Miami FC Ends Road Trip with Match Against MLS Bound Whitecaps

Published on July 13, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


Miami, July 13, 2010- -- Just three points away from the final playoff spot in the league, Miami FC concludes its west coast road stint north of the border as they take on the NASL Conference leading Vancouver Whitecaps and look to gain ground in the playoff race on Wednesday, July 14. Game time is set for 10:30 p.m. EST at Swangard Stadium.

It will be the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season after they fought to a scoreless draw at Lockhart Stadium on April 17.

After this match, the Blues return home to take on the Puerto Rico Islanders on July 17 at Lockhart Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

SCOUTING VANCOUVER

The MLS bound Whitecaps are coming off of a 1-1 draw at home against AC St. Louis as Vancouver remained undefeated at home this season.

After 72 minutes of scoreless play, AC St. Louis struck first as a corner kick landed at the feet of Mark Bloom who then settled the ball down and shot the ball into the roof of the net to give the visiting team a lead with less than 20 minutes to play.

Vancouver came back on the attack and after several close scoring opportunities the Whitecaps finally broke through in the 87th minute when Randy Edwini-Bonsu bounced a long forward ball from Blake Wagner off his chest in the box and scored after firing a shot past St. Louis goalkeeper Alec Dufty to tie the game.

Vancouver has been playing extremely well as of late, going unbeaten throughout the entire month of June. The Whitecaps have not dropped a game since losing 2-1 on the road to the Rochester Rhinos on May 29.

Despite just scoring just 15 goals as a team so far this season, good for ninth in the league, the Whitecaps have been able to shut down opposing offenses throughout the season, allowing the fewest goals in the league (9).

The Whitecaps do not have a dominant goal scorer on the squad, having three players (Luca Bellisomo, Greg Janicki and Ansu Toure) with two goals this season. Martin Nash leads the league with six assists this season.

LAST TIME OUT

The Blues suffered a 2-0 road loss to the Portland Timbers on July 10 after two second half goals sunk Miami FC.

The Timbers got on the board in the 48th minute after Ross Smith headed the ball on a free kick to give Portland the lead early in the second stanza of play.

Despite the Blues controlling the ball for the most part in the second half, they were unable to put the ball in the back of the net and Ryan Pore, the league's leading scorer, sealed the game for the Timbers with a goal in the 90th minute splitting two defenders and finishing the one-on-one with Caleb Patterson.

MIAMI TWICE

Midfielder Christian Gomez and forward Paulo Jr. are looking to take their offensive production and cause some damage during their brief stay on the west coast.

Paulo Jr. has continued to climb the league leader boards with a team-high six goals on the season and is third in the league in that category while Gomez has four goals and is tied for eighth as they continue to prove that they are one of the top dual-threats in the league.

Gomez is tied for fifth in the league in points with 11 while tied for second place in assists with three. He only trails Martin Nash of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who has five.

Paulo Jr. has 14 points and is in sole possession of third place in that category among the league leaders.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 13, 2010


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