The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 63

Sunday, July 24, 1994 Province Sports A63 SOCCER No points for style New system has 86ers' number Stories by Jack Keating Sports Reporter Carl Valentine will be doing some serious soulsearching over the next few days. The Vancouver 86ers' playing coach is concerned over the team's "disorganized" play as displayed in Friday's 2-1 overtime APSL loss to the Los Angles Salsa before 4,802 fans at Swangard Stadium. The 86ers have not played well or looked comfortable with the team's new style of play playing the ball from the back and along the ground in their first two home games. "We've got two training sessions and we've got to address some of the things that are going wrong," said Valentine of the loss that dropped the team to 2-2. "We were really disorganized.

And when we did play with the ball we didn't play with confidence." The news went from bad to worse as centre back Rick Celebrini underwent surgery Saturday for a serious knee injury suffered early in the Friday game. "He's gone for the season," said Valentine. "It's a tough loss." The injury occurred on an innocent tackle seven minutes into the game, forcing the 26-year-old Celebrini to hobble off and be sent to University Hospital. He was replaced by Steve Millar. John Catliff, who came on as a second-half sub, generated some good chances with Domenic Mobilio.

Valentine indicated that the big striker, who has been hampered by a knee injury, will likely be inserted in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against Colorado at Swangard. "There's a lot of controversy about (the style), said Steve MacDonald. "We're still learning to play the new system. "On their first goal in our end no one really knew who was supposed to be marking who." Speedy Paul Wright scored the winning goal Vancouver 86ers midfielder Ivor Evans keeps a step ahead of Los Angeles Salsa forward Paul Wright during APSL game won 2-1 in overtime by the Salsa at Swangard Friday. seven minutes into sudden-death overtime, running on to a punt by goalkeeper Mike Littman, bursting between Valentine and MacDonald before putting the ball off the post past Paul Dolan from about 14 yards.

"We're not confident with the new style yet," said Valentine, who says he will sit down with assistant Alan Errington and try to analyze the problem. "It could be the organizing. I can't really see what's going on all over the field," he said. Valentine says he's not planning to change the style: "There's nothing really wrong with it. "The game wasn't flowing for us.

We were fighting the game. We just had a very off night." "We looked to get the ball forward more quickly than they are now," said national coach Bob Lenarduzzi, the former 86ers coach, who watched the game from the stands. Added Valentine: "What we have to do is be a bit more positive when we get into the last third and make things happen." Mobilio deflected in Doug Muirhead's shot for the game's first goal that began with Dale Mitchell's corner kick early in the 18th minute. It was Mobilio's league-leading third goal of the season. Waldir Guerra scored the tying goal in the 56th minute from Wright when the 86ers were caught on a counterattack.

Bel THIS WINNERS WEEK'S ARE: LUCKY It's phone Province free. and it's Sports follow easy! the Section, HOW Just simple call look TO for 684-9494 instructions the Game from PLAY you of any the hear touch Day on in the tone the line. Dorothy Shannon, Abbotsford SPORTS ROCK CAFE Darryl Foulds, N. Van. CURRENT GRAND PRIZE Heather Edmontone, Vancouver Roy Smith, Vancouver All correct guesses from now through August 26 will be entered Call The Call certificates 732-2304 Rod to B.C.

Bel to Janzen, Lions Air. claim tickets Surrey your or gift prize. of into a paddock modation our 3-day in pass Grand VIP pass downtown Prize September to the Draw 2, Indy 3 for Vancouver, a and 4, including Molson all plus from 2 Indy gold nights Golf seats, Vancouver a deluxe pit and package accomNEXT WEEK'S GAME OF THE DAY LINE-UP Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants Montreal Expos vs Atlanta Braves WEDNESDAY: Boston Ottawa Red Rough Sox vs Riders New vs York Hamilton Yankees Tiger Cats Las Vegas Posse vs Toronto Argonauts EVERY GAME OF THE DAY ON THE BIG SCREEN AT THE BEL AIR. Come watch, win, sip sup. Real Sports.

Real Food. Galf Bell Cit SPORTS ROCK CAFE Province Specialists in Golf Vacations in Canada, the U.S. and THE NEWSPAPER WITH ATTITUDE! Call the is owned by Advertising the official organizer of the contest Worldwide for over 14 years. Call 669-1434. 950 W.

Broadway Oak). 736-2438 Truman The Force no longer with APSL The Houston Force has been kicked out of the American Professional Soccer League after playing just one game. Citing an internal ownership dispute, the APSL revoked the Houston franchise Friday, leaving the league with seven teams. "The Houston Force was an unfortunate situation, one we fought to maintain. But after realizing the ownership group in Houston was unable and unwilling to resolve financial differences, the board felt the most prudent course of action would be to revoke its membership and plan for the 1995 season," said APSL chairman William De La Pena.

The Force, which postponed its first two games of the season, including a July 6 home game against the 86ers, lost 3-0 to the Salsa Thursday in Houston. The league will decide this week whether the Salsa will be allowed keep its nine points from the Houston win. Houston was. scheduled to play the 86ers at Swangard Aug. 12.

The plan is still to fill each team's scheduled home games versus Houston with another opponent, so the 86ers will still be playing at home Aug. 12 with a yet-to-be-determined opponent under the revised schedule. "It's better they bow out now than in the middle of the season when it gets embarrassing," said 86ers owner Milan Ilich. "I've experienced so many of these clubs departing (in the CSL) that it doesn't surprise me." Staff photo by Gerry Kahrmann 18A JIVA.