USL PRO Update
July 8, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
PITTSBURGH - The Los Angeles Blues scored a pair of second-half goals to take a dramatic 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday night at Highmark Stadium. The victory solidified the Blues' playoff position, moving them into seventh place in the league standings, five points clear of ninth-place Wilmington.
The Riverhounds opened the game brightly, and came close to taking the lead twice through Kevin Kerr, who had a pair of shots well saved by Blues goalkeeper Carl Woszcynski. Pittsburgh took the lead in the 21st minute, though, as a good build-up was capped by a fine angled pass by Darren Amoo that sprang Jose Angulo behind the defense, allowing Angulo to finish for his 11th goal of the season.
Pittsburgh could have added to its lead as the half wore on, but the Blues came into the game after the introduction of George Davis and Matt Fondy at the halftime break. The attacking duo helped the Blues put pressure on the Riverhounds' back line, and that finally told in the 69th minute as a free kick by Rodrigo Lopez was parried by Pittsburgh goalkeeper Greg Blum and Duach Jock finished off the rebound for the equalizer.
Both sides pushed to find a winner in the final 20 minutes, and the Blues grabbed all three points in the 89th minute as a cross by Davis from the right found Fondy at the top of the six-yard box, and the recent addition to the Blues squad put away the opportunity for his third goal of the season. Pittsburgh came close to finding an equalizer in stoppage time, but the Blues were able to hold on and take a crucial victory.
WEDNESDAY
WILMINGTON 2, ORLANDO 2: Daniel Steres scored twice, including the game-tying goal from the penalty spot, as the Wilmington Hammerheads earned a draw against Orlando City at Legion Stadium.
The Hammerheads grabbed an early lead off a free kick in the eighth minute. After Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo was unable to claim a ball into the penalty area, Kyle Greig headed back into the center and Daniel Steres was on hand to put a finish home. Mickael Oliveira, making his first start for the Hammerheads, almost added to the lead four minutes later, only to put his shot over after rounding Gallardo.
Orlando tried to hit back before the halftime break, and Adama Mbengue went close in the 28th minute as his header went just wide of the target. Mbengue also went close from a free kick, sending a second shot on goal that forced a good save by Troy Hernandez after his initial effort deflected back off the defensive wall.
Jamie Watson came close to tying the game 11 minutes into the second half after he made a good move to get past his defender, only for Hernandez to make a good save to keep his side ahead. Orlando tied the game in the 66th minute, however, as a good back-heel by Long Tan send Watson into the penalty area, and the former Hammerhead chipped a good finish past the advancing Hernandez.
Orlando took the lead in the 79th minute as Adame Mbengue flicked home a header to give the Lions the lead, but the Hammerheads hit back two minutes later as Bryce Taylor was brought down in the penalty area by Miguel Gallardo. Steres shot low to the right to convert the penalty kick, bringing the sides even.
The Lions came close to retaking the lead in the 87th minute as Jonathan Mendoza hit the crossbar, but both sides were forced to settle for a point despite late efforts.
THURSDAY
DAYTON 3, ROCHESTER 1: The Dayton Dutch Lions rallied from a first-half deficit as goals by Eli Garner, Tjeerd Westdijk and Gibson Bardsley earned victory against the Rochester Rhinos at Beavercreek Stadium.
In a balanced first half, the Rhinos came close to opening the scoring in the 25th minute as a curling shot by Gabe Latigue was just turned aside by Dutch Lions goalkeeper Matt Williams. Dayton also had chances as it tried to apply pressure down the wings, with one move coming to Westdijk, only for his shot to go high of the goal.
The Rhinos took the lead seven minutes before the halftime break as Blake Brettschneider got on the end of a cross and headed home. The Dutch Lions hit back just before halftime, however, as Bardsley found Garner in the penalty area, and Garner scored his second goal of the season as the sides went to the break even.
Dayton had an early chance to take the lead in the second half, but Garner's shot after a flicked header by Westdijk was saved by Kristian Nicht. The Dutch Lions took the lead in the 65th minute, however, as Shane Smith found Garner, who crossed for Westdijk to finish.
