LD Update: NASL Semis Preview; NASL Commish retires; MISL signings

Be prepared for the next two weekends of semifinal play of the North American Soccer League postseason to be close contests as they play out their two-leg series. In the eight previous matches this season in the two pairings, only one game saw a team leave victorious - and that was via a late penalty kick in a 1-0 decision. Low scoring is also likely as six of the other seven results between the teams finished in 1-1 or scoreless draws with one lone 3-3 exception. The regular season champion San Antonio Scorpions take on the defending league champion Minnesota Stars, who are looking to repeat as winners from the lowest seeded position. Meanwhile, the second-seeded Tampa Bay Rowdies are facing last season's regular season champion Carolina RailHawks, who are looking to get past the semifinals after falling to Minnesota a year ago.

LD Update: NASL Playoff Results; Phoenix announces first signing

The first round of the NASL Playoffs proved to be a break from form as the defending champion Minnesota Stars posted their first-ever win in Puerto Rico to advance and the Carolina RailHawks, 0-2-2 against the Strikers this season, scored three at home for a third time this season against Fort Lauderdale, this time keeping the visitors from doing the same. The Stars move on to face the regular season champion San Antonio Scorpions while the RailHawks take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a pair of two-leg, aggregate score series.

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; Super-20 First 11; Sesay to Wave

A pair of draws in the first half of the final weekend of play kept everything as is in the top half of the NASL table heading into the final week with Tampa Bay's stalemate in Carolina locking the Rowdies into second and giving San Antonio, playing Sunday, the regular season title while also locking Carolina into fourth as they were unable to pass Puerto Rico, who played to a draw versus visiting Atlanta.

LD Update: Rowdies extend lease; CSL match-fixing report statement

Wednesday - FC Edmonton 2 :: 2 Carolina RailHawks - Despite elimation from playoff contention the night before, the hosts did not give up after a fifth minute strike from Nick Zimmerman. Kyle Porter evened terms just four minutes later and gave Edmonton the lead four minutes after intermission. Zimmerman, however, put away the rebound of his own shot in the 56th minute for the draw. - MORE

NASL News: The Tampa Bay Rowdies will continue to play in a baseball stadium in St Petersburg, signing a new four-year deal to continue leasing Al Lang Stadium.

CSL News: The league released a statement in regards to a recent CBC report focused an alleged match-fixing incident that occured in 2009 and further attempts to affect the outcome of matches for European betting interests.

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: Bixler retires; USL Pro award winners; MISL sched released

USL Pro News: Veteran Harrisburg City Islanders defender Dustin Bixler, a three-time All-League selection and 2007 USL Second Division championship MVP, announced his retirement... The expansion club in Arizona announced it will play as Phoenix FC, unveiling Wolves as the mascot and prominent feature of the new logo... The league announced the season award winners at the championship banquet, honoring Kevin Molino (Orlando) as MVP, Adrian Heath (Orlando) as Coach of the Year, Troy Roberts (Rochester) as Defender of the Year and Jose Cuevas of the championship finalist Charleston Battery as the Rookie of the Year.  

LD Update: NASL adopts split season; USL Pro award finalists

The big news of the day was the announcement from the North American Soccer League that it is altering its competitive structure to a two-season format in which the spring season will be held from March to July 4 followed by a 3-4 week break before the fall season commences.

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; Kickers signings; MISL combine

Antigua Barracuda 0:3 Los Angeles Blues - The Blues put an end to a five-game losing skid in a match that began Thursday evening and wrapped up Friday morning due to lightning in the 13th minute. A defensive lapse allowed Bryan Burke to give the visitors the advantage 11 minutes in. Antigua fought back with a couple chances, but the rally was dimmed when they lost Luke Blakely in the 66th for a second yellow. Two minutes later Brian Farber fired from inside the area to double the lead. Farber then connected with Burke with five minutes left on a cross to the back post to cap the lengthy contest. - MORE

Richmond Kickers 3:1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds - Bolstered by a handful of new additions, the Kickers grabbed a 2-0 halftime lead in the eight minutes leading up to the break. Gerson dos Santos created the opener in the 37th with a lofted cross that Yomby William nodded in at the back post. Jason Yeisley created the second, an own goal, with a cross into the six that went off a defender and through goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap's legs. The second half was a stalemate until the two sides exchanged penalties in the final four minutes with Matthew Delicate giving Richmond their third and Matt Kassal spoiling the clean sheet in the 90th. - MORE

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: NASL & USL Pro Game Nights; PDL Timbers in playoffs; DC Women add from US U17

The home clubs went winless on the night in the NASL, highlighted by Eric Wynalda picking up his first win two outings as the interim manager of the Atlanta Silverbacks, earning a 2-0 road win against the reigning champion Minnesota Stars.

