The Third Half - USL Week 4
Easter Weekend Brings Out the Late Goals and Blowouts
I hope you all had a great relaxing weekend.
One big audible this week. Due to getting sick this past weekend (when I’m breaking a thermometer out of mothballs you know it’s bad…and it was bad) some things had to be moved around a bit. Because of that, and the need to get back into bed, there will be no longform coverage this week. Normal service will resume next week.
A huge thank you to Kartik Krishnaiyer is needed for covering the Florida games for me so I could try and get this finished early enough to get a full weekend’s rest.
Around The USL Championship
North Carolina FC 2 Hartford Athletic 1: Two first half goals were enough for North Carolina FC to taste victory for the first time this season. Despite pulling one back inside 20 minutes to play, Hartford Athletic were unable to find an equalizer as Hartford Athletic would taste defeat for the first time this season 2-1.
Ezra Armstrong would force Paul Walters into a long distance save off the corner kick in the 22nd minute, Oalex Armstrong offside on the follow up that eventually found the back of the net. Minutes later Oalex Anderson would take the deflected intercept pass from Louis Perez and go on a masterful 30-yard individual run, referee playing advantage when Beverly Makangila tried to interfere with play. The run would come to an end when Anderson Asiedu would take Oalex out in the penalty area, an easy penalty decision for the referee to make. Louis Perez would step to the spot and go down the middle to make it 1-0 twenty-five minutes into the contest.
A long-distance dedication after some head tennis by Rodrigo da Costa only missed being paid off 2 minutes later, just missing the near post. 8 minutes later North Carolina would double their lead. Ezra Armstrong would start the sequence to Collin Martin, who set up Rodrigo da Costa. Da Costa with time found the perfect pass to Oalex Anderson, a pass that allowed Anderson to split Joey Akpunonu and Beverly Makangila. Oalex Anderson to his credit waited until Paul Walters set where he was going to cover before firing over Walter’s left hand. It was a well worked team goal and at 2-0 this game felt over.
Hartford Athletic would make the ending of this interesting, a curling free kick from Jay Chapman 15 yards extended left only touched by Jake McGuire, who was unable to collect as the ball would bounce off the far post and into the back of the net without any additional assistance. North Carolina had no cover on the far post and had the ball bounced back into play there were 3 Hartford players ready to pounce.
Jake McGuire would be called into action in second half stoppage time, denying Enoch Mushagalusa from 20 far post with what was a better effort than most as he was going down while getting the shot off. He would be called into action again in the sixth minute of stoppage time, a team effort ending in a triple block as North Carolina held on for their first victory back in the USL Championship.
Louisville City FC 5 Birmingham Legion FC 0: It was a day everything for Louisville City went right and everything went wrong for Birmingham Legion FC as 2 first half goals were beaten by 3 second half goals as Louisville City FC continued their fine form in destroying Birmingham Legion FC 5-0 in a game the visitors will want to immediately forget.
Louisville City would start the contest peppering the Birmingham net and would be in front before the quarter hour. Taylor Davila would get through traffic to put a cross into Jake Morris. Morris getting in front of Preston Etaka to beat a scrambling Matt Van Oekel. It would wake Birmingham Legion up temporarily. Two minutes later Damian Las would be called into action to deny Diba Nwegbo’s shot on goal, a rare chance for Birmingham in this one.
Louisville City would put the game away ten minutes from halftime. Adrien Perez would collect a midfield pass before finding Jansen Wilson. Wilson would get down the right before centering to Wilson Harris. The centering ball allowed Wilson Harris to turn Kobe Hernández-Foster and shooting near post before the help could arrive, Matt Van Oekel unable to see the ball through the traffic until it was too late. With the way Louisville City was flowing at this point, it was game over.
The final quarter of the contest would see Louisville City find the back of the net three times in eighteen minutes. Elijah Wynder would find Ray Serrano on the left, his cross to Wilson Harris mistimed by Matt Van Oekel before the point-blank touch by Harris made it 3-0 sixty-six minutes in. Perez would play a 1-2 with Jorge Asensi before finding Taylor Davila, a wonderful tight angle finish through the wickets of the Birmingham keeper. The scoring would be completed in the 82nd minute when Niall McCabe would win the ball in midfield and find Ray Serrano, Alex Crognale losing sight of the ball before Serrano fired near post.
