Rowdies and FC Edmonton Draw 1-1 on Opening Night The Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Edmonton shared the points after a 1-1 draw on a dramatic opening night of the 2014 North American Soccer League Spring Season on Saturday night. "I felt that we worked hard and dug in," Rowdies coach Ricky Hill said. "The second half opened a little bit more and I felt that half was a lot better. We managed to string a few passes together and make a few moves. We still have to be a little bit braver collectively in terms of keeping possession of the ball." The Rowdies pulled ahead in the 32nd minute on an own goal by Edmonton defender Kareem Moses. Tampa Bay midfielder Darel Russell floated a dangerous ball into the Edmonton box and Moses, under pressure, deflected the ball into his own net. FC Edmonton looked beaten until a late equalizer created in large part by Daryl Fordyce. Fordyce raced down the right wing and looped in a perfect cross to second-half substitute Tomi Ameobi, who headed home to level the match in the 88th minute. It was a choppy start to the match, with neither team really settling in to the first match of the 2014 season. FC Edmonton had the better of the early chances, with the first shot of the match coming in the 8th minute. New Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens was there for an easy catch and the danger was averted. Edmonton had another strong scoring chance with a two-on-one in the 28th minute, but Horace James' pass across the face of goal was behind its target and cleared by the defense. With the Rowdies up 1-0 at halftime, FC Edmonton came out the stronger side after the break. The match nearly turned when Pickens was adjudged to have committed a foul on Eddies forward Frank Jonke in the 54th minute and Edmonton was awarded a penalty kick. Pickens stood strong on the kick, diving right to save Neil Hlavaty's effort and preserving the Rowdies' lead. "We've still got a lot of work to do," Pickens said of the result. "In any league, these are all dogfights. The first month of the season is going to be like this. We're super disappointed not to get three points and to give away a pretty cheap goal late in the game. We got a point and we've got to move on." The final five minutes were played end-to-end with the Rowdies piling on pressure in their search of a match-winner and Edmonton replying on fast breaks. Neither team could find the goal and nab all three points before the full-time whistle. "I'm happy with the effort and the commitment for sure, but can we do better offensively? Of course we can," Hill said. "We changed it, we brought on Casey (Townsend) and we brought on Lucky (Mkosana) and they had an impact straight away, which was nice. It's a shame we couldn't hold out for that goal, but nevermind. We got a point. We'll move on to next week." The Rowdies now travel to Indianapolis for a meeting with the Indy Eleven next Saturday night, April 19. Press release from the Tampa Bay Rowdies
Minnesota United FC Beats San Antonio Scorpions 2-0 in Season Opener Minnesota United FC started off the 2014 North American Soccer League (NASL) season with a workmanlike 2-0 win over the San Antonio Scorpions at Toyota Field in Texas. Christian Ramirez and Kevin Venegas got on the board for the Loons, who dealt with sustained pressure from their opponents superbly. "Getting three points on the road is always tough, especially in a season opener," said United head coach Manny Lagos on his club's 2-0 win. "I thought we were very gritty and fought together and I was really proud of the effort the guys put in tonight." The win is United's third vs their Texan rivals since last year and a big moment in a match-up that has seen its share of on the field confrontations. For Minnesota, taking three points from the away match is a big step up after 2013 began with an uneventful home 0-0 draw vs the same opponents. The game started off with both teams working to find their footing in the season opener. Possession was few and far between and the ball spent a lot of time in the air. Minnesota seemed to find their comfort zone first, keeping the ball in the San Antonio half and finding space on the wings. But few real chances came of Minnesota's possession, and San Antonio began to get more looks going the other way as United opened up. The first real chance of the game fell to Kevin Venegas, who pushed up and put in a shot from just outside the 18 in the 6th minute. The looping ball went just over the bar. Aaron Pitchkolan would get a similar chance five minutes later in the 11th, flashing a shot just wide. A minute after that, Kevin Venegas darted through the San Antonio defense but was tackled and a yellow card was shown, in what would become an early theme to the game. It was fitting that the choppy start would lead to a surprising goal. Aaron Pitchkolan fed NASL rookie striker Christian Ramirez with his back to goal in the penalty box. It seemed as though everyone on the field expected Ramirez to hold the ball up, but instead he turned and looped an effort that stunned Scorpions keeper David Bingham and put United up 1-0 in the 17th minute. "I thought it was a gorgeous goal," exclaimed Lagos. "I thought it was a clever, quality finish. One of those goals where you just say: top notch. I am very excited for him in a game like this to get a goal like that." "The guys believe in me and the coach believes in me and I am just flying with confidence right now," said