Though it was only a 1-1 draw in Harrisburg, Antigua ended a 10-game losing streak in USL Pro. The Rochester Rhinos put an end to Dayton's three-game unbeaten turnaround. Perhaps fueled by their US Open Cup run, the Charlotte Eagles have now won four consecutive in league play and are now firmly in the chase for a playoff berth after sweeping Charleston in a home-and-home series over the weekend.

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night; Honors; US Futsal tops Canada

The Holiday slate for the lower division leagues started this evening with a pair of games. The fans of the home teams went home happy with one-goal victories with those in Cary, NC also getting a natural fireworks show during lightning delays. 

NASL: Carolina RailHawks 2:1 Atlanta Silverbacks - Eric Wynalda's debut with Atlanta started off on the wrong foot, falling behind after just four minutes when Jason Garey delivered a through ball behind the defense for an easy finish for Nick Zimmerman. Matt Horth answered in the 15th minute when he finished from eight yards off a Borfor Carr cross. An hour-long delay at the 23-minute mark was followed by another a few minutes after the restart. After the official third intermission for halftime, the hosts wasted no time once again claiming the lead when a clearance deflected to Cory Elenio, whose cross was headed in from eight yards for the winner five minutes in. - 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; Canada Futsal rallies to qualify; Canada U20 W-League call-ups

The top two teams in the USL Pro saw two completely different results Friday evening against the league's bottom two sides as the Charleston Battery gained two points on Orlando City.

Meanwhile, Antigua, which started off with two wins in its first three games, remains at the bottom with their winless stretch extending to eight league games as their offense continues to struggle with only one goal during that span - four games ago. Dayton, meanwhile, continues to show well despite their location in the table, rebounding from the US Open Cup exit with an impressive draw against the league leaders. The Dutch Lions have lost only twice this season by multiple goals - both on the road.

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; Canada Futsal loss; Hertzog loan extended

Charlotte Eagles 3:2 LA Blues - The Eagles got goals from three different players while the Blues tried to rally twice through Bright Dike. Mauricio Salles, who scored the dramatic late-game equalizer in Tuesday's 2-1 stoppage time Open Cup loss to Chivas USA, put Charlotte on top at the half-hour mark from the penalty spot. Two minutes later Christian Meza doubled the advantage. Dike scored his first in the 58th to pull back within one but Jorge Herrera restored the two-goal lead late on a great series of passes from Nate Thornton and Darryl Roberts in the 87th minute. A minute later Dike scored his second, but it proved to be too late even with three minutes of stoppage time. - MORE

MISL News: Milwaukee Wave player Ian Bennett and his Canadian Futsal team fell 4-1 in the first leg of their playoff series against El Salvador Thursday that will determine the eighth and final entrant to the CONCACAF Futsal Championship being held in Guatemala July 2-8. Former USL Vancouver Whitecap Alex Elliott scored the lone goal for Canada. He is joined by long-time USL players Ian Bennett (Palm Beach Pumas, Charleston Battery, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos) and Robbie Aristodemo (Toronto Lynx, Seattle Sounders), the 2001 Rookie of the Year for the second-division flight while playing for the Lynx.

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: CFU Semifinal results; US Futsal roster; EPL-PDL friendly

CFU Semifinals: Only one club from the North American lower divisions will advance to the CONCACAF Champions League as the reigning two-time Caribbean Football Union champion Puerto Rico Islanders (NASL) and Antigua Barracuda (USL Pro) both lost their semifinal contests to their Trinidad & Tobago hosts Tuesday evening.

