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: 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: Battery win USL Pro title; Cunningham gets first NASL goal

Charleston celebrates title | courtesy Charleston Battery

Two rookies led the Battery, the playoff team with the most losses on the season (10), to the franchise's fourth championship in 20 years as Charleston defeated the Wilmington Hammerheads for the USL Pro title.

Meanwhile, in the NASL it was all ones... nearly. Three of the four matches concluded in 1-1 draws with the fourth finishing with just one strike between the two clubs.

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 All-League honors; NASL honors; Blues to play Pachuca

LD News: Orlando City of USL Pro is loaning Jamie Watson to the NASL Minnesota Stars for the remainder of the season.

NASL News: The league recognized Matt Horth of the Atlanta Silverbacks as the Offensive Player of the Week and Frankie Sanfilippo of the Tampa Bay Rowdies as the Defensive Player of the Week... The Carolina RailHawks duo of Nick Millington (Guyana) and John Krause (Puerto Rico) have been called in for national team camps in preparation for World Cup qualifiers and the Digicel Caribbean Cup (qualifiers for Gold Cup).

LD Update: Champion Orlando City out; Charleston & Wilmington reach USL Pro Final

One upset was perhaps fathomable, but too was improbable. Both road teams, however, advanced Friday evening to reach the USL Pro championship game next Saturday.

The Wilmington Hammerheads, who accounted for Orlando City's lone loss this season, repeated the feat in stunning fashion. The Charleston Battery, meanwhile, battled the Rochester Rhinos to a 1-1 draw before prevailing in penalties.

LD Update: USL Pro semis tonight; PR pounded; player availability news

The USL Pro championship finalists will be determined tonight with both semifinals kicking off around 7:30 pm ET. The reigning two-time regular season champion and last year's league winners Orlando City play host to the Wilmington Hammerheads, the only team to hand them a loss in their amazing 17-1-6 campaign, while longtime foes Rochester Rhinos and Charleston Battery square off in New York.

Both matches will be streamed on USLnation.com.

LD Update: Carolina clubs win dramatic USL Pro playoff openers; NASL Game Night

It was a dramatic night of rallies in the opening round of the USL Pro playoffs as the Carolina clubs Charleston Battery and Wilmington Hammerheads advanced to the semifinals. Charleston came from behind at home to knock out Harrisburg while Richmond and Wilmington played a back-and-forth contest that saw the visiting Hammerheads prevail on a late strike.

In the NASL, two matches were of note. The two sides tied for second squared off, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies and visiting Puerto Rico Islanders played to a scoreless stalemate. Meanwhile, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers moved within two points of the pair by downing the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions.

LD Update: Dramatic finish of USL Pro ; Scorpions clinch in NASL

Clutch wins and missed opportunities highlighted a dramatic final night in the USL Pro regular season as the Charlotte Eagles failed to take advantage of prime position to clinch a playoff berth and the Richmond Kickers were unable to claim the second-place berth direct to the semifinals, leaving Rochester in second.

Meanwhile, Wilmington jumped over Charlotte in the table with a win over their state rivals after a loss the night before in their two-game series, and the Harrisburg City Islanders picked up a crucial win on the other side of the country to slip by the Eagles for the final playoff berth.

LD Update: One day left in USL Pro season; NASL Game Night

In USL Pro action Saturday, only two goals were scored in three matches with playoff implications. Charleston's scoreless draw cost them a shot at the second-place bye to the semifinals while Rochester's lone tally put the pressure on Richmond to win tomorrow in order to claim the second spot with their late-season surge (6-0-1). Charlotte's lone strike against state rival Wilmington put them in control of grabbing the final playoff berth in the second-half of the series Sunday as they now sit fifth with Wilmington and Harrisburg two points back.

The Eagles merely need a draw Sunday to clinch a berth while Wilmington needs to at the very least match what Harrisburg earns at eliminated LA, whom they tied 2-2 Friday.

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: International duty; USL's MAC Hermann watch list players

NASL Sunday - FC Edmonton 1:0 Puerto Rico Islanders - Shaun Saiko's return to the lineup proved fruitful as he volleyed home the winner in the 31st minute off a Kenny Caceros cross. - MORE

NASL News: The league honored Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward Andy Herron as the Offensive Player of the Week and selected Bryan Arguez of FC Edmonton as the Defensive Player of the Week... A pair of Carolina RailHawks will be in international action this week with Nick Millington joining Guyana to face Bolivia on the road and John Krause playing for Puerto Rico as they host 2010 World Cup champion Spain. 