Ramirez. "Aaron Pitchkolan had been looking for me all game and we made eye contact and he fed me a nice ball and I was able to hold off my defender and slot it into the top corner." The goal gave the game a new edge, and it backfired on the Scorpions as defender Julius James took exception to an attempt to win a header by Tiago Calvano in the 24th minute and struck him with his arm, then stood over the United defender as he lay on the ground. James was immediately ejected from the game in the 25th minute, while Cristiano Dias of United received a yellow for his role in the ensuing fracas. Although up a man, Minnesota did not seize the game immediately, withstanding sustained pressure from the Scorpions and generally seeming content to sit back on their lead. That approach didn't result in any chances for the Scorpions, as United's back-line held strongly. Despite a tepid end to the half, United went into the game deservedly ahead. The second half started with a burst of attacking inspiration from San Antonio, but it broke against Minnesota's stalwart back four. Scorpions Head Coach Alen Marcina clearly didn't like what he saw, and made two attacking substitutions early in the half, including one that brought on former MLS all-star Eric Hassli. But neither sub led to the breakthrough that the Scorpions wanted. United started to gain back control of the game with some attacking flair, especially after 2013 NASL Best XI Miguel Ibarra came on. Still the game appeared balanced on a knife's edge as the Scorpions withstood the rejuvenated Minnesota attack. The Scorpions won a dangerous free kick from right outside the Minnesota box past the hour mark, but Hassli struck a weak effort directly at Minnesota keeper Matt VanOekel, who was rarely troubled, even if called into action a far amount of times. Just a handful of minutes later in the 74th minute, United would get a free kick opportunity of their own, from a similarly dangerous spot. Fullback Kevin Venegas stepped up to take charge and he placed a fantastic strike into the left side of the net to double Minnesota's advantage. The game closed up in the final fifteen minutes, with United blocking increasing frantic attacking attempts from the Scorpions. As San Antonio pressed, their back opened up and on the few opportunities they had for counter attacks, United looked dangerous. An apparent counter goal from Jamie Watson in the 84th minute was called back after Watson was judged to have interfered with keeper Bingham. As minutes ticked on, San Antonio was increasingly frustrated, and despite 6 minutes of extra time, the Scorpions could not find their first goal of the 2014 season. The game concluded with fireworks, both in the sky and on the field as both teams got in each other's faces during the postgame pleasantries. Minnesota continues its 2014 season on the road next weekend as they face NASL newcomers, the Ottawa Fury. Fans can watch the match live through an NASLLive subscription or join fellow supporters at the official Watch Party at Brit's Pub in Minneapolis. Press release from the Minnesota United FC
Ottawa Fury embrace first NASL season, hope to feed CanMNT Building the Soccer Pyramid: Ottawa Fury embrace first NASL season, hope to feed CanMNT Working with the city, they formulated a plan to redevelop all of Lansdowne Park – the site where Frank Clair sat – to include retail, residential and a new stadium fit for both football and fútbol. “This is much more than a soccer destination,” says Pugh, one of the partners in OSEG. “It’s a 24-7 destination in terms of restaurants, shopping and all sorts of things. It’s a really exciting event for the whole city.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...fury-embrace-first-nasl-season-hope-feed-canm
Strikers Announce The Tire Choice As Partner Strikers Announce The Tire Choice As Partner The NASL's Fort Lauderdale Strikers have partnered with The Tire Choice as the official Tire and Automotive Service Partner. As part of the partnership, the Strikers will host over 12 clinics for UM-NSU CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders). “We’re proud to welcome The Tire Choice to our family,” said Tom Mulroy, president of the Strikers. “They have a great passion not only for soccer, but for the community. We’re thrilled to be involved through them in working with Autistic children.” http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/1r...ounce-the-tire-choice-as-partner#.U1cQR2d3upo
Fury sends message with emphatic first victory over league power Whatever Ottawa Fury FC coach Marc Dos Santos suggested in the run up to Saturday’s game at Keith Harris Stadium against Carolina RailHawks, there had to be a touch of misgiving about how his club would fare against one of the NASL’s heavyweights. So nobody should have been surprised at the smile on his face and the way he crossed the field on Saturday afternoon to salute the fans, emitting a subtle “told you so” feeling he was certainly entitled to. His team had just demolished one of the strongest squads in the league by a score of 4-0. It could hardly have been a more emphatic way to record the first win in the club’s history. Read more http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports...mphatic first victory over/9781522/story.html
