A-League Weekly Report

by A-League Press Release
Published on June 7, 2000 under USL First Division (USL-1)

A-League Press Release

THUNDER WIN PROPELS RICHMOND INTO U.S. OPEN CUP

Milwaukee ends drought against Minnesota the following night TAMPA, Fla. (Tuesday, June 06, 2000) -- The Richmond Kickers had a big league game against Charleston Friday night, but it was another match that was on everyone's minds in Richmond, the final Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification game between Minnesota and Milwaukee Saturday night.

The Kickers went on to win 1-0 against the Battery Friday with the game-winner coming in the 36th minute on an own goal by Charleston but the more important news would reach Richmond 24 hours later. The Minnesota Thunder defeated the Milwaukee Rampage, who were the only team that could keep the Kickers out of the Open Cup, 4-1.

John Menyongar recorded a natural hat-trick to give the Thunder an insurmountable 3-0 lead over their long-time rival, en route to the victory at the National Sports Center, giving Minnesota a berth into the tournament as the Group 3 winner.

The win also pushed Minnesota's win streak over Milwaukee to 11 games, including a 1998 playoff encounter. The string dates to August 6, 1997, when Milwaukee nipped the Thunder 1-0 to win the season series two games to one.

The two teams were not finished, however, as Minnesota had to pack their bags and travel to Milwaukee's Uihlein Soccer Park for a Sunday evening rematch.

Milwaukee's Nate Houser would give the Rampage the early lead with a goal in the 11th minute on an assist from Hrvoje Galovic, but with Brian Loftin receiving a red card in the 40th minute it looked as though Minnesota would pick up their 12th straight win.

Milwaukee was determined to put an end to their nightmare, however. Houser struck again in the 57th minute on an assist from former MLS All-Star Digital Takawira to give the Rampage a 2-0 lead. Alen Soso would add a penalty kick goal in the 74th minute, followed by Minnesota's lone goal by halftime defensive substitute John Sylvester on a Stoian Mladenov assist.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee, the win was too late to claim a spot in the Open Cup. Had they defeated Minnesota the night before, they could have claimed the group winner's berth, leaving Minnesota as the wild card.

The Rampage victory also terminated Minnesota's unbeaten streak at 21 games, including playoffs, dating back to Aug. 7 of last season, a 1-0 overtime loss to the Indiana Blast.

CHARLESTON TO PLAY D.C. UNITED IN OPEN CUP REMATCH --Three A-League teams advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament last season with wins over Major League Soccer clubs in the third round, including the Charleston Battery. On Monday, the USSF's draw for the tournament produced an immediate rematch between two of the clubs -- Charleston and D.C. United.

In the 1999 tournament, the Battery got things going early with goals from Mike Burke and Dean Sewell for a 2-0 lead 24 minutes in. United, however, made a charge, scoring the next three with a goal and two assists by Jaime Moreno to take the lead for themselves with six minutes remaining in regulation. That's when Charleston's Ivailo Ilarionov stepped up as the giant killer. Ilarionov, who got the assist on Burke's goal, struck in the 87th minute on an assist from Rashad Miller to level the score and send it to overtime, where he would knock the game-winner past D.C. goalkeeper Tom Presthus in the 100th minute.

The defending tournament champion Rochester Raging Rhinos will start off with A-League Atlantic Division rival Pittsburgh, which was one of the four seeded A-League clubs. The winner will advance to play the winner of the Charleston-D.C. match.

In the West, the San Diego Flash could see a rematch with the Los Angeles Galaxy, who knocked San Diego out in the third round last year, 3-2. But first they will have to get past their D3 Pro League affiliate Riverside County Elite and the Galaxy will have to knock off the always tough Seattle Sounders, who were nipped, 1-0, by the runner-up Colorado Rapids in the third round last year.

