USL United Soccer League Championship

USL PRO Update

July 22, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


FULLERTON, Calif. - The Richmond Kickers extended their USL PRO-record undefeated streak to 19 games as they rallied past the Los Angeles Blues for a 2-1 victory on Sunday evening at Titan Stadium. Brian Ownby and David Bulow scored inside the final 15 minutes as the Kickers overcame an early deficit and moved within a point of Orlando City at the top of the USL PRO standings with a game in hand on the Lions.

The Blues struck quickly in the fifth minute as Matt Fondy scored his sixth goal in five games since rejoining the side, and had chances to add to their lead before the halftime break. Fondy again went close in the 37th minute as he got on the end of a cross by Allan Russell, only for Andrew Dykstra to make a good save, while Fondy's shot from the edge of the penalty area just before the halftime break just missed the target.

The Kickers gained control after the halftime break, however, as the introduction of Phillipe Davies, Alex Lee and Matt Delicâte had a positive influence on their turnaround. While the Blues were able to withstand much of the pressure, the Kickers tied the game in the 77th minute as Ownby and Delicâte worked a counterattack beautifully, with the Houston Dynamo loanee lifting his finish past the advancing goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the season.

Richmond took the lead eight minute later from the penalty spot after a cross into the 18-yard area was handled by Los Angeles' Erlys Garcia. Bulow, who was making only his second appearance of the season, tucked home his finish confidently, and the Kickers were able to see out the remaining minutes to continue their remarkable season.

MONDAY

SAN JOSE RESERVES 6, ANTIGUA 0: Adam Jahn scored twice, and Sam Garza had a goal and an assist, as the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves took a comfortable victory against Antigua Barracuda FC at Kezar Stadium. Brad Ring opened the scoring in the second minute off a corner kick by Mehdi Ballouchy, and the Earthquakes Reserves rolled on from there as Jahn scored in either half, the second off an assist by Garza.

WEDNESDAY

PITTSBURGH 0, ORLANDO 0: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Orlando City played to a scoreless draw at Highmark Stadium, with goalkeepers Hunter Gilstrap and Jon Kempin starring for their respective sides. Gilstrap, who finished the game with seven saves, was sharp throughout, but the Riverhounds had the better chances to take victory as Jose Angulo hit the crossbar and Darren Amoo forced a great save from Kempin, who turned an outstanding volley onto the left post midway through the first half to keep the game scoreless.

FRIDAY

PHOENIX 2, RICHMOND 2: The Richmond Kickers rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit as they remained undefeated with a draw against Phoenix FC at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium. Thomas Ramos scored twice in the first half to put the Wolves on top, but second-half goals by William Yomby and Shane Johnson, in stoppage time, preserved the Kickers' undefeated season and moved them within a point of Orlando City, with a game in hand, at the top of the standings.

CHARLESTON 1, DAYTON 0: A second-half penalty kick by Nicki Paterson gave the Charleston Battery a victory against the Dayton Dutch Lions at Blackbaud Stadium. The win snapped a six-game winless streak for the Battery, who moved up to sixth place in the USL PRO standings.

HARRISBURG 2, TAMPA BAY 0: The Harrisburg City Islanders ended their recent run of poor form with victory against VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium. Lucky Mkosana got the City Islanders on the board in the 12th minute, and Jimmy McLaughlin put the game away with three minutes remaining with a curling finish from the left side.

ROCHESTER 0, WILMINGTON 0: The Rochester Rhinos and Wilmington Hammerheads finished scoreless in a game that was concluded at halftime due to numerous lightning delays. The game was first delayed in the 24th minute, causing a 40-minute delay. Following the teams' return to the field, the first half was concluded, with Matt Horth's shot off the crossbar for the Rhinos the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock. The teams were again withdrawn at the conclusion of the halftime break, and after more than an hour's delay, the game was called, giving each side a point.