San Antonio Scorpions Defeat New York Cosmos 1-0 The San Antonio Scorpions struck down numerous New York Cosmos streaks on their way to a 1-0 victory at Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University. New York dominated possession and every statistical indicator of a team's offensive pressure in the match except the most important one - goals. San Antonio's defense absorbed wave after wave of Cosmos attacks, free kicks and corner kicks, but New York was never able to find the final pass or shot to get on the scoreboard. San Antonio, meanwhile, looked content to counter all evening and did so very effectively in just the '15 minute to take the lead that they would not relinquish. Danny Barrera and Walter Restrepo executed a perfect 1-2 just inside the attacking third to start the play. Barrera received the return pass on the run off of a slick backheel from Restrepo and then dribbled the ball into the New York box, where he very deftly cut inside of Cosmos captain Carlos Mendes. This set the attacking midfielder up for a wide-open shot from about 12 yards away and he uncorked a well-struck hit with his right foot that New York 'keeper Jimmy Maurer tried to parry away to his right. But the ball instead ricocheted directly to Scorpions striker Eric Hassli, who headed the ball first-time into the open side of the net. The score was the big French forward's first goal in a San Antonio kit. The goal also ended a modern NASL league-record shutout streak for New York at 372 minutes. They had eclipsed the previous mark of 359 minutes - set by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2012 - earlier in the match. New York's best chance came in the second half, when midfielder Danny Szetela found some space just outside the Scorpions' 18-yard-box and got all of a right-footed shot on goal. The ball took a slight deflection on its way towards San Antonio keeper David Bingham that almost fooled him, but Bingham was able to get just enough on the shot to his lower left to push it wide. Fullback jonathan Borrajo had almost doubled San Antonio's lead minutes earlier when he laid into a free kick from 22 yards away that dipped hard at the last second and fooled Maurer, but clanged off of the underside of the cross bar. With the win, San Antonio ended New York's 14-match unbeaten streak and became the first NASL club to win at Shuart Stadium since their modern era began last season. New York is now 6-1-2 all time at home and it is also the Scorpions' first win overall against the Cosmos in three tries. Next week the Scorpions will be back in the friendly confines of Toyota Field to take on the visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies while the Cosmos will hit the road to face the Carolina RailHawks. The Scorpions' next home match at Toyota Field is May 3rd against the Tampa Bay Rowdies with a 7:30pm kickoff. Season tickets start at only $10 per game and can be purchased at Toyota Field Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Call 210.495.8686 for more information on season tickets or log onto SAScorpions.com. Press release from the San Antonio Scorpions
Strikers Defeat Indy Eleven at Home 3-2 The Fort Lauderdale Strikers moved up to third place in the NASL standings following a 3-2 victory against Indy Eleven in a thrilling match at Lockhart Stadium Saturday night. An early goal from Strikers winger Martin Nuñez was canceled out on a penalty kick from Kleberson in a fast and furious opening 45 minutes. Second half goals from Fafà Picault and Marius Ebbers proved the difference while a late strike from Indy Eleven's Erick Norales was merely a consolation. The Strikers took it to Indy Elven from the opening whistle and got on the board in just the eighth minute. Carlos Salazar spotted Nuñez on the left side of the box. Some tricky footwork from the Uruguayan created just enough space for a hard, right-footed shot that went past Kristian Nicht in the Indy Eleven goal. Indy Eleven were on the back foot following the goal, but equalized after a bit of good fortune. The Strikers were called for a handball in the box and Kleberson stepped up to take the penalty kick. Oka Nikolov guessed correctly on the shot, but the Brazilian's effort was perfectly placed in the bottom right corner. Indy were encouraged by the goal and stepped up the attack. Mike Ambersley had a chance go wide after a Strikers giveaway in midfield. Moments later Mark Anderson let rip from distance but a strong hand from Nicht prevented the Strikers from taking the lead. The visitors had a chance to go ahead at the end of the half but were denied on a goal-line clearance from Justin Chavez. Mike Ambersley pounced on a rebound after Oka Nikolov had raced out of his box to deny an onrushing Indy attacker. Ambersley's first-time effort was hard and low, but Chavez was on the line to make the goal-saving block. Substitutions proved the difference for the Strikers in the search for a winning goal. Fafà Picault's introduction injected pace down the right flank. The pacey winger was on hand to head home a pinpoint cross from Guerrero for his first goal in Strikers colors, giving the Strikers a 2-1 advantage. Guerrero, who led the Strikers in assists last season, moved up to top of the list this season with two on the night. Minutes after Picault's goal, German forward Marius Ebbers got on the end of Guerrero's cross from the left to double the hosts lead. It was the forward's first goal for the Strikers. The Eleven struck in stoppage time through defender Erick Norales, but it was too little too late as the referee blew the final whistle on the restart. "We are very proud of