In all six A-League teams will play host to second round matches, two of them against MLS clubs. In addition to Charleston taking on D.C. at Blackbaud Stadium, the Richmond Kickers, who won the tournament as a Premier Development League team in 1995, will take on the Rapids at the University of Richmond City Stadium. The second round matches will be held June 14th with the venues and times still to be determined.

2000 LAMAR HUNT ROUND TWO PAIRINGS

All matches to be played June 14

WEST

Seattle Sounders (A-League) @ 1-L.A. Galaxy (MLS)
Riverside County Elite (D3) @ 8-San Diego Flash (A-League)
4-Colorado Rapids (MLS) @ Richmond Kickers (A-League)
5-San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) @ Stanislaus United Cruisers (D3 Pro League)
Texas Rattlers (D3 Pro League) @ 3-Chicago Fire (MLS)
6-Kansas City Wizards (MLS) @ Chicago Sockers (PDL)/Bavarians Leinenkugel (USASA)
Tennessee Rhythm (A-League) @ 2-Dallas Burn (MLS)
Mexico SC (USASA) @ 7-Minnesota Thunder (A-League)

EAST

1-D.C. United (MLS) @ Charleston Battery (A-League)
Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) @ 8-Pittsburgh Riverhounds (A-League)
New Jersey Stallions (D3 Pro League) @ 4-Miami Fusion (MLS)
Mid Michigan Bucks (PDL)/Jerry D's (USASA) @ 5-New England Revolution (MLS)
Uruguay SC (USASA) @ 3-Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS)
6-NY/NJ MetroStars (MLS) @ Wilmington Hammerheads (D3 Pro League)
2-Columbus Crew (MLS) @ Cape Cod Crusaders (D3 Pro League)
Northern Virginia Royals (D3 Pro League) @ 7-Hampton Roads Mariners (A-League)

All games subject to change

BAY AREA SEALS CLAIM FIRST WIN OVER SEATTLE -- Since joining the A-League in 1998 after a successful Open Cup run from the D3 Pro League ranks, the San Francisco Bay Seals were unable to defeat their west coast rival Seattle Sounders. The new Bay Area Seals changed that trend Friday with a 2-0 win over the Sounders at Pioneer Stadium, their first victory in nine attempts.

The game was scoreless until Sounders defender Kieran Barton was given a red card in the 63rd minute. Former Sounder Ryan Edwards used the man advantage to the Seals favor, scoring in the 69th minute on a header off a Jeff Baicher cross. As time ran down, Aman Kebreab sealed the game with an insurance goal on an assist by Tim Weaver.

ROCHESTER WINS 100TH IN FRANCHISE HISTORY -- Rochester head coach Pat Ercoli led the Raging Rhinos to his and the franchise's 100th victory Saturday in a 2-0 decision over the Connecticut Wolves at Frontier Field before 9,561 fans. Eddie Sebrango scored both goals for Rochester.

USL TEAMS PLAY HOST TO REGGINA OF SERIE "A" -- Italian Serie "A" club Reggina is currently in the midst of a three-game tour of North America, playing the Montreal Impact, Rochester Raging Rhinos and Toronto Lynx. On Wednesday, the Impact held off Reggina, who dominated the first half with seven shots to Montreal's two, for a 0-0 draw in front of 4,835 fans at the Claude Robillard Sports Complex after turning things around in the second half, outshooting the Italian club four to two. Rochester was not as fortunate Sunday, as Reggina's Gustavo Reggi scored the game-winner on a header at the near post in the 43rd minute of a 1-0 victory over the defending U.S. Open Cup champions before a crowd of 8,886 fans. Reggina's final game will be against the Toronto Lynx at Varsity Stadium Tuesday. The Lynx are expecting to sellout their 9,000-seat stadium.

HOUSER DROUGHT-ENDING GOALS NET PLAYER OF THE WEEK -- After losing 11 straight games against the Minnesota Thunder, first-year Rampage midfielder Nate Houser finally said enough was enough. In his third game against the Thunder for Milwaukee, Houser stepped up to the plate Sunday and scored the first two goals for the Rampage en route to the team's first victory over the Thunder since 1997. The win also halted the Thunder's 21-game winning-streak, including.

