A-League Playoffs Resume Saturday
September 6, 2002 - A-League (A-League) News Release
TAMPA, FL â The 2002 A-League Playoffs resume Saturday with the second-leg portion in the First Round of postseason action. When the playoffs return Saturday night at 8:00 pm ET LIVE on Fox Sports World in Blaine, Minnesota with the Minnesota Thunder playing host to the El Paso Patriots, it will mark only the second time since the introduction of the two-leg, aggregate series was introduced in 2000 that a full set of series in a round start the second leg with no teams holding a two-goal or better advantage.
Three of the four First Round series currently have a one-goal difference with the fourth level. Minnesota holds a 2-1 advantage going into the nationally televised match, the only game Saturday night. The third-seeded Thunder hold a 7-3-4 mark at home for 2002 while the Patriots, seeded sixth, are only 3-8-3 on the road, which ranks worst among playoff teams.
Sunday's action kicks off at 4:00 pm ET with the third-seeded Montreal Impact playing host to the sixth-seeded Charlotte Eagles, who grabbed a 1-0 lead at home Wednesday evening in the A-League postseason opener. Montreal was one of three teams to post 10 wins at home this season (Seattle 13, Rochester 11) with a 10-4-0 record at home. The Eagles, meanwhile, were 4-8-2 on the road this year.
Two hours later, the lone tied series will continue with the Atlanta Silverbacks playing host to the Richmond Kickers, who managed to score the equalizer of the 1-1 first leg in stoppage time on a throw-in headed by defender Peter Luzak. Atlanta also saw their goal come from a defender with James Wall scoring in a match they were outshot 25-4 in.
Then out west, the Vancouver Whitecaps will take on the Portland Timbers at Swangard Stadium at 10:00 pm ET. The Whitecaps left Portland Thursday night with a surprising 1-0 shutout victory over the red-hot Timbers on a 62nd minute goal by Paul Dailly set up by a through ball from Dave Morris.
Defense has been one of the key components through the first leg with only seven goals scored in four matches and only one team scoring twice. In addition, three of the seven strikes were tallied by defenders.
First Round, Second Leg Schedule
Away : Leg 1 Score : Home â Date, Time ET
El Paso 1 :: 2 Minnesota â Saturday, September 7, 8:00 â LIVE on Fox Sports World
Charlotte 1 :: 0 Montreal â Sunday, September 8, 4:00
Richmond 1 :: 1 Atlanta â Sunday, September 8, 6:00
Portland 0 :: 1 Vancouver â Sunday, September, 10:30
USL News Briefs
Second Round television fixture changed
United Soccer Leagues also announced today that the Second Round Fox Sports World LIVE broadcast has been changed to feature the Rochester Raging Rhinos playing host to the winner of the Montreal-Charlotte series. The match will be broadcast LIVE at 8:00 pm ET from Frontier Field. The original kickoff time was moved back to accommodate the broadcast.
USL adjusts A-League standings
Earlier today, the USL Disciplinary Committee ruled that the Cincinnati Riverhawks fielded an 'illegal player' in their home finale August 31st versus Calgary. The Riverhawks have been deducted three (3) points in the Final 2002 A-League Standings and fined an undisclosed amount for this violation of league rules.
A-League seasonal honors start Tuesday
United Soccer Leagues will announce the first set of Regular Season awards Tuesday, honoring the statistical award winners and the All-League Teams.
A-League Stories from September 6, 2002
- A-League Playoffs Resume Saturday - A-League
- Indiana Blast Launch Reading Program for Youth - Indiana Blast
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