Inspired Blitzz drub Gauchos

SAN DIEGO — Blitzz coach Chris Agnello sure knows how to motivate his troops.

While giving his winless Blitzz a spirited pre-game pep talk, Agnello turned and chucked his 2000 Utah Blitzz national championship ring into some surrounding bushes.

The players later found out the ring was a fake, but Agnello's ploy worked wonders.

Utah's struggling offense came to life by beating the San Diego Gauchos 6-1 Saturday night, just 24 hours after losing to San Diego 1-0.

"We had a long chat with the guys before the game, and we lit a fire under some of them," said Agnello.

Entering Saturday's game, Utah (1-2-2) had scored just one goal in four games this year.

Fadi Afash wasted no time in erasing those dreadful opening games. He scored twice in the first 12 minutes and missed out on a hat trick when his 17th-minute penalty kick went awry.

"We finally got him on his game," said Agnello.

Kiko Medina tacked on Utah's third goal about 15 minutes before the break.

In the second half, Alejandro Gutierrez, Matt Evans and B.J. McNicol all found the back of the net for the surging Blitzz. San Diego's lone goal was a lone goal in the 80th minute.

"I think tonight's game is a big step toward solving a lot of our problems," said Agnello. "It's one step in a dozen or so that we need to take."

While the result was much needed for Utah, in reality it came one night too late. Friday's loss was a U.S. Open Cup qualifier.

ENDLINES: Saturday's game was played at Balboa Park, a very wide field like Rice-Eccles Stadium. Friday's game was at Southwestern College, which is a postage stamp of a field . . . Rich Breza, who dropped back to his customary defensive role, was the man of the match, according to Agnello . . . Utah's home opener is this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium.