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USL-1 Semifinals open Friday

October 2, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release


TAMPA, FL - The United Soccer Leagues First Division Semifinals begin Friday night with an evenly-matched series between the Canadian sides Vancouver and Montreal, and a meeting between the regular season champion Puerto Rico against the Rochester, who was nearly swept by the Islanders on the year. The series conclude Sunday.

While the regular season may have proven the most competitive in league history, the four semifinalists boast an impressive recent resume in regards to semifinal appearances. The Islanders are in their second straight semifinal series while their opposition from Rochester is in their third in four years (2005, 2006). The 2006 champion Whitecaps are in their second in three years with the 2004 champion Impact arguably the most impressive at four over the last five campaigns (2004, 2005, 2006).

The weekend's action comes to a close Sunday with the Whitecaps hosting Montreal on Fox Soccer Channel at 6:30 pm ET. The three other semifinal matches are available on www.USLlive.com.

Puerto Rico Islanders (1) vs Rochester Rhinos (4)

Leg One: @ Rochester, 7:35 pm ET - Leg Two: @ Puerto Rico, 6:00 pm ET

The Puerto Rico Islanders used their first round bye to rest, watching the Quarterfinal results play out in favor of the three top seeds and giving them a showdown with Rochester, whom they won the season series against at 2-0-1 with an aggregate advantage of 7-1 in the scoreline.

The season series opened with the Islanders blasting Rochester 4-0 in Puerto Rico August 8 with Edwin Miranda scoring twice along with strikes from Defender of the Year finalist Cristian Arrieta and Fabrice Noel. Two nights later on their home turf, the Rhinos took the lead on a 45th minute goal from defender Alfonso Loera, but only came away with a 1-1 draw following Taiwo Atieno's equalizer in the 68th. The series concluded September 12 in Rochester with Kendall Jagdeosingh and Arrieta tallying in each half for a 2-0 road win.

In the five seasons in which the Islanders have been in the league, the series is even at 5-5-3 with Puerto Rico having won the 2008 and 2005 season series and Rochester the 2003 and 2006 season series. They finished even at 1-1-1 in 2007. The Rhinos hold a 2-1-2 advantage at home against Puerto Rico, who are one up on Rochester 4-3-1 in Bayamon.

Rochester is coming off a tight 2-1 series victory over the Charleston Battery where the Rhinos opened with a 2-0 victory at home and held on despite falling 1-0 in Charleston. Englishmen Steve Guppy and Matthew Delicate provided the two strikes.

Puerto Rico, meanwhile, is coming off a Wednesday night showdown with Guatemalan power Municipal on the road. With a lead in their CONCACAF Champions League group, the Islanders rested many of their starters and still came away with a stunning 2-2 draw on goals from Noel and Sandy Gbandi.

Vancouver Whitecaps (2) vs Montreal Impact (3)

Leg One: @ Montreal, 8:00 pm ET - Leg Two: @ Vancouver, 6:30 pm ET (FSC)

The Canadian rivals played, essentially, two season series this year with the Whitecaps coming out on top in the USL-1 league series 2-0-1 while Montreal took the series in the Canadian Championship tournament with two victories that helped them advance to the CONCACAF Champions League, where they continued their phenomenal run Wednesday in Honduras against powerhouse CD Olimpia by posting a 2-1 victory on a pair of goals from Robert Brown to remain unbeaten and in first place in their group.

Both clubs opened their season April 12 in Vancouver, where former Impact player Eduardo Sebrango struck in the 33rd minute for the deciding tally. On May 19 in Montreal, the two played to a scoreless draw with Matt Jordan in goal for the Impact while Serge Djekanovic posted his second shutout in the two games.

The action turned to the Canadian Championship for the next two meetings with Montreal posting a 2-0 win at home June 17 on goals from Severino Jefferson and former Whitecaps star Joey Gjertsen in the first half. A week later in Vancouver, the Impact repeated the result with goals from Brown and another former Whitecap David Testo in each half. Matt Jordan recorded both shutouts.

The five meetings on the year wrapped up September 13 in Vancouver with the Whitecaps claiming another 1-0 victory, this time on the foot of another former Impact star Charles Gbeke in the 45th minute. Jay Nolly was in net for the clean sheet.

While their league history is quite lengthy, the two have only met once previously in the postseason despite consistent regular season success and playoff qualification, mostly due to the previous conference playoff format. They met two years ago, also in the semifinals, and needed series overtime to find a decision after two scoreless draws. The series began in Vancouver, where the Impact held on for the draw despite a Nevio Pizzolitto red card, and wrapped up in Montreal, where the Whitecaps were able to surprise the home faithful in extra time. Sebrango struck for the initial goal in the 115th minute and Tony Donatelli, now with the Impact, secured the victory in the 120th. David Testo, also now with Montreal, set up both strikes as Vancouver went on to claim the title at Rochester.

EXTRA TIME: Travel Crunch

Puerto Rico and Montreal will be seriously tested this week coming off their first CONCACAF Champions League group stage road games. The Impact traveled to Honduras for their game Wednesday, return home to play the Whitecaps Friday, and then travel to Vancouver to finish the series Sunday. While Puerto Rico regularly faces long road trips due to their geographic location in the league, they rarely travel such distances in the short time span. They visited Guatemala City for their game Wednesday, and then headed to Rochester for Friday's semifinal leg before being able to return to Puerto Rico Sunday to conclude the series.

EXTRA TIME: Championship Scenarios

Montreal vs Rochester: The two long-time regional combatants have perhaps the most heated rivalry in the USL First Division. In 2004, Montreal advanced past Rochester for the first time in five attempts in postseason confrontations dating back to the Rhinos first season in 1996.

Montreal vs Puerto Rico: It would perhaps be fitting if the two CONCACAF Champions League participants, who have weathered both league and confederation play, squared off for the league title. Of course there also is that little matter of the Islanders eliminating the Impact in the Quarterfinals last year 5-3 on aggregate by posting a 3-0 win at home in the second leg.

Vancouver vs Rochester: The Rhinos would perhaps like a second chance at Vancouver after suffering the 3-0 loss at home in the 2006 USL-1 Championship match. It was the first win by the visiting team in league history in a single game final in 16 occasions.

Vancouver vs Puerto Rico: Perhaps not the most sensational of storylines given the previous three, but it could possibly be the final with the most distant participants in any league championship in the world.

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USL First Division Stories from October 2, 2008


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