MAGIC 8 BALL, TELL ME WHO WILL WIN!

The Major Arena Soccer League championship series between the two-time defending champion Chihuahua Savage and San Diego Sockers can't be any closer.

The margins are so thin.

Both teams finished at 20-4, with the Mexican team winning the regular season title with 58 points to the Sockers' 56.

They both completed the campaign a perfect 12-0 at home and 8-4 on the road.

They split their season series.

San Diego won at home, 6-4, on Jan. 5 and 5-2 on Feb. 16.

Chihuahua won at home, 8-5, on Feb. 14, and then 12-2 on March 14.

Before the Savage won the last two league titles, the Sockers captured crowns in 2021 and 2021-22.

Thin margins, indeed.

Their common thread was the importance of winning at home and how difficult it is for any visiting team from north of the border to win at Corner Sport Arena in Chihuahua because it is the smallest field in the league.

Bottom line: Earning a W at home is a must for both teams in a two-game series, with a possible mini-game if things are knotted up after the second encounter.

So, we decided to ask coaches, players and front office personnel around the league their thoughts of the final series, which kicks off in San Diego today, April 13 at 8:05 p.m. ET and climaxes in Chihuahua on Sunday, April 30 at 8:05 p.m. ET.

Giuliano Oliviero, Milwaukee Wave head coach

I think Chihuahua is in a really good spot, because they can fail in San Diego and still come back to their familiar grounds and their home field advantage and win the second game, and potentially the mini-game. So. I think Chihuahua is, I don't want to say in the driver's seat, but they're in a very good spot. When it comes to San Diego. I think player for player, they're the best team in the league. I think they're going to take care of business on their home turf. For them to win the Ron Newman Cup, they have to do something they haven't done all season, and that's winning in Chihuahua. And how they're going to do that, I don't know, but they’ve got good enough players to get it done.

I mean, the size of the field is probably the biggest thing. It's probably the biggest home-field advantage throughout the MASL.

I want to stay away from making any predictions. I think they're both very capable. They were the two best teams all season, and they were the two most consistent teams all season, and the two best teams in the league this year, playing in the championship. Chihuahua, I think they're great pros. And I think San Diego, they're they got some really great players. Phil [Salvagio, head coach] does a great job there, so I think it's going to be very exciting.

David Bascome, Baltimore Blast head coach

Chihuahua, a team that is tactically a sound team, a team that's got goal-scoring and the shots they take. One thing that I think is going to be very important, because they don't have [defender] Moises Gonzalez there. They're not used to kind of defending against the rights targets. That's going to be one of the keys. Can they now be able to kind of limit those opportunities into the target? The other thing is that the discipline in defense. They will score 100 goals, but also allowing some things. To win a championship, defense is crucial. It's controlling and be able to minimize opportunities, especially when you're playing you play a team like San Diego, who control the tempo. Both teams will have no problem finishing chances. They have proven that. I think it's going to come towards some systematic structure between both coaches. What is that going to look like? That's going to be the interesting part.

San Diego is a little different. San Diego is going to control the tempo of the game. And just my opinion - I'm not the coach of San Diego, I got my own team - but with Chihuahua, that's a transitional team. They transition well through lines. San Diego is going to want to control the tempo. They have tactically sound players, they can finish. They have no problem finishing. You make a mistake, and they will finish. Controlling the tempo of the game, that's going to be key for me. San Diego, I'm sure they don't want to get into a running game because they are tempo team. They are a team that can also go at you and transition with a counter because they’ve got a Tavoy Morgan, you’ve these players there that can actually open you up.

So, it's going to be interesting. It's the space between the two yellow lines that's going to be most important, and how both teams handle that. Is a team going to control it and is a team going to focus and leave gaps that just counter? They’ve got good goalkeepers on both sides. I think this is going to be a very interesting matchup. I'm excited for it. I am looking at the team who will make the least mistakes. It's a kind of a really cool match-up.