our guys' performance," said Strikers head cach G-nter Kronsteiner. "Indy has a great team; they came in with two ties against two very good teams, so to get a win against this team is a great accomplishment." The Strikers next travel to FC Edmonton on May 3rd at 9:00 p.m. The Strikers next home match is on Saturday May 10th against the Atlanta Silverbacks. Tickets for all Strikers home games are available at www.strikers.com or by calling 954-606-0400. Press release from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Minnesota Edges the Eddies 1-0 in 2014 Home Opener On a cool and windy evening at National Sports Center Stadium, Minnesota United FC edged FC Edmonton 1-0 in a typically scrappy Flyover Cup clash. Substitute Simone Bracalello getting the lone goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute. "I don't think we created as many chances as we'd like but the guys put in a great shift," said United head coach Manny Lagos. "We kept a clean sheet at home and we got the win. It's always a tough matchup against Edmonton and we have had our share of draws, so it was nice come out of tonight with three points in front of the home crowd." The match was the Minnesota United FC 2014 home opener, and a raucous crowd came out to cheer the undefeated Loons to nine points and the top of the North American Soccer League (NASL) table. The first few minutes after kickoff saw the Eddies immediately put the pressure on United, challenging the the midfield and making strong attacking runs. In the fifth minute, Edmonton trapped United defender Kevin Venegas on the right wing, forcing a back pass that was all too easy to read for Eddies striker Frank Jonke. After the early scare, Minnesota seemed galvanized, pressing the Edmonton defenders and intercepting a number of passes deep in the attacking end. But Edmonton's emergency defense proved up to the task and a flurry of shots from the Loons lofted easily into the gloves of goalkeeper John Smits. As Minnesota's pressure petered out, Edmonton began to regain their footing, and the game became a scrappy midfield battle. Edmonton would get their best chance of the game in the 33rd minute, with the ball played dangerously into the box and a strong shot that forced Loons keeper Matt VanOekel to make a kick save. The final chance of the half, and the best for either teams came after United defensive midfielder Floyd Franks found himself alone near the touchline in the Edmonton box after the ball bounced through the defense. Franks leveled a powerful shot, but the angle was tight and Smits stayed big to deny United and give up a corner kick, which came to nothing. United and Edmonton, who had played to five 1-1 draws at the National Sports Center over the past three years, remained tied 0-0 going into the locker room. In the second half United began to slowly assert more control over the game. In the 51st minute, a series of short passes left Franks wide open at the top of the six yard box, but the midfielder took his shot weakly, putting a low strike directly at Smits. Minnesota would come agonizingly close twice again in the 56th minutes, with Cristiano Dias heading the ball strongly at Smits, in a near carbon copy of the last second goal that United scored against Edmonton. In the 65th minute, Minnesota Head Coach Manny Lagos turned to his bench, subbing on Greg Jordan for Floyd Franks in defensive midfield, and Simone Bracalello for Jamie Watson on the left wing. The fresh legs made an immediate impact, putting Edmonton under fresh pressure as both urged their teammates forward. It all paid off in the 69th, as Bracalello received the ball in the box and smashed a shot that was stopped by the hand of defender Marko Aleksic. Bracalello stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the left corner as Smits guessed wrongly. "The guys did a great job tonight," said United midfielder Bracalello. "Edmonton is a tough team to face and we were happy to get the three points tonight." The tempo of the game changed after the goal, with United content to sit back and rely on a defense that has conceded only once in three games. Edmonton pressed forward lofting balls into the box and playing the ball around the box, but Minnesota held their shape and occasionally looked dangerous on the counter attack. Three minutes of stoppage time passed and the game concluded with the advantage holding to the joy of the home fans who surely had flashbacks to previous results at home against the Canadian side. With the New York Cosmos falling at home to the San Antonio Scorpions, Minnesota's win vaults the Loons to sole control of first place in the NASL Spring Season, with a third of the games to be played. Minnesota remains home at the National Sports Center Stadium next Saturday, May 3rd, as they face off against NASL newcomers Indy Eleven. The match is set to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. CDT. Tickets are available by calling 763.4SOCCER or heading to www.MNUnitedFC.com/tickets. Press release from the Minnesota United FC