Rochester tried to hit back in the final 20 minutes, and second-half substitute Mike Reidy went close with an effort that went just wide of the left post. Matt Horth also had an effort go over the crossbar with 12 minutes to go, and the Dutch Lions put the game away two minutes later as a cross by Joey Madigan was put home by Bardsley for his sixth goal of the season.
CHARLOTTE 3, PITTSBURGH 2: Eric Reed had a standout performance, and the Charlotte Eagles rallied to take victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium. The Eagles' win snapped the Riverhounds' undefeated streak at 10 games, and extended their own run to seven consecutive games.
The Riverhounds came close to taking the lead in the second minute as a fierce shot by Jose Angulo from 25 yards was tipped over his crossbar by Eagles goalkeeper Eric Reed. Angulo continued to threaten, and Reed saved well again as a low cross from the right by Matt Dallman found him at the near post.
The Riverhounds continued to press early, and were rewarded in the 15th minute as Dallman drove around his marker and cut a pass back to Darren Amoo, who finished easily from 12 yards. The Eagles hit back immediately, though, as Jorge Herrera scored a beautiful free kick from 25 yards two minutes later to get his side back on level terms.
Pittsburgh continued to have much the better of the game as the half went on, and Reed made a pair of good saves from Angulo and Michael Green to keep the Riverhounds from regaining the lead in the opening half-hour. Reed was unable to deny Andrew Marshall's close-range header from Dallman's free kick with five minutes to go before the break, but the Eagles again hit back quickly as Nate Thornton finished off a low cross by Christian Ramirez in the final minute of the half.
Charlotte came close to taking the lead early in the second half as a low cross by Thornton found Ramirez in the center of the penalty area, but Hunter Gilstrap saved well to keep the game level. Dallman almost added to his two assists at the hour mark when he broke in behind the Eagles' defense, only for the angle for his finish to prove too narrow.
The Eagles took the lead with 18 minutes to go as a free kick deflected off Marshall and into his own goal as he battled with Fejiro Okiomah. The Riverhounds tried to hit back, but the Eagles defense and Reed held firm as they moved into fourth place in the USL PRO standings.
LOS ANGELES 6, ANTIGUA 0: The Los Angeles Blues snapped a five-game winless streak as Chris Cortez and Matt Fondy each scored twice against Antigua Barracuda.
Each team had chances early, as Cortez headed over the crossbar and Antigua's Randolph Burton shot high from 20 yards during the opening 10 minutes. The Blues went close twice more before they took the lead in the 20th minute as a free kick by Allan Russell was flicked home by Gabriel Gonzalez.
Los Angeles doubled its lead 10 minutes later on a fine curled finish from 20 yards by Cortez, who sent his left-footed shot into the top-left corner of the net. Molvin James then came up with a pair of good saves to keep the Barracudas' deficit at just two at the halftime break, but he had little chance as Cortez added his second four minutes into the second half on a diving header off a cross by George Davis. James was then at fault as he dropped a cross at the feet of Matt Fondy in the 59th minute, allowing the Blues forward to finish in his first game back with the side.
Rodrigo Lopez scored his second goal of the season with a fine curling effort into the left corner in the 78th minute, and Fondy added his second four minutes later as he took a breakaway chance well. The win moves the Blues into eighth place in the USL PRO standings ahead of Pittsburgh prior to a key meeting at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night.
FRIDAY
CHARLESTON 1, ORLANDO 1: An 89th-minute goal by second-half substitute Heviel Cordoves earned the Charleston Battery a draw against Orlando City at Blackbaud Stadium. Rob Valentino gave the Lions the lead just before the hour-mark, but after Orlando was reduced to 10 men a deflected shot by Cordoves found its way into the back of the net as the game ended even.
Orlando was dealt an early blow as Bryan Burke suffered an injury to his left leg in the seventh minute, forcing an early substitution. Both teams pressed high early, limiting time and space, and a turnover at midfield caused by Charleston's Mike Azira led to the first good chance of the game, with Quinton Griffith putting his shot wide of the left post from the top of the penalty area.
