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MLS-Bound Portland Comes to Baltimore

May 20, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


After upsetting the Timbers's unbeaten record in an action-packed encounter in Portland one week ago, Crystal Palace Baltimore welcome the same team to UMBC Stadium this Saturday at 7:00pm. The Timbers, who head to Major League Soccer next season, will no doubt be looking to avenge the loss on their turf. Portland is on a three-game winless streak dropping to third in the USL conference, while Palace have won two of three, knocking off first and second-placed teams in the process. Baltimore now sits in third spot in the NASL conference.

Palace Baltimore President Pete Medd sees Portland's visit as a test for more than just his team: "I read an article in the Baltimore Sun a couple of years ago that asked the question: 'What would happen if the Blast played DC United?' Well, Baltimore gets to see one of its teams play MLS-level completion this Saturday, in Baltimore. I saw firsthand what soccer can be in this town and in this country when we went to Portland, Oregon last week. They have a downtown stadium and we played them in front of 9,000 flag waving, chanting, great fans. Are there more soccer fans in Portland than Baltimore? I don't think so. I think we can recreate that same thing here in Baltimore. Soccer fans can come out and see some of the best players in this country right here in their backyard this Saturday."

Crystal Palace Baltimore set the stage for competing at this level back in 2008, grabbing the American soccer headlines when they unceremoniously dumped the MLS Championship finalist New York Red Bulls out of the US Open Cup. Palace's MVP that evening was Mathew Mbuta, a young player that Medd alongside fellow head coach Jim Cherneski knew had the raw talent to make a splash. "Mathew's skills just needed to be exposed," said Medd. "And sure enough, soon after the win over the Red Bulls, their coach wanted to sign him up."

Mbuta would stay with the Red Bulls for a year and a half before a coaching change saw the young Cameroonian released before the 2010 MLS season. Medd was thrilled to have him back, stating in the announcement of Mbuta's signing in March: "He is a very special player. During the 18 months he spent in the MLS, he refined his game even further. He is a great personality to have around and the joy with which he plays the game rubs off on other players. He is extremely hungry to prove he is one of the top players in the U.S. second division." And Mbuta is well on the way to doing that. He's Baltimore's leading scorer at this stage and has been a key element in Palace's resurgence over the past four games.

Mbuta is not the only "one to watch" at Crystal Palace Baltimore. Other players with MLS experience include Randi Patterson, another former New York Red Bull; Brazilian veteran Neto spent a season with FC Dallas; goalkeeper Chase Harrison was at Real Salt Lake in 2006; youngsters Pat Healey and Jordan Seabrook were both drafted by MLS clubs but never signed, but their potential is still obvious.

Then there's rookie defender Korey Veeder. Still only 18 years old, the Clearwater, Florida native played his first full 90 minutes of professional soccer last night in Palace's shut-out win in Rochester. Veeder looked as if he'd been playing professionally for years, testament to the time he spent with the US U17 National Team residency program in Bradenton, Florida.

Medd concluded: "The sky's the limit for these players, for this team and for soccer in Baltimore." Tickets for Saturday's game are still available online for pick up at the box office will-call window. Individual tickets are $16 and children five and under are always admitted free.

For those fans who are not able to attend the match, the game will be video streamed live at live.palacebaltimore.com starting a few minutes before the 7:00pm kickoff.

About Crystal Palace Baltimore One of only 31 professional soccer clubs in the United States, Crystal Palace Baltimore was founded in 2006. The senior professional team is a member of the NASL conference in the new USSF D-2 Pro League and participates in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club also runs a Professional Development Academy for young players at age levels U10 through U18. Crystal Palace Baltimore is the sister organization of 105-year old Crystal Palace Football Club in the United Kingdom. The London-based club was a founding member of the English Premier League and currently competes in the Coca Cola Football League Championship. More information can be found at http://www.palacebaltimore.com

About the NASL The North American Soccer League (NASL) was established in November 2009, and will be submitting an application with the U.S. Soccer Federation to become a sanctioned league in 2011. The NASL's nine member teams - Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, NSC Minnesota Stars, Montreal Impact, Rochester Rhinos, AC St. Louis, FC Tampa Bay Rowdies and Vancouver Whitecaps FC - will all compete in the 2010 USSF D-2 Professional League, a second division league established and administered by the United States Soccer Federation. In 2011, the NASL will be joined by teams in Atlanta and Edmonton. The NASL and its member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing a high level of soccer to fans across the United States and Canada in 2010 and beyond.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 20, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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