In Guyana Wednesday night both Caribbean Football Union Semifinals ventured into overtime with Tempete of Haiti advancing via penalties against Trinidad’s Defence Force after a scoreless draw and the Puerto Rico Islanders scoring twice for a 3-1 victory against host Alpha United, clinching a record fourth consecutive appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Islanders are one of only three clubs that have now advanced to all four editions of the CCL, joining earlier qualifiers Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) and Olimpia (Honduras), who received a reprieve when the Belize champions, Defense Force, were withdrawn due to stadium standards. Cruz Azul (Mexico), Saprissa (Costa Rica) and Marathon (Honduras) are missing the tournament for the first time.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Update of short list for possible MLS Open Cup Qualifying First 11
Major League Soccer qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup has wrapped up with two dramatic, but vastly different finales the past two nights. Earlier this week we debuted a short list of potential players for a MLS Qualifying First 11. We have added a number of players based on performances the past two nights and for the 30 qualification matches.
In MLS qualifying, home field advantage disappeared
Sporting Kansas City wrapped up the 2011 Major League Soccer qualifying slate for the US Open Cup with a stunning 5-0 win at home Wednesday. Regardless of what the outcome had been though, for the first time home clubs were going to finish without a winning record in qualification matches.
Kansas City, which has been on the road for all eight league games and a previous qualifier, actually brought the record for home teams in 2011 to an even 3-3-2 with the victory. Even the penalty kick decisions were level with a win and a loss from the spot by the home teams. In the previous four years, the home clubs had twice as many victories as losses.
Kansas City, which has been on the road for all eight league games and a previous qualifier, actually brought the record for home teams in 2011 to an even 3-3-2 with the victory. Even the penalty kick decisions were level with a win and a loss from the spot by the home teams. In the previous four years, the home clubs had twice as many victories as losses.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Three CCL berths handed out tonight
The Nutrilite Canadian Championship comes to a close Wednesday evening while the semifinals of the Caribbean Football Union championship will send another two clubs to this summer’s fourth edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Monday, May 23, 2011
South Carolina club lends hand in Alabama; how you can help there and beyond
The Greenville Eagles are bringing more than just the typical sports event revenue to the USASA Region III tournament in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The club has arranged, along with Tuscaloosa’s Capstone Church and Harvest Church, to assist in the relief efforts as volunteers. It’s not an easy process for a team with a busy tournament schedule as they will also have to undergo a training session in order to be credentialed to enter the disaster area as a volunteer.
Other recent disasters, including today's headline news of more tornado destruction in Missouri, should also not be forgotten. Click for information about the Joplin Tornado and Mississippi River relief efforts.
Other recent disasters, including today's headline news of more tornado destruction in Missouri, should also not be forgotten. Click for information about the Joplin Tornado and Mississippi River relief efforts.
Possible First 11 for MLS Qualifying as finales near
The US Open Cup qualifying process for Major League Soccer comes to a close this week with four teams playing in the two finales of their respective brackets to claim the league’ two additional berths, joining the initial six given automatic entry based on last year’s league table. With MLS launching Team of the Week honors this year, we thought we would take a look at who the Best 11 are for MLS Open Cup qualifying.
Here is a quick look at who is on the radar heading into the final two matches Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here is a quick look at who is on the radar heading into the final two matches Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Big CCL week outside US
Following Puerto Rico’s big victory Saturday to claim the final spot in the final four of the Caribbean championship, the Islanders learned their opposition Sunday in the draw for the event, which will determine three of the five remaining participants for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League. On Wednesday, the draw for the Preliminary Round and Groups of the CCL will be held, and the first leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship will kick off between Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Islanders reach CFU Semis with big win
After playing to a 1-1 draw on the road in Suriname, the Puerto Rico Islanders utilized their infamous home field advantage to level a 7-0 second-leg drubbing against Walking Boyz Co. in the final match of the Quarterfinals in the Caribbean Football Union's Club Championship.
The victory, spurred by a five-goal first half, was the second best result in an official competition match in Islanders history and only the fourth time the team has scored five goals in a game. It was the second-best in margin of victory, trailing, only a 10-0 victory over SAP Bolans in the First Round of the 2007 CFU Championship (11.5.07). It is the second time the club has tallied seven goals in a match, having beaten Leo Victor 7-1 in the Quarterfinals of the event in 2007 (11.10.07). No other CFU results were by more than three goals.
In fact, outside of the three matches above, the club's history since its 2004 founding is minimal in the department of large victories. The Islanders have won by three goals twice in the CONCACAF Champions League (4-1 at Los Angeles Galaxy 7.27.10 & 4-1 v FAS 8.25.10) and has only won by four goals twice in professional second division play (4-0 v Miami FC Blues 8.8.09 & 4-0 v Rochester Rhinos 8.8.08 - yes, the same exact date). The only other time Puerto Rico has scored more than four goals in an official match was a 5-2 CFU First Round victory against Inter Moengotapoe on November 11, 2007.