Silverbacks Knock off Rowdies, 3-1 The Atlanta Silverbacks earned a much-needed road win on Saturday night, topping the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 3-1, at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla. Goals from midfielder Junior Sandoval and forwards Jaime Chavez and Deon McCaulay put the Silverbacks well on their way to a convincing win - one that puts them back into the NASL Spring Season title race. Following the Silverbacks' 2-1 loss to the San Antonio Scorpions last Saturday, technical director Eric Wynalda made several changes to the lineup. Goalkeeper Derby Carrillo, midfielders Blair Gavin and Pablo Cruz, and Chavez were drafted into the starting lineup, leaving Eric Ati, Janny Rivera, David Estrada, and Kwadwo Poku on the bench. The changes seemed to have an immediate effect on the team, with the Silverbacks coming out as the more aggressive side on Saturday night. Sandoval, who scored last weekend against the Scorpions, gave the Silverbacks a dream start, putting his team on top inside seven minutes. Gavin was the catalyst, playing a looping ball over the top of the Rowdies' back line. Sandoval ran onto it and fired a vicious half-volley past Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens and into the net for a 1-0 lead. The game got even better for the Silverbacks in the 12^th minute when the Rowdies were whistled for a handball in the penalty area. Sandoval stepped up to the penalty spot to take the kick, but Pickens was up to the task, beating the Honduran's shot away to his left. It was a big missed opportunity for the Silverbacks, who could have gone 2-0 up. Three minutes after Pickens' penalty save, the Rowdies evened the score. Last year's NASL Golden Ball winner Georgi Hristov did well to settle the ball down in the Silverbacks' penalty area and fire past Carrillo to make the score 1-1. Wynalda's attack-minded side grabbed the lead back in the 27^th minute, though. Gavin notched his second assist of the first half, playing a 40-yard ball to Chavez, who headed it past a helpless Pickens for a 2-1 lead. Pickens was tested two more times before halftime, having to come up with big saves on efforts from Sandoval and Cruz to keep the score at 2-1. The Silverbacks picked up where they left off after halftime, and didn't waste any time doubling their lead. In the 51^st minute, Cruz capped off a perfect counter-attack, flipping the ball up to forward Deon McCaulay, who calmly finished past Pickens to make it 3-1. Ati, who replaced an injured Carrillo midway through the first half, was called into action on several occasions by the Rowdies. Hristov forced Ati into a big save in the 56^th minute, nearly bringing the Rowdies back within a goal. The next chance belonged to the Silverbacks, who came inches away from making it 4-1. Defender Edgar Espinoza directed a header off the post, and his back line teammate Ryan Roushandel's follow-up effort wasn't far off either, as the Rowdies had to clear it off the line. The night belonged to the Silverbacks, though. The Rowdies forced Ati into a few more saves late in the second half, but couldn't find a way past the Cameroon-born goalkeeper. The Silverbacks would end up successfully killing off the game, and posted a convincing 3-1 victory that puts them out of the cellar of the NASL standings and back into the chase for a Spring Season title. Wynalda's club returns home next Saturday to host Ottawa Fury FC at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. To purchase tickets, call the ticket office at 404-969-4900 or visit atlantasilverbacksfc.com. Press release from the Atlanta Silverbacks
Armada FC Partners With Real Madrid Foundation And Publix North American Soccer League team of Jacksonville Armada FC announced a partnership with the Real Madrid Foundation, RPM Sports and Publix to bring player development clinics to Northeast Florida this summer. The Real Madrid Foundation is the social and cultural awareness arm of Real Madrid C.F. and is charged with promoting the values inherent in soccer in Spain and around the world. http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/1t...eal-madrid-foundation-and-publix#.U2At3mco-po
Minnesota United Remains Undefeated, Earns 3-2 Win over Indy Eleven Minnesota United FC (4W-0D-0L, 12pts) remains undefeated and on top of the North American Soccer League (NASL) standings after a 3-2 victory over Indy Eleven (0W-2D-2L, 2pts) at National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, MN. Minnesota scored four goals in the first half against Indy Eleven, although only three were in the opposing net, taking a 3-1 lead at the National Sports Center Stadium. Christian Ramirez would find the net in the 23rd minute followed by a Daniel Mendes goal in the 25th. Simone Bracalello netted an own goal in the 42nd minute that was quickly followed by a cracking strike from 22 yards out by United captain Aaron Pitchkolan. "I thought we played really well. We gave away a couple soft goals, but I think we really kept them at bay," said United Head Coach Manny Lagos. "You can feel a bit bad about the goal at the end, but I think the guys should be really proud of what they've done, two wins at home and to start the season off 4-0 is great. I'm really proud of them, there shouldn't be a bad taste from this. The reality is they found a way to win again today and we could've gotten a few more goals, but that's the sport." The game began fairly evenly, with Indy winning two early corners but failing to put anything on goal. Minnesota responded well against the pressure, but seemed content to sit back and play a counter attacking style when going against the stiff wind. The complexion of the game changed drastically in the 22nd minute as Simone Bracalello-the hero of last week for the Loons-made an incisive run down the left flank to the endline and put a soft ball on the ground