Four teams advance to USL semi's
Published on September 21, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
After a weekend of thrilling soccer, four teams have secured their spots for the semi-finals of the 2005 United Soccer Leagues First Division Playoffs. The Montreal Impact and the Rochester Raging Rhinos automatically qualified for the semi-finals by finishing first and second in regular season play. The other four teams in the playoffs had to battle it out on the field. The first round of the playoffs consisted of a two-game aggregate goal series: the teams play each other twice (home and away) and the team with the most goals from both games wins.
The Seattle Sounders beat the Portland Timbers at home and away, for a combined score of 3-0. Seattle's Roger Levesque scored all three goals for the Sounders. The Sounders will advance to play the Montreal Impact in the semi-final round next weekend.
The Richmond Kickers and the Vancouver Whitecaps gave fans a real match for their money. The Kickers and the Whitecaps tied both games 0-0. The series then went to an overtime period...still, no goals. A set of five penalty kicks decided the fate of the Vancouver Whitecaps and sent them out of the playoff race. Vancouver's second shooter, Chris Franks, shot too wide and missed his PK. All five Kickers scored their penalty kicks and sealed the deal. The Richmond Kickers will advance to play the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the semi-final round next weekend.
The semi-finals will be a two-game aggregate goal series just like the first round. The games will be played next weekend, September 23 and 25. The USL First Division Championship will be on Saturday, October 1. The Fox Soccer Channel will air the game in the United States. For more information on the USL playoffs visit www.uslsoccer.com or www.uslfans.com.
USL First Division Stories from September 21, 2005
- Four teams advance to USL semi's - USL-1
- Thunder announces post-season honors - Minnesota Thunder
- Lynx to host free clinic for coaches - Toronto Lynx
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