Miami FC Returns Home for First Ever Meeting with Crystal Palace Baltimore

Published on June 8, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


Miami, June 8, 2010- Miami FC returns home to face Crystal Palace Baltimore in a mid-week matchup as the Blues look to pick up an important midseason victory on June 9 at Lockhart Stadium. The match is set for a 7:30 p.m. start time.

The Blues will return to the pitch three days later to take on the Portland Timbers at Lockhart Stadium on June 12.

SCOUTING BALTIMORE

Baltimore is coming off a 2-0 shutout loss at home to the league-leading Austin Aztex on May 29 as they hit the road for a three game road trip that kicks off in South Florida.

After a scoreless first half, the Aztex struck first in the 65th minute after Palace captain Val Teixeira drew a handball deep inside the box set up a penalty kick for Jamie Watson, who put the ball in the back of the net to give the Aztex the lead.

Austin would add an insurance goal minutes later when Maxwell Johnson executed after receiving a nice feed from teammate Eddie Johnson to help secure the victory for the Aztex.

After dropping their first three matches of the season, Baltimore has been playing well as of late. Despite the loss to the Aztex, Palace has won three of its past five matches.

Baltimore has struggled to score so far this season, having compiled six goals throughout the course of nine regular season games. They have been shutout four times this season, three of those games resulting in losses.

On the other side of the ball, Palace has had a bit more success in stopping opponents, having allowed 10 goals as a team so far this season.

Baltimore's offensive unit is led by forward Randi Patterson and midfielder Matthew Andongcho. Both have scored two goals each this season and have amounted for more than half of Palace's scoring production.

On the road, Baltimore has a record of 2-2-1 this season with victories over the Portland Timbers and Rochester Rhinos.

LAST TIME OUT

The Blues ended a two-game losing skid with a 1-1 draw on the road against the Montreal Impact on June 6.

Christian Gomez opened up the scoring for Miami FC when he found a rebound in the box after a corner kick in the 9th minute and rifled a shot that beat Montreal goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic to put the Blues ahead early in the game.

Montreal answered in the 21st minute after a questionable foul call inside the box led to a penalty kick for Tony Donatelli, who put a shot past goalkeeper Caleb Patterson for the equalizer. The goal ended up being the end of the scoring as both teams fought to an eventual draw.

GOMEZ CATCHING FIRE

Gomez has been a staple for the Blues on offense as of late and that fact has been solidified with his goal against Montreal, his third of the season. The goal puts him in a tie for the seventh most goals in the league.

The midfielder is now tied for fifth in the league in points with nine while remaining in sole possession of second place in assists with three. He trails Martin Nash of the Vancouver Whitecaps, who has four.

He is chasing a fellow teammate in the leader boards in both the scoring and points categories.

Paulo Jr. has four goals on the season and is tied for fourth in the league.

The Brazilian forward also has 10 points and remains in sole possession of fourth place in that category.

Paulo Jr. has tallied two assists each on the year and is tied for third in the league in that category, just behind Gomez.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from June 8, 2010


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