Pre Game Report: Miami FC at Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers
Published on June 27, 2007 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami, June 27, 2007 - Miami FC (4-8-2) will play its 15th game of the season this Thursday as the team travels to Seattle's Qwest Field to take on the Sounders (5-5-4). The game will have a late 10 pm kickoff, Eastern Time. This is the first game of a month long, four game road trip for the Blues.
Miami FC will remain in the great Northwest Saturday when the Blues travels to Portland to challenge the Timbers (4-2-3). This game also has a late 10 pm start (ET). Miami FC returns home July 20th to take on the Carolina RailHawks.
INJURY REPORT
- JP Rodrigues, who injured his right knee on Friday night, visited Mercy Hospital Monday to get an MRI. According to Dr. Pieter Hommen, Miami FC's Team Physician, of Mercy Hospital's Orthopaedic Institute, the defender got a knee sprain and will probably be reevaluated next week.
- Dr. Pieter Hommen also said that midfielder Sean Cameron pulled his groin at Tuesday's practice and will also be reevaluated next week, when the team comes back from Portland.
- Goalkeeper Chris Doyle and defender Walter Ramirez are out indefinitely.
THE GAMES AT A GLANCE
- Miami FC is coming off a tough home loss to the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 Friday night. The Blues were unable to take advantage of any of their scoring opportunities giving up the go ahead goal in the 78th minute.
- Eric Vasquez took five shots in Miami FC's last home game and he leads the team with four goals on the season.
- Other notable Miami FC goal scorers: Luchi Gonzalez (3), Zinho (2), Sean Fraser (1), Sean Cameron (1) and Júlio César (1).
SEATTLE SOUNDERS - JUNE 28
- Miami FC and the Seattle Sounders met once earlier this season with Miami FC winning 3-2.
- Seattle Sounders are a three time USL-1 Champion (95', 96', 05'), and they currently sit in fourth place.
- Previous to their last loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0, the Sounders were playing extremely well winning five straight United Soccer League matches.
- Seattle's last game was Tuesday, June 26, where they played USL-1 foe Portland Timbers in the second round of the US Open Cup and won 2-1. Now, the Thunder will play an MLS team in the tournaments third round.
PORTLAND TIMBERS - JUNE 30
- This will be the first meeting between the two teams this year. They play again in Miami, August 25, at 8 pm.
- The Portland Timbers are undefeated at home so far this season with a record of 3-0-3.
- Portland's midfielder Andrew Gregor leads his team with five goals and one assist.
- Goalkeeper Josh Wicks has played very well this season. He has allowed only seven goals in nine games, with a goals-against-average below one (0.777). Wicks also had four shutouts in the nine games.
PRE GAME COMMENTS
HEAD COACH CHIQUINHO DE ASSIS
"The season is not over yet, and the moral of the team is not down. Miami FC has been playing well, but due to misplays, we've been giving up victories at the end of the games. These are mistakes that can be fixed and we will fix them. We are working on the player's concentration, especially at the end of matches. In the game against Vancouver, for instance, we had more opportunities then they did to score, but because of a misplay in the midfield, they were able to steal the victory. That game changed after JP Rodrigues got injured and I had no other defenseman to replace him. When our roster is complete, Miami FC plays as equals against any other team in our league. Again, our problem is concentration and individual mistakes that can and will be fixed."
MIDFIELDER LUCHI GONZALEZ
"It's been rough. The injuries, the players who went away to serve their countries in matches for Gold Cup... I feel we are playing the way we need to be playing, but we need to work on our concentration, since we have not been able to capitalize results when we are wining. We are also focusing too much on the defense. We need to find a balance. Our best is yet to come."
MIAMI FC NEXT GAMES
July 4, Miami FC at California Victory 9 pm (away)
July 14, Miami FC at Vancouver Whitecaps 10 pm (away)
July 20, Miami FC vs Carolina RailHawks 8 pm, Tropical Park Stadium
July 22, Miami FC vs California Victory 6 pm, Tropical Park Stadium
USL First Division Stories from June 27, 2007
- Timbers Face California, Host Miami This Week - Portland Timbers
- Impact In Sherbrooke For The Fourth Time - Montreal Impact
- Battery to face MLS champs in US Open Cup - Charleston Battery
- Victory returns home to play Portland Timbers Thursday - California Victory
- Pre Game Report: Miami FC at Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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.
