Disputed Free Kick Sinks Newport Harbor

NEWPORT BEACH —  Temple City High School defeated Newport Harbor, 1-0, on a disputed free kick Friday at Newport Harbor to advance to the semifinals of the 1-A boys’ soccer playoffs.

Efram Diaz scored the goal with 26 minutes left in the match on a free kick from 20 feet out and to the left of goal. Diaz kicked the ball as the referee was moving the Newport Harbor “human wall” of defenders. Newport Harbor goalie Kristain Osterberg wasn’t looking at the ball but was instead trying to direct the players forming the wall.

“We were setting up the wall and we were told to move back when all of a sudden the ball was rolling into the goal,” Osterberg said.

Said Newport Harbor Coach Mark Payne: “There’s nothing we can do about it. We had our chances and couldn’t put it away.”

Payne was referring to the fact that Newport Harbor outshot Temple City, 20-5, and missed four good scoring opportunities in the first five minutes of the match. Temple City is 13-12. Newport Harbor finishes at 17-4-6.