Fernandez’s Goal Gets Crunch in Playoffs

RICHFIELD, Ohio —  With a berth in the Major Soccer League playoffs at stake, George Fernandez scored 1:08 into sudden death overtime to give the Cleveland Crunch a 3-2 victory Saturday night over the Wichita Wings.

Zoran Karic crossed a restart pass to a streaking Fernandez 10 feet to the right of the goal box for the decisive score past Mike Dowler.

The Crunch (20-20) clinched third place, earning the right to face second-place Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, and Wichita (18-22) was eliminated from the four-team playoffs.

The Baltimore Blast (19-21) clinched fourth place Saturday with a 7-2 victory over the Tacoma Stars (18-22), also eliminated.

Hector Marinaro starting the scoring with a power play goal 13:22 into the first period.