A-LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

Pos. Player Team Highlights
G Mike McGinty Richmond Kickers His 1-0 win over Charleston was his fifth straight shutout
D Chris Duff Indiana Blast Defense allowed one goal in two wins; played every minute
D Tim Weaver Bay Area Seals Led defense in team's first win over Seattle with an assist
D David Wright Pittsburgh Riverhounds Scored lone goal in Pittsburgh's 1-0 win over Rochester
M Nate Houser Milwaukee Rampage Two goals snapped 11-game losing streak against Minnesota
M Carson White Raleigh Capital Express Early goal led Raleigh to a 2-1 win over Montreal
M Nikola Vignjevic Toronto Lynx Game-winner in 4-1 win over Connecticut, assist in 2-1 win
M Jair Ribeiro Hampton Roads Mariners Scored equalizer in 2-1 win over Charleston
F John Sulentic Vancouver 86ers Two goals in 3-1 win, assist in 3-3 draw
F Edson Buddle Long Island Rough Riders Eighteen-year-old scored a goal and two assists in 5-2 win
F John Menyongar Minnesota Thunder Hat-trick led Minnesota to 4-1 victory to win Open Cup group

THE WEEK AHEAD -- The undefeated Toronto Lynx will play host to the Montreal Impact in the second televised A-League game of the season Sunday at Varsity Stadium. The game will be broadcast on CTV and the New England Sports Network. The Long Island Rough Riders and El Paso Patriots face tough tests with three games in five and six days, respectively. The Rough Riders kick it off with a match Wednesday at the Mitchell Athletic Complex and then hit the road for games against the Bulldogs and Wolves Friday and Sunday, respectively. The Patriots face the Seattle Sounders tonight at Socorro Stadium and then head to Cincinnati and Indianapolis for games against the Riverhawks and Indiana Blast Friday and Sunday, respectively. Milwaukee and Minnesota will play one another yet again, it will be the third straight time against the Rampage for the Thunder Sunday. Milwaukee, however, will face U.S. Pro 40 on Saturday.

Tuesday, June 6, 2000

110 -- Seattle @ El Paso 9:35

Wednesday, June 7, 2000

111 -- Connecticut @ Long Island 10:30 am

Thursday, June 8, 2000

112 -- Hampton Roads @ Raleigh 7:00

Friday, June 9, 2000

113 -- El Paso @ Cincinnati 7:30

114 -- Pittsburgh @ Charleston 7:30

115 -- Long Island @ Boston 7:30

116 -- Bay Area @ Tennessee 8:30

117 -- San Diego @ Vancouver 10:30

Saturday, June 10, 2000

118 -- Raleigh @ Hampton Roads 7:30

119 -- Pittsburgh @ Atlanta 7:30

120 -- Montreal @ Rochester 7:35

121 -- Richmond @ Hershey 7:35

123 -- US Pro 40 @ Milwaukee 8:30

Sunday, June 11, 2000

128 -- Milwaukee @ Minnesota 6:05

124 -- El Paso @ Indiana 6:35

125 -- Hershey @ Richmond 7:00

126 -- Long Island @ Connecticut 7:30

127 -- Montreal Impact @ Toronto 8:05

129 -- Orange County @ Vancouver 10:00

All times listed are Eastern

BEYOND USL -- On Saturday, former Atlanta Ruckus player John Doyle recorded a goal and two assists to give San Jose a 4-2 win over Colorado. Former Hampton Roads Mariner David Vaudreuil picked up an assist for Colorado... Former Vancouver 86er and Seattle Sounder Geoff Aunger picked up an assist on the equalizer for D.C. in 1-1 tie against Columbus... And former Minnesota Thunder midfielder Manny Lagos picked up two assists in Tampa Bay's first road win of 2000, a 3-2 victory over Dallas.