Chad Vandegriffe, Kansas City Comets defender

The Sockers won in 2021 and in 2021-22. Then Chihuahua in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Both clubs are familiar with championships, and both teams have a ton of talented players with a lot of experience. Both teams are coached very well. They're disciplined. They do a great job at keeping the goal count low and keeping the game tight going into the fourth. I think that's going to be important. I think what it's going to come down to, honestly, whoever makes the least mistakes and whatever players step up in those big moments. But I think it's really going to come down to what team can capitalize on set pieces, power plays. My third one would just be the goalkeeping. Who is playing great? I think highly of both the goalies. They always play great. But in the final two games, can they even go above just playing great, like pretty much stand on their head? I think it might come to that.

The game on the 13th, it gives Chihuahua and San Diego a week of prepare and also rest as needed. The following game is on the 20th. I think those guys are going to be firing on all cylinders as far as their bodies feel and mentally preparing a week ahead of time. So, I think you're going to see the best versions of themselves in both of those games.

Both times San Diego played in San Diego, they won those games, and both times in Chihuahua, they won both. So, I think San Diego wins the first game in San Diego, and I think Chihuahua wins in Chihuahua.

Ian Bennett, Milwaukee Wave forward

I think Chihuahua does what they normally do. They just play with their hard work rate. They bring a lot of pressure and heart to the table. If they can win the first game in San Diego, their home field is such an advantage for them. They're incredible at home. If they usually keep doing what they've been doing, playing hard for four quarters, and I think they'll get the job done.

San Diego has got to obviously take that first game to have that chance to win away. But if San Diego does what we did against Chihuahua, I think they can also win. But I think ultimately, it's going to come down to who wants it the most, because both teams are skillful. Both teams have a lot of quality. To be honest, it's Chihuahua, San Diego and us that could really probably beat any of us. Everyone's got skillful players. Everyone's good enough, everyone's good on the ball, everyone's good off the ball. It's just going to be who wants it more and who's willing to sacrifice.

William Banahene, Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper

The biggest thing is they [Chihuahua] have to just keep doing what they're doing at home. I don't think it's been since 2023 the last time an American team has won in Mexico besides last year when Milwaukee beat Monterrey. The Mexican teams are dominant in Mexico. They just have to keep serve, stay healthy, stay the course. They do have to travel twice to play that second game [roundtrip to and from San Diego], so they have to just keep their legs. I know they traveled back today (Tuesday), and then they're traveling back this weekend. Then they have to travel back to play the second game.

They came from Harrisburg to San Diego, so they've been traveling a while. It's just that focus and not being fatigued is going to be huge for them.

San Diego has to keep serve the first game. I think they just have to play a direct style, don't let Chihuahua get in a flow, just keeping it almost very chaotic and very direct, hitting the boards, making them kick the ball out, so you can gain some territory. They have the skill. They have the athleticism. They just have to play pretty direct.

Pat Healey, Harrisburg Heat head coach

I think they're [Chihuahua] very good. I think they're very different [now]. And this is why I think they've had this little dynasty going for themselves. They're a little different than the typical Mexican team, which had flair and flash and, I would say explosive shooters/creative players all around; whereas this group has done a great job of getting guys who want to buy into a culture of defend and hunt and let their technical ability come when it comes because they are very good technically. But they don't have the flash, I would guess you say of the old, quote, unquote, Monterrey Flash or similar teams. They're a little grittier team.

Just stick to who they are and work out on that. The reason why they've got the last two championships is being who you are. You don't have to be anyone else, and that'll be successful. They've shown that, especially in their own field, if you grind and trap and play good defense and hunt. That's why they won the last two championships.

San Diego, I think they need to show composure in the uncomfortable situations. ... To be very frank, I think they need to win the power play, free kicks, special teams. I think they need to overwhelm them in that to win the series. I think they need to win the special teams battle.

It's going to come down both teams holding service. I would guess home-field advantage. And then it's going to come down to a mini-game. Can you be composed in that mini-game and take your chances when you get them, but not overexpose yourself? Because in that little field, if you attack with four or you get countered, you're just asking for disaster. So, I think they need to show composure in those critical moments.

Stefan Mijatovic, Kansas City Comets forward-defender

Chihuahua, they haven't lost at home for a while. Both teams are very good. If they play their game, Chihuahua has a really good chance of repeating. It's hard to play on that small field. It's always an advantage for them.

