LD Update: Wynalda to Atlanta; USL Pro adds Phoenix; WPSL Elite playoff format

NASL News: On Sunday, news broke that the Atlanta Silverbacks released head coach Alex Pineda Chacon and director of soccer Rodrigo Rios - both former players - and would announce the interim coach immediately. On Monday, the club unveiled Eric Wynalda, manager of US Open Cup darling Cal FC, as the interim coach and team advisor. The job is short-term as he is charged with finding the next head coach as part of his responsibilities before he returns to continue his new three-year deal with Fox Soccer. At the halfway point of the season, the Silverbacks are in last place with a 1-8-5 record... Meanwhile, the league announced Tampa Bay Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella as the Defensive Player of the Week and forward Mark Anderson of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers as the Offensive Player of the Week.

USL Pro News: The league announced that it is expanding in 2013 to Phoenix, Arizona.

MISL News: Canada and the United States fell in their opening matches of the CONCACAF Futsal Championship on Monday. The US fell, 5-2, to Panama and Canada was downed 7-3 in the other Group A match. The two sides play each other in the next match Tuesday.

WPSL Elite News: The league unveiled the postseason format, announcing the Western New York Flash as hosts of the Final Four at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, NY. The top four clubs in the eight-team league will advance to the postseason with the semifinals Wednesday, July 25 and the championship three days later on Saturday, July 28

USL Super-20 League News: The league confirmed the clinching of the first seven entries into the league's championship tournament in Bradenton, Florida July 19-22 at IMG Academy. Among them are affiliated teams from the Chicago Fire, Laredo Heat and Reading United AC.

HOLIDAY SOCCER

Including MLS, there will be five professional games Tuesday and 10 on the Fourth of July Wednesday. Here is a list...

Tuesday, July 3
Chicago Fire @ Houston Dynamo
San Jose Earthquakes @ Portland Timbers
Atlanta Silverbacks @ Carolina RailHawks
LA Blues @ Richmond Kickers

Fourth of July
Sporting Kansas City @ Montreal Impact
Toronto FC @ FC Dallas
Vancouver Whitecaps @ Colorado Rapids
Seattle Sounders @ Real Salt Lake
Philadelphia Union @ LA Galaxy
Fort Lauderdale Strikers @ Tampa Bay Rowdies
Puerto Rico Islanders @ Minnesota Stars
FC Edmonton @ San Antonio Spurs
Pittsburgh Riverhounds @ Dayton Dutch Lions
Antigua Barracuda @ Rochester Rhinos