across the box. Daniel Mendes was in perfect position, but seemed off balance and side footed a shot heading wide. Luckily for him, Christian Ramirez was perfectly positioned to turn his mistake back on goal, putting the Loons up 1-0. The excitement had yet to subside before United struck again. Simone Bracalello broke early into space and drew in the entire Indy defense and goalkeeper Kristian Nicht. He calmly passed the ball to Daniel Mendes, flying in on the counter from the right, who could not help but score on the empty net. In the span of three minutes, Minnesota had broken up what had been a fairly even game. It seemed as though Minnesota would hold their advantage going into the halftime whistle, but it turned out there was a lot more in the game. Indy's pressure eventually paid off in the 42nd minute, although in an unexpected way. Eleven forward Pedro Mendes put a dangerous cross across goal and Simone Bracalello was unable to check his run and accidentally blasted the ball into his own net. The unexpected own goal galvanized United to make up for the mistake. A minute into stoppage time, Miguel Ibarra made a superb run down the left, then cut back and dribbled to the corner of the box. Waiting at the top of the box was Aaron Pitchkolan who slammed the shot past Nicht into the top corner of the net to return the two goal cushion to the Loons heading into halftime. Eleven made immediate changes at the start of the second half to attempt to right the ship. Star Brazilian midfielder Kléberson was subbed on, and in the 59th minute, Indy head coach Jurgen Sommer again went to his bench to bring on Don Smart. But the additions struggled to make an impact after their introduction, with credit going to United's defense, especially centerback Tiago Calvano, who made a number of one-on-one stops. United first went to the bench in the 71st minute, putting Greg Jordan on in the place of Juliano Vicentini, who was starting his first game after a groin injury suffered in week two. Indy made their final sub in the 73rd, replacing Dylan Mares with Corby Moore. United made a second sub in the 87th minute, replacing Simone Bracalello with Jamie Watson. Again, the game seemed to have settled into a state of equilibrium, but Indy would net a consolation goal at the end through another optimistic attack. A lobbed ball into the mix was accidentally handled by Justin Davis on the way down, earning Eleven a penalty kick. Kléberson stepped up, and drilled the ball into the left corner. His initial effort was called back, however. Forced to retake, the World Cup veteran went the other way instead to bring the score to 3-2. However Eleven could not get a chance to silence the home crowd in the minute that followed, and the lead held for the Loons. The win gives Minnesota 12 points through four games to start the 2014 NASL Spring Season, and ensures another week with uncontested control of first place. United next travels to New York to play the sliding Cosmos in a match loaded with playoff implications for both teams. "I think we've got to absorb the things we've done well and take pride in the fact that we've managed to start the season undefeated," said Lagos. "Now going on the road it's going to be a huge test. Definitely the Cosmos will be ready for us and we have to really embrace getting better this week. I think we're getting better every week and progressing and this is going to be no different. The only chance is that we've got 9 days instead of 7." Press release from the Minnesota United FC
RailHawks Extend Home Unbeaten Streak to 18 The Carolina RailHawks (2W-1T-1L, 7pts) defended their home unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory over the New York Cosmos (2W-0T-0L, 6pts). A goal from RailHawks midfielder Tiyi Shipalane extended the streak to 18 straight matches unbeaten at WakeMed Soccer Park. In the 12th minute of play, the RailHawks Cesar Elizondo collected the ball at midfield and found a streaking Shipalane down the left hand side of the field. Shipalane's initial shot deflected off of the goalkeeper and into the air. Shipalane calmly hit the ball out of the air and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. The second half was marred by three ejections, two for the RailHawks and one for New York. In the 56th minute, Cosmos midfielder Sebastian Guenzatti received a straight red card. Over the next twelve minutes of play, the RailHawks would have two defenders, Connor Tobin and Kupono Low, ejected for receiving their second yellow card of the match in the 63rd and 68th minutes, respectively. For the final 22 minutes of the match the RailHawks defended feverishly to record the shutout, led by goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. The RailHawks will take to the road on Saturday, May 10th when they travel to San Antonio. The match will kickoff at 8:30pm ET and will be broadcast live on NASLlive.com. On Saturday, May 17th the RailHawks will host the 6th Annual Taste of the Triangle prior to the RailHawks match versus the Atlanta Silverbacks. For information on the Taste of the Triangle Pregame Festival click here. To purchase tickets for the May 17th match visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com or call the RailHawks Box Office at (919) 459-8144. Press release from the Carolina RailHawks
