Dixon sparks offensive outburst
Staff Writer amoseley@oklahoman.com
In front of the bright lights, Alex Dixon played his best game.
On a nationally televised game, the Oklahoma City Energy FC beat Las Vegas Lights FC 6-4 at Taft Stadium Wednesday night.
The six goals are a seasonhigh for the Greens. Their previous best came against the Rio Grande Valley FC when they scored three.
Dixon, who scored two goals in the game, was the one who made it possible for the Energy to score a season-high.
In the 72nd minute mark, the Energy needed a spark. The Lights has stolen all momentum after cutting the deficit to 4-3. Enter Dixon.
The Energy forward sprinted down the field with a defender by his side. Dixon edged him out just as Lights goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño ran to front him, a costly mistake.
Ferriño had left an opening in the backside of the net and Dixon saw it. He floated the ball over the goalkeeper’s hands, sinking the ball in the back corner to give the Energy breathing room.
It was his second goal of the game, and gave him a team-leading five goals on the season.
But Dixon also found his way into the assist category.
In the 44th minute, Dixon surveyed the field from the corner, preparing to pass. The Energy were tied with the Lights 1-1 and Las Vegas was pressing.
Dixon sent the ball flying toward Atiba Harris in the goal box. The ball glanced off Harris’ foot, just out of the way of the goaltender’s reach.
Harris was rushed by his teammates after scoring his first goal with OKC, and in his Energy debut. Harris was signed by the Energy on June 27, the third player added in the last three weeks.
But while Harris’ debut was one to remember, the shot wasn’t possible without the pass from Dixon.
He placed the ball perfectly through a crowd of defenders, where only Harris could make a play.
From the scoring of Dixon to the debut of Harris, Wednesday night’s game was full of bright spots for OKC.
Even though the Lights scored four goals in the game, Energy goalkeeper Bryan Byars was a major key for OKC throughout Wednesday night.
Two of the Lights’ goals came off misplays by the Energy, one off a bad clear attempt and another on a miscommunication by OKC.
Byars saved five firsthalf shots, allowing one goal in the first period.
OKC has a 10-day break before its next game at Sacramento Republic FC on July 21 at 10 p.m.