Azira had the next opportunity as he forced a good save from Orlando goalkeeper Jon Kempin in the 18th minute, and Dane Kelly also sent a shot high of the crossbar from the top of the penalty area. Nicki Paterson also had a good chance after a fine dummy from Kelly, with Kempin again saving well on a shot from 18 yards, and Jonathan Mendoza had to clear off the line for the Lions off the ensuing corner.
Orlando was able to get a foothold in the game near the 25-minute mark, and a good spell of pressure led to a free kick 22 yards from goal, but Adama Mbengue's free kick sailed over. Kelly continued to threaten for Charleston on the counter-attack, though, and almost gave his side the lead in the 33rd minute, but shot over. Orlando's Dennis Chin also had a good effort a minute later, but was denied by Battery goalkeeper Odisnel Cooper.
The second half opened more evenly, but Charleston again went close in the 54th minute as Colin Falvey's header from a corner was saved by Kempin. The Lions took the lead two minutes later from a corner of their own, however, as Rob Valentino put home the rebound after a flicked effort had gone off the left post.
Orlando was reduced to 10 men seven minutes after the Lions took the lead as Adama Mbengue was sent off after an altercation off the ball following a foul. The Battery tried to take advantage, but Valentino and the Lions' defense withstood their initial surge, with Kelly going closest in the 72nd minute with a shot that went just wide from 20 yards.
The Battery continued to press as the game wore on, but were limited in the number of chances they created. Cordoves had an effort that hit the side-netting from the left side of the penalty area with two minutes to go, and Kelly a shot over the crossbar a minute later. However, the Battery's persistence paid off, as Cordoves' late effort from 20 yards, which wrong-footed Kempin with a deflection, earned his side a point.
SATURDAY
RICHMOND 3, DAYTON 2: The Richmond Kickers maintained their undefeated season as a pair of goals by Luke Vercollone and another by Michael Seaton gave them victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions at Beavercreek Stadium. The win moved the Kickers within a point of Orlando City at the top of the USL PRO standings, with a game in hand on the Lions.
The Dutch Lions came out of the gate flying, and took the lead in the fourth minute as Gibson Bardsley stole possession before threading a pass to Brandon Swartzendruber for the finish. The Dutch Lions held their lead until the halftime break, but the Kickers turned the game around in a five-minute spell just before the hour mark.
Richmond equalized from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after Seaton was brought down in the penalty area. Vercollone stepped up and converted, and then two minutes later scored his second of the game as a punch from a long throw-in by Dayton goalkeeper Matt Williams fell to the veteran.
The Kickers added to their lead in the 71st minute as Seaton was able to score his fourth goal of the season. Dayton tried to get back into the game, and the Dutch Lions had some hope of earning a point when Greg Preciado scored with three minutes to go. The Kickers saw out the remaining time, however, to continue their remarkable run of form.
WILMINGTON 2, HARRISBURG 1: Cody Arnoux scored in the 90th minute as the Wilmington Hammerheads grabbed a dramatic victory against the Harrisburg City Islanders at Legion Stadium. The win moved the Hammerheads within three points of a place in the playoffs, and capped a positive week that saw them take four points from the top two teams in USL PRO when the week began.
Chances were limited early, but the Hammerheads went close to taking the lead in the 26th minute when Richard Isberner headed just over the crossbar. Seven minutes later Wilmington took the lead as Daniel Steres put home a finish from Tom Parratt's corner kick for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
The City Islanders battled to get back into the game in the second half, and were able to find an equalizer in the 73rd minute as Morgan Langley's shot was only blocked by Troy Hernandez, and Sainey Touray put away the rebound for his 10th goal of the season. Touray's goal appeared to earn his side a point, but the Hammerheads were able to find a winner as Arnoux, brought on as a substitute in the 86th minute, was able to get on the end of a cross by Bryce Taylor to head home and earn his side all three points.