SATURDAY

ORLANDO 3, HARRISBURG 1: Jean Alexandre scored twice on his return from international duty at the Gold Cup to lift Orlando City past the Harrisburg City Islanders at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Alexandre scored twice in the first half as he put home a cross by Luke Boden in the 25th minute, and followed that with a good finish after being played in by Jamie Watson. Dennis Chin added a third goal for the Lions with just less than 20 minutes to go before Lucky Mkosana pulled back a consolation goal for the City Islanders in the 79th minute.

CHARLOTTE 0, DAYTON 0: Honors ended even as Charlotte's Eric Reed and Dayton's Matt Williams both put in strong performances to earn their sides a point at Queens Sports Complex. Dayton's Remco Klaasse came close to breaking the deadlock before the break, hitting the post, but Reed and Williams were called into action more frequently after the break. Reed made four saves to record his seventh shutout of the season, while Williams was also solid, recording five saves to earn his side a point.

SUNDAY

PITTSBURGH 2, WILMINGTON 1: Matt Dallman's goal with 12 minutes to play earned the Pittsburgh Riverhounds a crucial victory in their pursuit of the playoffs as they defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads at Highmark Stadium. After a scoreless first half the Riverhounds took the lead through Mike Seth in the 52nd minute, only for the Hammerheads to get back on level terms 20 minutes later through Kyle Greig. Dallman was able to pull the victory out of the bag for Pittsburgh, however, which now sits two points behind Tampa Bay for the eighth and final playoff place.

MONTREAL RESERVES 0, ROCHESTER 0: Both sides hit the woodwork, but neither was able to find the back of the net as the Montreal Impact Reserves and Rochester Rhinos played to a scoreless draw at Stade Saputo. Montreal's Blake Smith clipped the crossbar with a good left-footed shot in the 18th minute, while Rudolph Mayard's shot in the 41st minute was turned onto the crossbar by Evan Bush. Both teams finished the game with 10 men as Rochester's J.C. Banks and Montreal's Collen Warner were sent off in the 54th minute, but the Rhinos were forced to settle for their fourth consecutive draw, and now sit eight points out of the playoff positions with only five games remaining.

STANDINGS (Through July 21)

Team GP W L T GF GA GD Points

Orlando 20 12 2 6 45 21 +24 42

Richmond 19 11 0 8 38 15 +23 41

Harrisburg 20 11 8 1 40 29 +11 34

Charlotte 19 8 2 9 31 26 +5 33

Los Angeles 21 9 7 5 43 27 +16 32

Charleston 19 8 5 6 29 22 +7 30

Dayton 19 7 5 7 30 20 0 28

Tampa Bay 18 8 7 3 30 21 +9 27

Pittsburgh 19 6 6 7 27 24 +3 25

Wilmington 20 6 10 4 21 33 -12 22

Phoenix 21 4 10 7 19 28 -9 19

Rochester 21 3 8 10 17 31 -14 10

Antigua 20 0 20 0 8 72 -64 0

RESULTS

Monday, July 15

San Jose Reserves 6, Antigua 0

Wednesday, July 17

Pittsburgh 0, Orlando 0

Friday, July 19

Charleston 1, Dayton 0

Harrisburg 2, Tampa Bay 0

Rochester 0, Wilmington 0

Phoenix 2, Richmond 2

Saturday, July 20

Charlotte 0, Dayton 0

Orlando 3, Harrisburg 1

Sunday, July 21

Montreal Reserves 0, Rochester 0

Pittsburgh 2, Wilmington 1

Richmond 2, Los Angeles 1

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 23

Richmond at Vancouver Reserves, 7 p.m. ET

Antigua at FC Dallas Reserves, 8 p.m. ET

Wednesday, July 24

Dayton at Harrisburg, 7 p.m. ET

Los Angeles at Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET

Phoenix at Charleston, 7:30 p.m. ET

Friday, July 26

Antigua at Dayton, 7 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay at Wilmington, 7:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 27

Pittsburgh at Toronto Reserves, 4:30 p.m. ET

Phoenix at Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET

Los Angeles at Charleston, 7:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, July 28

Antigua at Rochester, 4:05 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay at Richmond, 5 p.m. ET

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 22, 2013


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