upper left corner of the net to make the final 5-2 New York.
The Firebirds outshot the Freedom 16-9. Roberto Sir had nine saves for the Freedom. Paul Merten had two saves and Bryan Hill had seven saves for the Firebirds.