I think Chihuahua likes to tire teams out. The first through third quarters, tire teams out, keeping the ball. I think San Diego has good enough players to keep the ball on Chihuahua. You’ve got Charlie Gonzalez, Gabriel Costa, Drew Ruggles, one of the best players in the league, by far. A lot of respect to them. If San Diego plays their game and doesn't fall into Chihuahua's tactics, just chasing after the ball and everything, and San Diego keeps the ball ... I think San Diego, player by player, has better players than Chihuahua. So, I'm excited to see how it goes. I think they need to win game one for sure. That's a must at their home and then go to Chihuahua and hope that they can be the first team to beat them.

If I was a betting man, I would definitely bet San Diego to win the championship, plus they're all my boys and stuff.

Chad Poarch, Baltimore Blast forward

Obviously, Chihuahua has the talent and the quality to beat anyone. They can do it in a variety of ways, because they have a lot of players that can impact the game. If they stay disciplined and not give San Diego top of the boxes, yellow lines and power plays, that could help them a lot, especially away. I think that's what hurt us [Baltimore] a lot in the second playoff. You give San Diego top of boxes, yellow lines and opportunities and when you get a blue card, then you know they can, they can hurt you, because they have the quality of players to give threats in those areas. If they stay disciplined and not get any blue cards and give them any easy set pieces, that'll give them a good shot. They're two powerhouses. It's a toss-up for me. Chihuahua has the home-field advantage. So I think if they give a good fight in the first game away and then play the second home, they take the series, 2-1, over San Diego. [That’s] f they can just stay disciplined and they're not giving away any easy goals through set pieces or blue cards.

Joey Tavernese, Harrisburg Heat forward

I picked San Diego to win the championship prior to the start of the season and I’m sticking with my pick. Unfortunately, with the final being played in Mexico, I think Chihuahua are the favorites for a threepeat.

I thought San Diego handled business in their playoff games pretty straight forward. They beat Empire as they have all season for the seventh time. After a hard fought first-half battle with Baltimore, they showed their dominance in the second half and pulled away.

For San Diego, the game at home is a must win. They need to win this game to give themselves a chance to win the title in Mexico. Special teams and restarts will play a pivotal role in the Sockers’ success. They need to stay sharp on defense and avoid any unforced errors and turnovers that can lead to momentum swinging plays for the Savage. San Diego needs their offensive stars to produce including two-way type players like [Drew] Ruggles and [Christian] Gutierrez.

The Savage's road to the final was a bit more difficult. They struggled at the end of the regular season, barely escaping Harrisburg with two wins. Chihuahua was in a battle all game against the St. Louis Ambush, who offered them problems as they sat in defensively and attempted to catch the Savage on the counter. In an extremely defensive contest, Chihuahua was able to get a late goal in the fourth quarter and capitalize on sixth attacker defense. In my honest opinion, they were outplayed against the Wave. A couple of mistakes and missed opportunities are what led to the demise of Milwaukee and allowed Chihuahua to capitalize at the perfect moment.

As the common phrase goes, you have to beat the champs to be the champs. For me, it’s simple for the Savage. Don’t change anything and handle business at home as they have for the last three years.

I think it’s going to be a great series and I’m excited to watch it all unfold.

Nick Perera, Tacoma Stars head coach and forward

Chihuahua holds the upper hand, by virtue of their home-field advantage. For the Savage, playing at CornerSport Arena is the single greatest competitive advantage that exists in the MASL. So, the name of the game for them will be to try and steal a win in San Diego, knowing they hold two chances still at home.

San Diego will need to be very strategic in their approach. A win at home is their only route to a win and then making strategic decisions about who they might be able to rest in Game 2, knowing Game 3 will be the decider.

I believe the Savage are too difficult to beat at home, and I don’t see them missing out on the opportunity to raise it a third time in front of their fans. My prediction is that the Sockers win Game 1 at home, and the Savage win Games 2 and 3."

Jimmy Nordberg, former Empire Strykers head coach and executive vice president

Chihuahua is the deepest and strongest team in the league. They need to protect the home field advantage in Mexico and win the mini-game.  

San Diego needs to win at home, add some players that can't play in the U.S. and try to steal the mini-game.

My prediction is that Chihuahua will win in the mini game.

Game 1- SD 8, CCU 5

Game 2- CCU, 10 SD 6

Game 3- CCU, 3 SD 1

Michael Lewis can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter.