LD Update: NASL Playoff Preview; Edmonton dumps coaches; ACC set for 2013

Amway Canadian Championship: The Canadian Soccer Association announced Friday that the sixth edition of the event will kick off on April 24 with the semifinals next season, utilizing the same format as this year with the three MLS clubs and FC Edmonton of the NASL.

NASL News: Matt Horth of the Atlanta Silverbacks was recognized as the Player of the Month... Last place FC Edmonton announced it has cut ties with coaches Harry Sinkgraven and Hans Schrijver, due to budgetary reasons according to the release. 

LD Update: NASL weekly, season honors; MISL signing, combine news

CCL News: The Puerto Rico Islanders finished off their Champions League schedule with a 3-0 victory over Isidro Metapan, avoiding a winless campaign. The victory put them in second and clinched the quarterfinal berth for the group-leading LA Galaxy. Hector Ramos scored twice with Gregory Richardson adding the third. LA and Metapan play in the final match with Metapan having a chance to move back ahead of the Islanders for a second-place finish in the group, though only the winners advance to the quarterfinals.

LD Update: NASL Game Night; NASL loans to & from

With just a few games remaining for each team in the NASL season and the playoff field set, all that is left is to determine is who will join San Antonio in the semifinals with the other first round playoff bye. The table went largely unchanged Saturday evening with the eliminated Silverbacks getting a win as well as the  Puerto Rico Islanders.

Atlanta Silverbacks 1 :: 0 Fort Lauderdale Strikers - Though eliminated midweek from postseason contention, the hosts took the lead in the 11th minute of the contest and held on against the Strikers. A streaking Matt Horth received the ball 30 yars from goal via Lucas Paulini, diving toward the box and firing inside the post. Fort Lauderdale's attempt for a rally was handicapped with 15 minutes remaining when Alfonso Motagalvan saw back-to-back yellow and red for dissent and abuslive language toward the referee. - MORE

LD Update: Possible Atlanta name change - an homage or offensive?

The Atlanta Silverbacks are considering a name change, giving fans the option to re-brand the team as the former NASL name Chiefs or even as something completely different. The polling will run until the US Presidential Election Day.


The previous Chiefs were founded in 1967 and were original members of the previous NASL, winning the inaugural league championship in 1968.

Though it is obviously an attempt ride the retro branding wave around the league, the move is particularly surprising in a sports era in which teams and schools are moving away from and changing the verbiage used in regard to names and mascots. And particularly so considering the city's Atlanta Braves are one of the most cited teams, aside from the NFL's Redskins and MLB's Cleveland Indians, for being offensive.

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night - Blues eliminated; Atlanta's Cox to Tampa

With a one-goal decision on the road, the Richmond Kickers moved into a tie for second, looking to claim the second bye to the semifinals. The chase for the bye is wide open with four teams in the running with two nights of regular season play left. The night's other meaningful match saw the elimination of the LA Blues as Harrisburg separated themselves from the tie with Charlotte for the sixth and final berth.

USL PRO

Antigua Barracuda 0:1 Richmond Kickers - David Bulow rose highest to get his head on the ball in the 61st minute to send Sascha Goerres' corner into the back of the net on the road for the only goal that mattered. - MORE

LD Update: Final weekend in USL Pro; Strikers minus two stars

Eight of the nine games in the final weekend of the USL Pro regular season this week will likely decide the playoff field as teams two through eight fight for the remaining three berths of six or playoff positions that that include a second bye to the semifinals. Orlando City clinched the top spot several weeks ago. With all but the top three teams having two games left to play and only five points separating second-place Rochester and the pair of sixth-place sides Charlotte and Harrisburg, plenty of scenarios are in play for the final weekend. The LA Blue, four points back of postseason position are also in the hunt with some help. Seven of the nine matches are available via online streams.

