Miami FC earns 3-1 Victory
July 5, 2007 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami, July 4, 2007 - Miami FC traveled to California to play its 17th game of the season on this 4th of July and had a lot to celebrate. This was the third game of a month long, four game road trip for the Blues and Miami FC edge the California Victory 3-1.
The Independence Day fixture kicked off at 6 p.m., at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco (9 pm ET). The Montreal Impact was shut out 2-0 by the California Victory, Sunday, in front of more than 12,000 spectators at Laval University PEPS Stadium and the team came of strong against Miami FC who decided to play on the attack from the get-go.
Miami had not won since beating Atlanta on June 2, most recently falling to the Timbers 1-0 in Portland last week, but this time the situation was completely different. The duo Zinho-Fraser was almost unstoppable on the first half and the Jamaican had at least three clear opportunities to score before the opening goal at the 35th minute. Zinho, in a beautiful play and pass, left Sean Fraser alone to score.
Goalkeeper Gabard Fenelon, who was stellar during the entire game, saved Miami on the last minute of the first half when Sanchez kicked the ball strongly and the Haitian denied the goal.
Miami went to the locker room with a partial victory of 1-0.
On the second half, Gabard Fenelon, who had 6 saves in the game, continued to play a great game. On the 60th minute, after a corner kick, Josh Hansen heads the ball and Fenelon shuttled to his right to make a stunning one-handed block at full stretch.
Five minutes later, on yet another great opportunity to score for Miami, Sean Fraser dispossessed the Victory attacker at Miami FC's own field and advanced to be face to face with goalkeeper Eric Reed, who made a great safe.
Miami FC saw the California Victory go a man down on the 79th minute of the game; the California midfielder Ricardo Sanchez was sent off after a tough fault on Zinho.
Miami then took advantage of having one more player on the field and on the 82nd minute scores its second goal. Actually, it was an own goal. Chris Schwarze headed the ball after a corner kick taken by Luchi Gonzalez. The ball strangely found its way to California's top right angle corner.
Miami kept on attacking and on the 86th minute, team captain John Pulido, in a free kick, curved the ball around the wall, depositing the ball into the upper right corner.
With one minute to go, Chuck Kim slotted a simple finish into an empty net after receiving a pass inside Miami's own box.
With the win, the FC ended a three-game winless streak and now returns home to practice at the Tropical Park and will travel to Canada to play the Vancouver Whitecaps again on Saturday, July 14, at 10 pm (ET). The first match between the two teams was on June 22nd and the Canadians won 1-0. Miami FC will play home again July 20th to take on the Carolina RailHawks.
MIAMI FC NEXT GAMES
July 14, Miami FC at Vancouver Whitecaps 10 pm (away)
July 20, Miami FC vs Carolina RailHawks 8 pm, Tropical Park Stadium
July 22, Miami FC vs California Victory 6 pm, Tropical Park Stadium
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USL First Division Stories from July 5, 2007
- Silverbacks Host League Leaders On Saturday - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Timbers Hit The Road For Match Against California Saturday - Portland Timbers
- Vics Lose Independence Day Fixture To Miami, 3-1 - California Victory
- Miami FC earns 3-1 Victory - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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