In this three-goal sequence, Damian Las only had one save of consequence to make. That would come from a 69th minute free kick that fell to Tyler Prasher, Prasher whiffing on his shot but Las strong to the task getting his palm out to deny Enzo Martinez’s follow-up effort.
Indy Eleven 1 Detroit City FC 2: Maxi Rodriguez’s goal 2 minutes from the 90 was enough for Detroit City FC to cap off the comeback against Indy Eleven and keep their perfect start going, winning 2-1.
Detroit City would get the first chance of the afternoon, a Maxi Rodriguez shot from a Younes Boudadi header ultimately easily collected by Yannik Oettl. A minute later Indy Eleven would find the front. Indy Eleven would start with a cross field pass to Jake Blake who would play a 1-2 with Augustine Williams to get additional space. Blake would then ping another cross field ball to Younes Boudadi. Boudadi would get to the end line, beat his man and center before James Murphy could become a factor. The ball would go into the space Murphy gave up in chasing Boudadi right to the waiting foot of Sebastian Guenzatti to finish far post.
Detroit City would continue to get close opportunities, but were fortunate to not be 2 nil down right after halftime when a free kick by Cameron Lindley would fall to Adrian Diz, his header just saved by Nathan Steinwascher. Six minutes later, Indy Eleven would get multiple touches inside the 18-yard box, ending when Augustine Williams’s shot was blocked by Steinwascher.
Four minutes later Detroit City would equalize. Off a throw in by Brett Lewis, the ball would find James Murphy, a header turning it into a 1-2. Lewis would then play a delayed 1-2 with Ali Coote. Lewis would find Maxi Rodriguez unmarked and center the ball, Indy Eleven making the decision to abandon all positional spacing and converge on Maxi Rodriguez. Rodriguez spotted Coote on the run, split Younes Boudadi and Tyler Gibson with the pass before Coote put the perfect shot far post and in, nothing Yannick Oettl could have done with it as he was defending the near post. At 1-1 it was game on.
Nathan Steinwasher again was called into action to stop an Adrian Diz set piece header, this one in the 80th minute Max Schneider corner kick right at the Detroit City keeper. That would keep the game 1-1 and allow Detroit City find the winner 8 minutes later. Off a set piece James Murphy’s ball would go far post. Yazeed Matthews would head it across the frame of goal, Maxi Rodriguez beating teammate Devon Amoo-Mensah to the final touch from 1 yard out.
Miami FC 1 Charleston Battery 2: A huge and massive thank you to Kartik Krishnaiyer for providing these quick hit thoughts, an interview with the Miami FC head coach, and an additional in depth report with quotes from Charleston Battery.
Tampa Bay Rowdies 4 Rhode Island FC 1: Here is Kartik Krishnaiyer’s full time report.
San Antonio FC 2 Monterey Bay FC 1: It was the late show again from San Antonio FC as an 86th minute goal proved to be decisive as San Antonio FC would see off Monterey Bay FC 2-1.
San Antonio would hit the front in the seventh minute, a corner from Jorge Hernandez poorly dealt with by Monterey Bay. This allowed Mitchell Taintor to put a second cross box pass in that landed at the feet of Jorge Hernandez. Hernandez’s ball far post would bounce off the head of Juan Agudelo right into the path of Carter Manley, who put the final touch in far post. It was horrible defending all around from the visitors, no one bothering to deal with the ball until it turned into a token gesture as the ball was going in.
A 20th minute corner needed Shannon Gomez’s intervention on the near post to deny Mobi Fehr’s header, a sign Monterey Bay was still in the contest. The resulting corner would fail at the near post. A free kick on the half hour by Jorge Hernandez forced Antony Siaha into a short hop save on the near post.
Monterey Bay will have thought Alex Dixon’s 45th minute effort from the edge of the 18 was goalward bound, the crossbar having other ideas as the shot reverbed off the crossbar for a good three seconds. In first half stoppage time Monterey Bay would be level. Monterey Bay would win a free kick 32 yards out after Mohamed Omar fouled Morey Doner. Wilmer Martinez would step up to put the free kick into the mixer, one that fell right into the path of Mobi Fehr to put home on the post Martinez’s free kick came from. Pablo Sisniega was flat footed as Kevon Lambert keep going towards goal instead of trying to win the ball that Fehr ultimately did. Credit goes to Martinez who put that ball in the perfect location for Monterey Bay to pounce. On the basis of the first half 1-1 felt the fair score.