TRANSACTIONS -- The Charleston Battery have signed former MLS midfielder Braedon Cloutier, who played for the San Jose Earthquakes (nee Clash) the past two seasons and the NY/NJ MetroStars in 1997.

TOURS OF DUTY -- Six former USL players helped lead the U.S. Men's National Team to a convincing 4-0 win over South Africa in the U.S. Cup at RFK Stadium Saturday. Former Long Island Rough Rider Chris Armas tallied an assist on the first goal in the 36th minute. Also seeing action were Tony Sanneh (Milwaukee Rampage & Minnesota Thunder), Carlos Llamosa (New York Fever & Centaurs), Jeff Agoos (Maryland Bays), Brian McBride (Milwaukee Rampage) and Jason Kreis (Raleigh Flyers & New Orleans Gamblers)... Rochester Raging Rhino midfielder Martin Nash played for the Canadian National Team in a pair of friendlies. He picked up an assist in both games, a 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago and a 2-1 victory against Honduras. Playing in goal for Canada was former Raging Rhino Pat Onstad.

SIDE VOLLEYS -- The Connecticut Wolves will open the season with their 10th road game out of 12 games Wednesday... Indiana Blast defender Chris Duff has played every minute so far this season... Former Cincinnati Riverhawks Matt Caution and Gino DiGuardi had a goal and game-winning assist, respectively, in Indiana's 2-1 win. The win halted DiGuardi's personal losing streak at 16, including the final nine Riverhawks games last season... The El Paso Patriots ended their three-game home losing streak, defeating the Vancouver 86ers, 2-0, at the Socorro Student Activities Complex... The Hershey Wildcats' Jamel Mitchell is the nephew of NBA forward Otis Thorpe of the Miami Heat... Richmond Kickers goalkeeper Mike McGinty recorded his fifth straight shutout in a 1-0 win against the Charleston Battery Friday.

AT THE GATE -- The Toronto Lynx played host to a Millenium School Day game Thursday afternoon to conclude a nine-month educational program the Toronto club initiated in 1998 and began again last summer. The game drew a franchise-record crowd of 6,012 fans. Sunday's game was Family Night with local television personality Gisele from TVO-TV performing the ceremonial kickoff and a pre-game Super Y-League match featuring the Toronto Lynx Juniors playing host to the Cleveland Eclipse. The Lynx have designated Sunday's game as Emergency Services Night... The Richmond Kickers held Modern Woodmen of American Youth Soccer and Wilkinson Printing Night Friday. Richmond's youth soccer teams were given free tickets courtesy of Modern Woodmen of America and the first 1,000 fans received a free team poster courtesy of Wilkinson Printing. In addition, they unveiled their new inflatable soccer field as part of the Target Fun Zone. The Kickers also took part in the Salvation Army River Run and Target/Ukrop's Family Jubilee Saturday... The Bay Area Seals held a pre-game soccer skills clinic Friday. They also participated in the South Hayward Rotary Club-Glassbrook Elementary School Clean Up Program Saturday in addition to donating 100 balls to the Hayward Unified School District's "After School Program."... The Connecticut Wolves will be holding a Kick for a Car contest and a Kick for $10,000 Cash at halftime Sunday courtesy of Saturn of Berlin and Terrific Toys, respectively... The Indiana Blast are holding "Red Sunday," encouraging their fans to wear red to match their new red Manchester United uniforms. They will also be holding another installment of the MLS Dribble, Pass & Shoot contest prior to the game... The Atlanta Silverbacks are working with the Copa Brito Hispanic soccer tournament... The Montreal Impact are offering two dollar tickets to youths 12 and under wearing a soccer jersey as a part of Soccer Week, which is being celebrated throughout Quebec... The Charleston Battery will be giving away a pool table Friday compliments of Player's Place.

USL First Division Stories from June 7, 2000

• A-League Weekly Report - OSC Original by A-League Press Release

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