Miami FC Travels to the West Coast
August 21, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami FL- Miami FC will embark on its toughest and most decisive road trip of the season this weekend. The Blues will travel to Portland to face the hottest team in the USL on Saturday, August 22nd. Miami will then travel to Vancouver on the 23rd to play the Whitecaps, who currently hold the last play-off spot. Miami, with two games in hand, is three points behind Vancouver and four points behind Montreal for the last playoff spot. The Blues will then travel to WakeMed Stadium to take on the Carolina Railhawks on August 26th. Miami will return home to play the Austin Aztex on September 5th at FIU Stadium.
The Blues beat the Whitecaps at FIU Stadium on July 12 with an excellent performance from Brazilian midfielder Leo Inacio Nunes. Not to mention Miami came close to snaping the Timbers winning streak at FIU Stadium before surrendering a second half goal that would ultimately leave both teams with a draw. Miami seems confident it will earn positive points in its most important road trip of the season.
"It's probably our most important road trip of the season. We play the first-place Portland team at home, and the Whitecaps, who are directly in front of us in the standings. The team worked hard this week and I think we can come back with some positive results," stated team captain John Pulido
About Portland Portland has not lost a game since falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps the first game of the season. Currently, they own the USL-1 record of undefeated home record and a 22 game overall undefeated streak, giving them the first place with 48 points. During the streak, the Timbers have 10 shut-outs, have not allowed more than one goal per game and have out scored their opponents 37-12. Miami pushed the Timbers to the limit on July 17th when they had the Timbers down 1-0 in the first half, but after a goal on a routine free kick, both teams walked away with a draw.
About Vancouver Vancouver currently sits in the last playoff spot now with a three-point advantage over Miami FC (Miami has 2 games in hand). The last time these two teams met in Vancouver, a controversial call denied a chance at drawing with the Whitecaps on June 12th . The Whitecaps have a 5-3-2 record at home and allow an average of 2 goals per game.
Miami will return to FIU Stadium on September 5th to face the Austin Aztex. This will be the last game of the season at the cage.
Notes...
Local product and ex-Kansas City Wizard midfielder Nelson Pizarro has traveled with the team. Pizarro grew up in Pembroke Pines and played for the Miami Lakes Soccer Club while growing up in the South Florida region... Tristan Bowen also traveled with the team. He was a product of the LA Galaxy youth divisions, and has started numerous times for the United States Under 20 team... Forward Diego Serna and midfielder Connally Edozien were released and will not be with the team for the remainder of the 2009 USL season. Serna scored 3 goals and had 2 assists in 17 matches with the Blues; while Connally has only scored 2 goals in 10 appearances.
USL First Division Stories from August 21, 2009
- Miami FC Travels to the West Coast - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps Look To Give Miami The Blues - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact Faces The Austin Aztex Sunday - Montreal Impact
- Timbers Host Miami Saturday - Portland Timbers
- RailHawks, Rhinos to rumble in Rochester - North Carolina FC
- Battery battles back to earn tie with Whitecaps - Charleston Battery
- City Stars Host Minnesota Thunder Saturday - Cleveland City Stars
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