Silverbacks Earn Second Straight Win, Top Ottawa Fury 2-1 Atlanta Silverbacks fans went home happy on Saturday night after watching their team top the Ottawa Fury, 2-1, on a beautiful night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. Forwards Deon McCaulay and Jaime Chavez scored for the second straight week, giving the Silverbacks a huge three points before the team embarks on a three-game road trip. Silverbacks Technical Director Eric Wynalda named a largely unchanged lineup from the one that topped the Tampa Bay Rowdies on the road last week, with the only changes being goalkeeper Eric Ati and midfielder Junior Burgos starting in place of Derby Carrillo and Pablo Cruz. The first half of Saturday night's matchup in Atlanta was played very evenly. Each side had several quality scoring opportunities, with McCaulay serving as the only one to actually finish one. In the 14th minute, Fury midfielder Hamza Elias, who was very active all night long, nearly put his team up early. Elias poked a shot towards goal, but an onrushing Eric Ati was there to stop it for the Silverbacks. Just seconds later, on the other end, McCaulay came just as close, forcing Fury goalkeeper Devala Gorrick into an impressive reaction save. The Fury had the next chance through Brazilian forward Vini Dantas. Ati was again forced to come out of his goal, and stopped not one, but two efforts from Dantas. The breakthrough finally came in the 44th minute, and it was midfielder Jesus Gonzalez who started the move that got the goal. Gonzalez's long ball found the head of forward Jaime Chavez, who nodded it across goal for McCaulay to finish. The Silverbacks picked up right where they left off, starting the second half with a bang. Midfielder Blair Gavin found the head of Chavez, who nodded a header off the hands of Gorrick and into the net for a 2-0 lead in the 50th minute. After Chavez's goal, the Silverbacks really took control. The visiting Fury had plenty of difficulty completing passes in the Silverbacks' defensive half, giving the home side plenty of counter-attacking opportunities. One of those opportunities nearly lead to a third goal in the 86th minute, as substitute midfielder Kwadwo Poku set up McCaulay, whose shot was deflected inches wide of the post. The Fury still had a goal in them, though, and it led to a nervy finish for the home fans. Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic found the head of defender Omar Jarun, an Atlanta native and former Silverbacks player. Jarun's header beat Ati and gave the visitors hope. It wasn't to be for the Fury, however. McCaulay again came inches close to his second goal of the game just before the final whistle, and that killed off any hope of a comeback for the visitors. The Silverbacks will now take to the road for three straight away games, making Saturday night's home win even more key. The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are up next, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. at Lockhart Stadium. The game can be seen live online at NASLLive.com. Press release from the Atlanta Silverbacks
San Antonio Scorpions Beaten 1-0 by Tampa Bay The San Antonio Scorpions' two-game winning streak came to an end as the Tampa Bay Rowdies won 1-0 in front of 5,595 fans at Toyota Field. San Antonio controlled the action for much of the night and repeatedly put Rowdies goalie Matt Pickens to work. But in a complete role reversal from last week's Scorpions' victory in New York, the home team was never able to find the back of the net while the Rowdies cashed in on their one true chance of the evening. Rowdies' forward Evans Frimpong crossed in a ball from the right wing to midfielder Keith Savage, who was waiting on the left edge of the box. Savage calmly collected the ball and then located midfielder Shane Hill near the edge of the arc on San Antonio's 18-yard box.. Hill one-timed the pass low and to the right of Scorpions 'keeper David Bingham for his first goal of the season. The goal came against the overall run of play and after the score, the Scorpions continued to mount pressure on the Tampa Bay defense. In the 57' minute, forward Sainey touray came on for Shaun Saiko and immediately put his imprint on the game. First, in the 67' minute he was in alone on Pickens on a breakaway on the left side of the area, but his attempted chip was slightly deflected by the former MLS standout and then cleared of the line by the Tampa defense. Then just six minutes later, a pass from striker Eric Hassli again sent Touray in on goal alone, but again Pickens was up to the task and made the save on Touray's low right attempt. San Antonio gained a man advantage in the 78' when former Scorpion Blake Wagner received his second yellow of the match and was sent to the showers by the referee. The Scorpions continued to apply pressure, but were never able to find the finishing touch in the final third. Next week San Antonio plays the second game of this three-game homestand against the Carolina RailHawks while the Rowdies stay on the road, this time heading north of the border to face expansion Ottawa Fury for the first time. The Scorpions' next home match at Toyota Field is May 10 against the Carolina RailHawks at 7:30pm. Season tickets start at only $10 per game and can be purchased at Toyota Field Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Call 210.495.8686 for more information on season tickets or log onto SAScorpions.com. Press release from the San Antonio Scorpions