ROCHESTER 2, CHARLOTTE 2: Goals in the final 10 minutes by Andrew Hoxie and Tam McManus earned the Rochester Rhinos a draw with the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday night at Sahlen's Stadium, extending their home undefeated streak to seven games as they fought to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Rochester had chances to take the lead, but the Eagles struck first as recent signing Paul Islas scored his first goal for the club in the 33rd minute. Islas, recently added from the PDL's Fresno Fuego, got on the end of a cross by Christian Meza and put his first-time finish into the back of the net.
The Rhinos pushed to find an equalizer early in the second half, and Charlotte goalkeeper Eric Reed was sharp as he made five of his six saves after the halftime break. The Eagles doubled their advantage in the 74th minute, however, as Jorge Herrera found space outside the left corner of the Rhinos penalty area and sent a curling shot into the right corner of the net.
Rochester got back into the game as second-half substitutes Hoxie and McManus combined in the 84th minute, with Hoxie picking up possession and hitting a turning shot that found the back of the net. The Rhinos got back on level terms in the 90th minute as Hoxie flicked on a throw-in by JC Banks that came to McManus, who drove his finish home. The Eagles held on to earn a point, however, as they remained in fourth place after recording their sixth draw on the road this season.
PHOENIX 1, ANTIGUA 0: Diego Faria scored the only goal as Phoenix FC took its first win since April by defeating Antigua Barracuda FC at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. The win snapped a 12-game winless streak as the Wolves tried to kick-start a late run toward the playoffs.
After a balanced opening, Phoenix gradually took control as it pressed for the opening goal. Thomas Ramos came close to opening the scoring in the 18th minute as his shot hit the left post and went wide, but the Wolves took the lead in the 34th minute as a fine chipped cross by Anthony Obodai from the top-right corner of the penalty area found Faria's late-arriving run from midfield, and the Brazilian headed home at the left post.
Donny Toia had a pair of opportunities to extend the Wolves' lead in the second half, only to just miss the target in both the 51st and 66th minutes. The Barracudas were able to stay in the game, however, and almost found an equalizer with nine minutes to go as Tamorley Thomas sent a low shot just wide of the left post.
The Wolves held off Antigua to earn their fourth shutout in their past five games, though, as they took victory for the first time since a 3-1 win against Wilmington on April 28.
STANDINGS (Through July 7)
Team GP W L T GF GA GD Points
Orlando 16 10 2 4 37 16 +21 34
Richmond 15 9 0 6 32 11 +21 33
Harrisburg 16 10 5 1 35 21 +14 31
Charlotte 17 7 2 8 28 24 +4 29
Charleston 16 7 3 6 25 16 +9 27
Dayton 15 7 3 5 26 23 +3 26
Los Angeles 18 7 6 5 34 23 +11 26
Tampa Bay 16 7 6 3 26 17 +9 24
Wilmington 17 6 8 3 18 28 -10 21
Pittsburgh 17 5 6 6 25 23 +2 21
Rochester 18 3 8 7 16 30 -14 16
Phoenix 19 2 10 6 16 26 -10 15
Antigua 17 0 17 0 8 61 -53 0
RESULTS
Wednesday, July 3
Wilmington 2, Orlando 2
Thursday, July 4
Dayton 3, Rochester 1
Charlotte 3, Pittsburgh 2
Los Angeles 6, Antigua 0
Friday, July 5
Charleston 1, Orlando 1
Saturday, July 6
Los Angeles 2, Pittsburgh 1
Rochester 2, Charlotte 2
Richmond 3, Dayton 2
Wilmington 2, Harrisburg 1
Phoenix 1, Antigua 0
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 10
Los Angeles at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. ET
Dayton at Columbus Reserves, 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, July 11
Charleston at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET
Antigua at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. ET
Friday, July 12
Richmond at Rochester, 7:35 p.m. ET
Saturday, July 13
Richmond at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. ET
Charleston at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. ET
Wilmington at Charlotte, 8 p.m. ET
Antigua at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, July 14
Orlando at Dayton, 6:30 p.m. ET
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 8, 2013
- Dutch Lions vs. Columbus Crew - Match Preview - Dayton Dutch Lions
- Winger Bryan Burke Out For Rest Of Season - Orlando City SC
- USL PRO Update - USL
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