San Antonio would increase the pressure in the second half and finally be rewarded four minutes from the ninety. It would be another Jorge Hernandez set piece past the far post, headed central by Mitchell Taintor. This time the ball would bounce into waiting path of Kevon Lambert who had beaten Pierce Gallaway and Alejandro Lara to the space to put the ball under a late diving Antony Siaha. The fact a similar set piece worked twice for San Antonio FC has to have Coach Yallop fuming. San Antonio would see the game out from here to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive.
Oakland Roots SC 0 Las Vegas Lights FC 3: Las Vegas Lights would put everything together in a remarkable twenty-minute stretch to start the second half as they would score three times on the road to pick up their second win on the spin, 3-0 over Oakland Roots SC.
In a half of few quality opportunities, it was Oakland Roots at least testing Raiko Arozarena. That would change seconds into the second half. Las Vegas would keep possession and work a triangle between Coleman Gannon, Soloman Asante and Shawn Smart. Asante would lay off to Gannon, his shot looked to be covered by Paul Blanchette, but an unfortunate deflection by Niall Logue redirected the ball where Blanchette was as the ball would find the back of the net. Credit to Gannon, who did enough in the contest with Neveal Hackshaw to get space to put his shot on frame.
Two minutes later a poor Raiko Arozarena long ball would fall right into the path of Trayvone Reid, Reid unable to pick a post and shooting right at the Las Vegas Lights keeper. A 49th minute corner kick would be punched out by Arozarena, Jean-Claude Ngando out muscling Niall Logue to the ball. Ngando would find Valentin Noel, his pass gets Gaoussou Samake in behind Guillermo Diaz. Samake timed his shot to perfection to negate any possible challenge by Napo Matsoso and before Paul Blanchette could react to the shot near post. At 2-0 this looked and felt over as a contest.
Las Vegas Lights would finish it off in sixty-sixth minute. A long ball by Gaoussou Samake landed to the feet of Valentin Noel. Noel would turn Niall Logue, and before Gagi Margvelashvili could get set put the shot on near post, Blanchette a spectator as Las Vegas Lights were running riot at 3-0. It was just a simple route one ball, one Oakland Roots did little to defend.
Orange County SC 1 FC Tulsa 0: A goal before the half hour would be enough for Orange County SC to hold off FC Tulsa 1-0, in a game where FC Tulsa huffed and puffed but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Orange County would start with a speculative effort 2 minutes into the contest, Michael Creek easily there to put the ball out for a corner kick. On 20 minutes Cameron Dunbar would get Justin Portillo to overcommit, his shot far post bending too late to matter. Three minutes later Ashish Chattha would get plenty of space from 25 yards out, but his shot not able to find the frame. Orange County had all of the open with little of substance to show for it.
Orange County would finally put it all together in the 27th minute. After a spell of possession down the left, the ball would be worked across the pitch to Ashish Chattha. Chattha would put a pass through to Sofiane Djeffal that allowed him to split Alazar Yosef and Boubacar Diallo. Djeffal would do well to force space and shoot on frame before Alexis Souahy could challenge. Michael Creek didn’t see the shot near post through traffic until it was too late, his fingertips the final guide into the back of the net. It was a goal Orange County deserved as FC Tulsa’s late commitment to defending in their defensive third finally was finally punished.
Cameron Dunbar thought he had double the hosts advantage 5 minutes into the second half. After collecting Chattha’s pass on the edge of the penalty area he was given freedom to settle and shoot, Creek only getting a hand to it to put it out for a corner. It would take 55 minutes before Tulsa would get a shot of consequence on goal, Alexis Souahy finding Boubacar Diallo on a switching ball. Diallo had time to settle and shoot but Colin Shutler was able to parry over the crossbar for a corner. Despite the chances FC Tulsa would get, in the final half hour, nothing would get on frame. Nathan Worth will regret not burying Harvy St. Clair’s cross in the final minute of stoppage time, an effectively unmarked header from six yards out that only missed the far post. The full time whistle would see Colin Shutler get the Orange County SC clean sheet record, one he’s likely going to only expand on as the year progresses.
