The St. Louis Ambush lost a 7-2 match to Utica City FC Saturday evening at The Family Arena. The loss dropped the Ambush to 1-7-2 on the season, while Utica improved to 8-2-0.
Utica drew first blood when Gordy Gurson, parked at the post, took a pass from Nilton de Andrade and put it in the top of the net in the fifth minute of the opening stanza. The visitors made it 2-0 on a restart goal from de Andrade in the ninth minute. Utica went on a power play in the twelfth minute when St. Louis forward Greg Kranz was blue carded for tripping and it was an opportunity they wouldn’t squander. Gurson scored his second of the contest to make it 3-0. Less than two minutes later, Utica’s Franck Tayout beat Ambush goalkeeper Paulo Nascimento to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Ambush got their first tally when VcMor Eligwe sent a pass to a charging Triston Austin, who found the back of the net in the fourth minute of the second quarter. Utica answered in the sixth minute on a goal from Mohamed Ndiaye to make it 5-1. Ronaldinho Diniz scored for Utica in the final minute of the period to give the visitors a 6-1 lead at halftime.
Following a scoreless third quarter, the fourth quarter was void of goals until eighth minute when Marcel Berry scored at the goal mouth for St. Louis, making it a 6-2 duel. Utica increased the lead to 7-2 in the final minute when Emmanuel Belliard scored. The Ambush weren’t dead yet, as Wil Nyamsi scored with 8.6 seconds left on the clock but it was too late for a significant comeback and Utica came away with the win.
The Ambush will be back in action next weekend when they host the Baltimore Blast on Saturday, January 20 at 6:05 p.m. CT at The Family Arena.
January 20 will also be “Kick Cancer Night” when the Ambush will partner with Siteman Cancer Center to raise awareness and support for cancer research. Ambush players will wear special jerseys. The featured jerseys, created by OT Sports and generously provided by Siteman, will be auctioned off to raise funds for Siteman Cancer Center’s Discovery Fund, supporting ongoing cancer research initiatives.
Single game, season and group tickets for the 2023-24 season are now on sale. Call the Ambush office at 636-477-6363 for more information. Single game tickets can also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