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Nights; Cosmos to NASL; Roster changes

Midweek action created a two-point margin between the top three clubs in the NASL as the Puerto Rico Islanders moved back level with expansion San Antonio Wednesday and the defending champion Minnesota Stars keeping pace two points back the following night.

Wednesday - Puerto Rico Islanders 1:0 San Antonio Scorpions - The Islanders took the narrow decision between the league's two top sides with a header from Nicholas Addlery off a cross from Noah Delgado 25 minutes in. Jonathan Fana nearly made it two seven minutes later when he found himself alone with the keeper only to have Darryl Sattler make a great save. Richard Martin made a great save for the other side six minutes into the second, however, it was to keep a potential own goal on a Esteban Bayona cross from going in. Another great save for Martin came courtesy of the crossbar, which denited midfielder Hans Denissen five minutes later. - MORE

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.

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; MISL adds Chicago; Atlanta signs Klute

Don't look now, but the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are unbeaten in their last three games, picking up their first win Friday night since their third game of the season on April 21. Next week they face league-leading Orlando City, who blanked Harrisburg for their third consecutive win.

USL PRO

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2:1 Wilmington Hammerheads - Mired in the midfield most of the first half, the stalemate broke five minutes into the second half when another long Corey Hertzog throw-in resulted in the visitors grabbing the lead as Dylan Riley flicked it on to the middle of the six, where Manny Guzman finished. A creative play seven minutes later drew a penalty when Stefan Lundberg was taken down in the box. Matt Kassel would level terms from the spot. With eight minutes left a second consecutive corner for the hosts led to Mike Seth sending a cross to the back post, where Darren Amoo tallied the winner. - MORE

LD Update: NASL, PDL, MISL player moves

NASL News: The Atlanta Silverbacks added a pair of players, signing Silverbacks Reserves forward Jahbari Willis and bringing in Seattle Sounders defender Andrew Duran on a season-long loan.

PDL News: Boston Victory forward Lucas Pessanha has signed with FC Levadia of the Estonian first division, giving him an opportunity to potentially play in the 2012-13 Europa League... The league honored FC Tucson defender Travis Campbell as the Player of the Week, highlighting the Team of the Week. 

MISL Signings: The reigning league champion Milwaukee Wave have re-signed Ian Bennett and Marcio Leite, the Championship Series MVP... The Wichita Wings also announced two signings with the return of Chris Lemons and the addition of Enrique Tovar of the Syracuse Silver Knights. 

LD Update: MLS friendly & Player Movement

NASL: The Atlanta Silverbacks signed local product Borfor Carr, who played briefly with the club’s reserve team a year ago after returning from a stint with Romanian club CS Concordia Chiajna.

USL Pro: The Harrisburg City Islanders have had a split of a news day. First, the club announced its annual friendly with MLS affiliate Philadelphia Union. The game is set for June 12.  The club then announced the retirement of two-year City Islander Jason Hotchkin. The North Carolina native made a name for himself closer to home, leading the Charlotte Eagles to the league final in 2004 before spending some time in Germany (TuS Koblenz) and Sweden (IK Brage). He came back and played for the Wilmington Hammerheads and Philadelphia Kixx, who he guided to an MISL title. He also played for the New Jersey Ironmen (MISL) and Cleveland City Stars (USL-1) before moving to Harrisburg… In South Carolina, the Charleston Battery got goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra back. The netminder, caught behind a duel for the DC job, was loaned back to the Battery, whom he played for last year after two seasons and 17 appearances with the Chicago Fire.

USL PDL: The North Sound SeaWolves continue to develop the 2012 roster, bringing back three local players from last year’s team… In Florida, the Ocala Stampede added FIU and former New Zealand youth international center back Joe Dawkins to the roster.

USL W-League: The DC United Women brought back four of its top players from a year ago, including W-League All-Conference selection Marisa Abegg… On the other coast, the Vancouver Whitecaps Women signed two players: W-League/WPSL veteran defender Jenny Jeffers and England youth international midfielder/striker Demi Stokes.