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Miami FC Looks to Start August on Positive Note Against Crystal Palace Baltimore

August 3, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


Miami, July 30, 2010- Miami FC kicks off the month of August with a mid-week road match against a tough Crystal Palace Baltimore team on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at the Maryland Soccerplex. Game time is set for an early 2:0 p.m. start time.

It will be the second and final meeting of the year between the two clubs after the Blues made an incredible comeback at Lockhart Stadium against Baltimore on June 9, scoring two goals in the final ten minutes to fight to a 3-3 draw.

The winner of this match will also win the first season series between the two clubs, since Crystal Palace Baltimore moved up from USL-2 this year.

After one more road match against the Puerto Rico Islanders on Aug. 7, the Blues return to South Florida to take on the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies in the final game of the first Coastal Cup derby on Aug. 14. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. at Lockhart Stadium.

SCOUTING BALTIMORE

Crystal Palace Baltimore was unable to capitalize at home against a short-handed Montreal Impact squad on July 31 as they fought to a 1-1 draw in the middle game of a three-game home stand.

Montreal went a man down in the 56th minute with the game still scoreless when Simon Gatti received his second yellow card of the match, but the Impact still managed to score first just minutes later when Tony Donatelli received a PK opportunity and converted to give Montreal a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute.

Gary Brooks provided the equalizer for Baltimore when Takumo Nishimura delivered a cross into the box that Brooks headed into the goal in the 77th minute to make it a 1-1 game.

Baltimore has struggled offensively this season having scored the fewest goals in the league with 16 on the year while allowing 24 goals, the fourth highest total in league play.

With Randi Patterson, Baltimore's leading scoring, no longer with the team, the club will be depending on a more balanced attack, with four players on the roster having two goals each.

In the month of July, Crystal Palace Baltimore won two out of six games with victories against Montreal and NSC Minnesota, both on the road.

LAST TIME OUT

The Blues are putting the month of July behind them after a 3-1 road loss to the Austin Aztex on July 31 despite a valiant comeback effort.

Near the end of the half, Austin took the lead after Leonard Griffin crossed the ball from the left side towards Eddie Johnson, who headed the ball into the back of the net in the 44th minute.

The Aztex wasted little time getting started in the second half as Jamie Watson beat a defender on the right flank and crossed a ball inside the box to Lawrence Olum, who put a shot past Caleb Patterson to give Austin an insurance goal in the 47th minute.

The Aztex continued to apply pressure on the Blues, but Miami FC stood its ground and Austin began to show signs of fatigue, opening the door for the resilient Blues.

The Blues struck in the 67th minute when Paulo Jr. took a shot on goal that was turned away, but Abe Thompson corralled the rebound and fired a shot from just outside the right corner of the box that made its way past Austin goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo to make it a one-goal lead.

With a renewed vigor, the Blues tried valiantly to pick up the equalizer, but Kendell McFayden scored the third goal of the match for the Aztex after receiving a through ball from Yordany Alvarez in stoppage time to effectively seal the loss for Miami FC.

PROVIDING A SPARK

Midfielder Christian Gomez and forward Paulo Jr. are looking to cause some damage on offense against Baltimore and get the Blues back on track along with Brian Shriver who has emerged as a playmaker for the Blues on the road this season.

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

Gomez is tied for eighth in the league in points with 11 while placing fourth in assists with three.

Paulo Jr. has 16 points and is in sole possession of third place in that category.

Shriver, meanwhile, is right behind the duo with three goals on the season. Two of those goals have been on the road.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 3, 2010


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