Eddies Lose to Strikers 3-1 FC Edmonton returned to regular North American Soccer League (NASL) action on Saturday against a visiting Fort Lauderdale Strikers team in front of a chilly crowd of FCE faithful at Clarke Stadium. The Eddies were looking to get into the win column for the first time in their NASL spring campaign, having lost twice and drawn once in their first three matches. But it was the Fort Lauderdale Strikers that found the majority of the offence in the match as they went on to earn the 3-1 victory over the home team. The first half was very much a defensive battle as neither team had many chances in the early going. It was the visiting side that was first on the board in the 39th minute. Martin Nunez capitalized on a second effort when a through ball found him right in front of goal after Eddies' goalkeeper John Smits made the initial save. Nunez made no mistake and chipped it over the head of Smits to put the Strikers up 1-0 heading into the half. Fort Lauderdale got on the board again in the 64th minute when a rush up the middle saw a pass from Darnell King meet a streaking Fafa Picault, who put it off the right post and in to double their lead. But the Eddies were quick to respond when a pass off the head of Tomi Ameobi deep in Striker territory found the boot of Daryl Fordyce, who used a cheeky back-heel kick to put it past Striker 'keeper Lionel Brown to narrow the Strikers' lead to 2-1. But the Strikers capitalized once again on an opportunity in the 79th minute. Edmonton defender Albert Watson received a red card for handling the ball inside the Eddies' penalty area. Mark Anderson made no mistake to convert on the penalty kick and gave the Strikers the 3-1 lead, which they would keep until the final whistle. Extra minutes in the match resulted in a scare for the Eddies when forward Sadi Jalali went down during a challenge with two Fort Lauderdale players. Jalali stayed down for several minutes before being stretchered off the pitch. "There was some good football and some not so good football," said FCE head coach Colin Miller. "Young Hanson did well once again to kick-start our offence, but it was not enough to bring us back in the game. Credit to Fort Lauderdale, they came with a very strong team, but we have to do better." FC Edmonton will take another break from regular NASL season action when they play host to the Montreal Impact in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship semi-final round on Wednesday, May 7. Game time is 7:30 p.m. MT KO. FC Edmonton season ticket holders already have their ticket for Wednesday's Amway match by using Bonus Ticket #1 in their season ticket package. The Eddies will look to reverse their NASL fortunes when they head on the road to take on the Indy Eleven in their next regular season match on Saturday, May 10. Press release from FC Edmonton
Eight League Clubs Begin Their Quest For The Cup Tonight NASL @ 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Third Round Indy Eleven vs. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, Ind. 7:30 pm ET New York Cosmos vs. Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) St. John's University's Belson Stadium; Queens, N.Y. 7:30 pm ET Carolina RailHawks vs. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. 7:30 pm ET Chattanooga FC (NPSL) vs. Atlanta Silverbacks Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn. 7:30 pm ET Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Laredo Heat (PDL) Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 7:45 pm ET Orlando City (USL PRO) vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla. 8 pm ET San Antonio Scorpions vs. NTX Rayados (USASA) Toyota Field; San Antonio, Tex. 7:30 pm CT/8:30 pm ET Des Moines Menace (USASA) vs. Minnesota United FC Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa 7:30 pm CT/8:30 pm ET http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/n6...eir-quest-for-naslthecup-tonight#.U4ZAvWco-po
NASL Spring Season Comes To A Close On Saturday evening, Minnesota United FC secured the critical point in a 3-3 tie with Tampa Bay Rowdies and were crowned 2014 NASL Spring Champion. The tie put Minnesota at 20 points and clear of New York Cosmos (19 pts) and San Antonio Scorpions (17 pts) who kept the #FightForFirst alive until the last week of the Spring Season. New York Cosmos, by virtue of their 1-0 win over expansion Ottawa Fury FC, finished the Spring in 2nd place with 19 points. As a reminder, The Championship will feature Minnesota United FC, the Fall Champion and the two teams with the most combined points over both seasons so each point is critical. http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/7e...l-spring-season-comes-to-a-close#.U5U26mco-po
THE FINAL SPRING SEASON STANDINGS 1 Minnesota United FC 9 20 2 New York Cosmos 9 19 3 San Antonio Scorpions 9 17 4 Carolina Rail Hawks 9 14 5 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 9 13 6 Ottawa Fury FC 9 10 7 Tampa Bay Rowdies 9 10 8 Atlanta Silverbacks 9 10 9 FC Edmonton 9 8 10 Indy Eleven 9 4
Jacksonville Armada announces Jose Luis Villarreal as its first coach Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/othe...luis-villarreal-its-first-coach#ixzz34TvKqtu3
Scorpions Lose Friendly Against Mexican Side Tigres UANL The NASL's San Antonio Scorpions played well against Mexican side Tigres UANL, but ultimately came up just short on the scoreboard as the Liga MX club notched a 2-1 win in front of 6,483 fans at Toyota Field. http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/8a...against-mexican-side-tigres-uanl#.U6ej8Gco-po