LD Update: NASL & USL Pro Game Night

It was a quiet night in the NASL with only two goals total in three matches. The only teams to find victory were the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions and Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

In USL Pro, the Charlotte Eagles' quest for the postseason stalled a bit with a draw versus Dayton, but the lone point was enough to pull even with the Harrisburg City Islanders for sixth as they fell in Richmond. Charleston moved within a point of the second-place Rhinos with a surprising 4-0 victory in Rochester while LA kept its slim chances alive with a narrow win versus Antigua two days after previously losing at home to them.

LD Update: Rowdies add ex-EPL player; USL Pro Game Night

USL PRO Thursday: LA Blues 1:2 Antigua Barracuda - The last place visitors delivered a tough blow to the California club's playoff chances with the surprise win. The Blues pressured from the start and after a couple close calls, Maykel Galindo connected with Max Griffin for the opening strike in the 34th minute. A fortunate bounce off the referee allowed Lawson Robinson to set up Orlando Mitchum for the equalizer in the 57th minute. Mitchum then turned provider in the 84th to give Antigua its fourth win, equal to Dayton and Pittsburgh. - MORE

USL PRO Friday: Pittsburgh Riverhounds 0:3 Charlotte Eagles - Nate Thornton gave the visitors the lead in the 39th minutes after acquiring a loose ball at the top of the area. A Riverhounds effort was denied by the post in the 66th, and it was all Charlotte from that point thought it was not until the final moments they secured the win with Chris Salvaggione scoring on a 90th minute rebound after a great save by Hunter Gilstrap on Miguel Ferrer. In stoppage time Mauricio Salles capped the scoring - MORE

NASL News: The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced the signing of former EPL player (Newcastle, 2000-01) Carl Cort, who last played for Brentford of League One after stints with five other clubs.
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LD Update: New women's league update; NASL & USL Pro Game Night

NASL: FC Edmonton 1:1 San Antonio Scorpions - The Scorpions failed to use their game in hand in a midweek contest to push their one-point lead to four. The visitors took the initial lead 23 minutes in when Jonathan Greenfield picked up a good through ball from Pablo Campos and put it past Lance Parker. Moments before the break Serisay Barthelemy connected with Yashir Pinto to level the score. Halftime turned into a three-hour break due to the weather and upon resumption of play, the two played to a stalemate despite San Antonion losing Josue Soto to a second yellow in the 64th. Pinto nearly scored on two late chances, failing to put away the rebound on a Kyle Porter shot in the 80th and sending another off the post five minutes later. - MORE

LD Update: Historic PDL champ; NASL & USL Pro Game Night

A high scoring evening in NASL action as the three games finished with 14 total goals, with two finishing in a draw. In USL Pro, it was a great night in North Carolina as the Charlotte Eagles and Wilmington Hammerheads were victorious, keeping the Eagles in the playoff hunt and moving the Hammerheads into a tie for third with their opponent Charleston, whom they tied the night before on the road.

Carolina RailHawks 3:3 Tampa Bay Rowdies - In a wild back-and-forth affair, the visitors got on the board first when Shane Hill knocked a 12-yard effort in off the post in the 17th minute. Then Carolina went on a roll with three straight. Nick Zimmerman headed in a Kupono Low cross from six yards to make things even two minutes before the break, then scored four minutes into the second half off a cross from Jason Garey, who added one of his own three minutes later. Luke Mulholland, who set up Hill's opener keyed Tampa Bay's rally with a half volley four minutes from time and set up the equalizer in stoppage time with a corner to Takuya Yamada - MORE

LD Update: USL Pro Game Night; NASL honor

In a showdown of the USL Pro's top two sides, regular season champion Orlando City added even more to its lead over Rochester. Meanwhile, a draw between the third and fourth-place sides Charleston and Wilmington allowed Richmond to jump past the Hammerheads with their victory.

USL PRO

Rochester Rhinos 0:1 Orlando City - Rochester netminder Kristian Nicht could only hold back Orlando City for so long before a counter in the 65th minute gave Jamie Watson the opportunity to provide the winner. - MORE