The victory, spurred by a five-goal first half, was the second best result in an official competition match in Islanders history and only the fourth time the team has scored five goals in a game. It was the second-best in margin of victory, trailing, only a 10-0 victory over SAP Bolans in the First Round of the 2007 CFU Championship (11.5.07). It is the second time the club has tallied seven goals in a match, having beaten Leo Victor 7-1 in the Quarterfinals of the event in 2007 (11.10.07). No other CFU results were by more than three goals.
In fact, outside of the three matches above, the club's history since its 2004 founding is minimal in the department of large victories. The Islanders have won by three goals twice in the CONCACAF Champions League (4-1 at Los Angeles Galaxy 7.27.10 & 4-1 v FAS 8.25.10) and has only won by four goals twice in professional second division play (4-0 v Miami FC Blues 8.8.09 & 4-0 v Rochester Rhinos 8.8.08 - yes, the same exact date). The only other time Puerto Rico has scored more than four goals in an official match was a 5-2 CFU First Round victory against Inter Moengotapoe on November 11, 2007.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
CFU Final Four Nearly Set
In what was the biggest soccer match in Haiti since the January 2010 earthquake that devastated much of the already impoverished nation, the host club Tempete FC squeezed out a result that advanced the side to semifinals of the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Championship tournament. Tempete is the third club to advance with the remaining series to conclude Saturday in Puerto Rico.
Leading the series with a surprising 1-0 victory on the road in Trinidad, Tempete were edged at home by Caledonia AIA in an identical 1-0 scoreline, sending the series to penalty kicks. Tempete were victorious from the spot, 3-2, Sunday in Saint-Marc to move on to the Final Four of the CFU championship, where they will have the opportunity to claim one of three spots in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Leading the series with a surprising 1-0 victory on the road in Trinidad, Tempete were edged at home by Caledonia AIA in an identical 1-0 scoreline, sending the series to penalty kicks. Tempete were victorious from the spot, 3-2, Sunday in Saint-Marc to move on to the Final Four of the CFU championship, where they will have the opportunity to claim one of three spots in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Friday, May 6, 2011
CCL Update: Championship soccer returns to Haiti
While eyes interested in the CONCACAF Championship League have largely shifted toward Canada and the United States since Monterrey claimed the title in the third edition of the tournament, an important moment is about to occur in the Caribbean. On Sunday, Haiti will play host to the biggest soccer match since the nation was devastated by the catastrophic earthquake of January 12, 2010 when Tempete FC plays host to Caledonia AIA for a spot in the Final Four of the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Championship and a shot at one of the three CCL berths for this fall.
Neither the men’s or women’s national teams has played a game since that day with most matches in Trinidad or a series of friendlies abroad, making Sundays CFU contest the first significant match in the nation in over a year. The match will be held at Parc Levelt in Saint Marc, a city that was at the edges of the earthquake’s most impacted area and is now the nation’s primary port city for commerce.
While restoration for a nation that was already very impoverished before the fateful day is still a long way off, the people of Haiti will have plenty to cheer and be hopeful for Sunday in Saint-Marc as Tempete holds a surprising 1-0 advantage in the series following the upset victory April 22 in Trinidad courtesy of a fourth minute goal from captain Junior Charles.
Not only does Caledonia need two goals Sunday, minimum, in order to advance, but the club has two goals for its trip to Haiti, according to head coach Jamaal Shabazz, who told the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian, “It’s a huge challenge but we have become accustomed to situations like these where our backs are against the wall. But going to Haiti means more than just a win or loss. Even though we are going for a victory, it’s more about the historical significance where people of our community Morvant/Laventille can go to a country which has shown the ability to rise above tragedies. To me that is the real essence of this trip.”
Neither the men’s or women’s national teams has played a game since that day with most matches in Trinidad or a series of friendlies abroad, making Sundays CFU contest the first significant match in the nation in over a year. The match will be held at Parc Levelt in Saint Marc, a city that was at the edges of the earthquake’s most impacted area and is now the nation’s primary port city for commerce.
While restoration for a nation that was already very impoverished before the fateful day is still a long way off, the people of Haiti will have plenty to cheer and be hopeful for Sunday in Saint-Marc as Tempete holds a surprising 1-0 advantage in the series following the upset victory April 22 in Trinidad courtesy of a fourth minute goal from captain Junior Charles.
Not only does Caledonia need two goals Sunday, minimum, in order to advance, but the club has two goals for its trip to Haiti, according to head coach Jamaal Shabazz, who told the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian, “It’s a huge challenge but we have become accustomed to situations like these where our backs are against the wall. But going to Haiti means more than just a win or loss. Even though we are going for a victory, it’s more about the historical significance where people of our community Morvant/Laventille can go to a country which has shown the ability to rise above tragedies. To me that is the real essence of this trip.”
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