Cousins Rennie Britto and Jerrel Britto scored three goals to pace W Connection to a three-goal lead before Josh Hansen scored the Islanders' lone goal in a 4-1 defeat in the second match of the doubleheader. Antigua was in a deadlock with Caledonia AIA until Radanfah Abu Bakr opened the scoring in the 65th minute. Devorn Jorsling capped the victory four minutes from time in a 2-0 result.

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. 

Frustrated by Olympic Failure? How ‘bout some Futsal World Cup Qualifying?

Less than two weeks after the Milwaukee Wave repeated as Major Indoor Soccer League champions, long-time Wave and US National Futsal coach Keith Tozar announced a camp of 18 players to prepare for the upcoming CONCACAF Futsal Championship July 2-8 in Guatemala. The camp will be held April 1-7 in Torrance, Calif.

The U.S. has won the CONCACAF championship twice, in 1996 and 2004. In 2008, the USA reached the Futsal World Cup but failed to advance out of the group stage. For the first time in the qualifying tournament’s history, CONCACAF will send four teams to the Futsal World Cup in Thailand, being held from Nov. 2-18, 2012. The eight teams will be split into two groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals and earn places at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

In a very mixed roster, there are a number of veteran indoor and outdoor professional players, including former MLS players Byron Alvarez, Kraig Chiles and Angel Rivillo. They are joined by a handful of players that are local to the home facility of the National Futsal Team in Torrance, a few teenage high school players.

A couple of other interesting players on the squad are Patrick Healey and Lubo Kocic. Healey’s father is the president and general manager of his club team, the Baltimore Blast. Kocic, a member of the Rochester Lancers, has played outdoors in the PDL in Houston and professionally in Puerto Rico in addition to being a participant in the Soccer Aces Academy reality TV show.

Alvarez, however, is arguably the most recognizable name on the list. The forward was a former standout in the USL First Division, making a name for himself as skillful with the ball while with the Portland Timbers.

U.S. Futsal National Team Roster by Position
Name (Hometown / Current Club | Previous Clubs)

GOALKEEPERS (2):
Ryan Oster (Torrance, Calif.)
Daniel Waltman (Gig Harbor, Wash./Missouri Comets | Rockford Rampage, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Detroit Ignition, Chicago Storm, Yakima Reds, Univ of Washington)

DEFENDERS (4):
Patrick Healey (Nottingham, Md./Baltimore Blast | Crystal Palace Baltimore, Towson Univ.)
Ljubomir Kocic (Metairie, La./Rochester Lancers | Puerto Rico United, Houston Leones, Univ. of Incarnate Word)
Kevin Ten Eyck (Wichita, Kan./Wichita Wings | Friends Univ.)
Nelson Torres (Santa Clara, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (8):
Kraig Chiles (San Diego, Calif./San Diego Sockers | LA Legends, Chivas USA, San Diego State Univ.)
Matt Clare (Brandon, Fla./Norfolk SharX | Tampa Bay Rowdies, Bradenton Academics, West Virginia Chaos)
Jeff Hughes (Independence, Ky./Syracuse Silver Knights | Cincinnati Kings, 1790 Cincinnati, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Wilmington Hammerheads, TSV 1860 Munchen, Univ. of Cincinnati, Western Michigan Univ.)
Casey Macias (Irvine, Calif. / graduating HS this year)
Angel Rivillo (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Wichita Wings | Philadelphia Kixx, Atlanta Silverbacks, Chicago Fire, Milwaukee Wave, Milwaukee Rampage, Dallas Burn, Creighton Univ.)
Alex Robles (Lynwood, Calif. / graduating HS this year)
Lucas Stauffer (Faribault, Minn. / graduating HS in 2013)
Matthew Stewart (Chicago, Ill./Milwaukee Wave | Rockford Rampage)

FORWARDS (4):
Byron Alvarez (Kansas City, Mo./Missouri Comets | Portland Timbers, Monterrey La Raza, Charleston Battery, Chicago Storm, Portland Timbers, MetroStars, Yakima Reds)
Machel Millwood (Laurel, Md./Baltimore Blast | Crystal Palace Baltimore, Atlanta Silverbacks, Syracuse Salty Dogs, Towson Univ. Prince Georges CC)
Nicolas Perera (San Marcos, Calif./Milwaukee Wave)
Bato Radoncic (Chicago, Ill./Missouri Comets |Chicago Riot, Rockford Rampage, Milwaukee Rampage)