Miami FC Begins Final Home Stretch with Match Against Montreal Impact
Published on September 10, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami, Sept 10, 2010- Miami FC returns home to take on the Montreal Impact at Lockhart Stadium on Sept. 11 after a three-game road trip. Game time is set for a 7:30 p.m. start time. The Blues will be looking for a playoff berth as they look to close out the season with four of the last five games being played in South Florida.
"We feel pretty confident, we are excited to be home. We are still in the play-off picture and we arere going go after the 3 points tomorrow and put our best foot forward, and do the right things," said Head Coach Daryl Shore
This match will be the second and final meeting of the season. The two teams fought to a 1-1 draw earlier this season in Montreal on June 6.
The team will go on the road for the final time this season next week for a match against the Rochester Rhinos before returning home for the final three games of the regular season.
SCOUTING MONTREAL
Montreal is coming off a 2-1 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders on the road on Sept. 8, propelled by two goals by Ali Gerba.
The Impact fell behind 1-0 before Gerba scored the equalizer in the 60th minute after receiving a pass through the defense by David Testo and beating the goalkeeper with a low shot from inside the box.
Just 15 minutes later, Gerba struck again to give the Impact the game-winning goal after a rifling a shot from 30 yards out.
Montreal is currently riding a wave of momentum with a three game winning streak, outscoring opponents 9-1 during that span. In the standings, the Impact are looking to secure a playoff berth and currently sit in third place in the NASL Conference, three points behind second-place Carolina.
Gerba leads the team with seven goals this season, currently tied for seventh in the league in that category. As a team, Montreal is middle of the pack in both offense and defense. They rank sixth in both goals scored (29) and goals allowed (28).
LAST TIME OUT
The Blues are coming off of a 3-1 loss to conclude a three-game road stretch against AC St. Louis on Sept. 5.
St. Louis opened the scoring with a goal after Luke Krealmayer delivered a free kick inside the box to Brad Stisser, who headed the ball past Patterson to put the Blues down 1-0.
After going into the second half trailing by a goal, the Blues tied the game in the 63rd minute when Paulinho Le Petit fired a shot on goal that was stopped by St. Louis goalkeeper Alec Dufty again, but Abe Thompson was there to pick up the rebound and chipped the ball over the keeper to tie the game.
Despite continuing to add pressure in the moments following the goal looking to take the lead, AC St. Louis regained the lead in the 71st minute when Mike Ambersley buried a shot from the top of the box into the back of the net on the counter attack.
AC St. Louis put the game out of reach for the Blues in the 75th minute, when an attempted cross inside the box ended up as an own goal when a miami FC defender accidentally knocked the ball into the net to put St. Louis ahead 3-1.
QUICKLY CONTRIBUTING
It didn't take long for Miami FC's newest roster additions to make an immediate impact for the Blues.
In their home debuts, Danilo Martins and Chuckwudi "Chucky" Chijindu each scored goals to help the Blues earn an important draw against the Rowdies on Aug. 14. Hohlbein has also been a rock in the backfield for Miami FC, earning considerable playing time with the team.
Danilo now has two goals for Miami FC after scoring in the Blues' road match against Rochester.
PAULO JR. SENT ON LOAN
Miami FC striker Paulo Jr. has been sent on loan to Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer this week after nearly two seasons with the Blues. Terms of the deal were not disclosed due to team policy.
Paulo Jr. joined Miami FC in 2009 and immediately provided a spark to the Miami FC offense and this season emerged as one of the top players in the league, scoring eight goals and compiling 20 points, which was third overall in the league.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from September 10, 2010
- Impact Faces Miami FC Saturday - Montreal Impact
- Miami FC Begins Final Home Stretch with Match Against Montreal Impact - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- The Montreal Impact To Visit Chicoutimi - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks Host MLS Bound Portland Timbers Saturday Night - North Carolina FC
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