Sacramento Republic FC 1 Memphis 901 FC 0: It would be the late show in Sacramento as Jonathan Ricketts goal four minutes from second half stoppage time would be enough to keep Sacramento Republic FC’s unbeaten start to the season alive while condemning Memphis 901FC to their second straight defeat 1-0.
Trevor Amann should have got the scoring underway in the 14th minute, his header off a free kick sent in by Rodrigo Lopez sent just wide. It would be the best chance in a tight first half where both sides would lose focus once getting into their attacking third.
Neco Brett gave Memphis 901FC’s first quality chance of the night seven minutes into the second half. After collecting Bruno Lapa’s pass, he didn’t do enough to turn Conor Donovan, Brett’s shot ultimately deflecting off Donovan’s leg for a corner kick. Tyler Deric would be called into action in the 71st minute, Russell Cicerone finding Rodrigo Lopez, who pinged a direct ball to Jack Gurr. Gurr’s only not trying to beat the onrushing Tyler Deric, instead shooting right into his body and ultimately out for a corner.
Memphis’s best chance of the night would come in the 79th minute. A counter attack off a free kick started by Luiz Fernando. Fernando’s pass to Bruno Lapa was challenged right into the path of Fernando who kept the forward run going. Fernando’s chip to Dylan Borczak allowed him to backheel center his pass to Bruno Lapa, the shot right at Daniel Vitiello who was strong to the task to deflect out for a corner kick. Had Lapa picks a post it is likely 1-0 to the visitors.
The game winner would come four minutes from the ninety. Off a set piece after Trevor Amann was fouled by Zach Duncan, Rodrigo Lopez’s ball in allowed Jonathan Ricketts to get not one but two chances to finish from 2 yards out. The first opportunity Tyler Deric was able to save, but the ball would fall right back into the path of Ricketts who did enough with the second chance to lift his shot over the body of Deric and in on the far post. Rickets had an easy header as Walid Yacoubou didn’t leap to defend the ball in, and stayed flat footed as Ricketts was first to both the initial ball in and the second chance opportunity.
Phoenix Rising FC 0 New Mexico United 1: A Dayonn Harris goal after the quarter hour was enough for New Mexico United to pick up their second win of the season against a lackluster Phoenix Rising 1-0.
Phoenix Rising’s only shot on target would come in the eighth minute Erikson Gallardo and Panos Armenakas playing a 1-2 that got Gallardo on the run, his shot from 25 right at Alex Tambakis.
Eight minutes later New Mexico would hit the front. After a spell of possession for New Mexico, Dayonn Harris would start the sequence by playing a lay up 1-2 with Marco Micaletto, Micaletto’s shot easily saved by Rocco Rios Novo. Phoenix would go to play it out the back, the pass poor to Renzo Zambrano. The ball would fall to the feet of Dominick Hernandez, Hernandez finding an unmarked Mukwelle Akale. Akale took the pass and with the Phoenix Rising line tracking back after Hernandez’s pass it allowed Akale to put his pass across the box to Dayonn Harris, Rios Novo a spectator as everyone for Phoenix has abandoned the half of the pitch Harris was on.
Greg Hurst had a chance to put the visitors 2-0 in front ten minutes from halftime, a throw in New Mexico worked down the right, Hurst turning Pape Boye before putting his shot directly in the path of Rocco Rios Novo. Eleven minutes into the second half New Mexico United would be awarded a penalty, Mukwelle Akale half chance handled above the shoulder by the arm of Papa Boye, Boye given a yellow for the stupidity as the shot towards goal was never going to hit frame. The kick would be taken by Greg Hurst, his shot not far enough to the left and right into the path of the guessing correctly Rocco Rios Novo.
It would be the last chance of the night as New Mexico United’s counter pressing gave Phoenix Rising fits all night, the first time this season New Mexico United put everything together for 90 minutes.
USL League One Roundup
Charlotte Independence 2 Spokane Velocity 1: Here is our full time report from Thursday.
Lexington SC 2 Greenville Triumph SC 3: CBS Golazo Network was treated to an unbelievable comeback as an own goal in the eighth minute of second half stoppage time saw Greenville Triumph complete the comeback from two goals down against 10 player Lexington SC to keep Greenville Triumph SC unbeaten to start the season.
Lexington has the better of the play and thought they had hit the front in the 34th minute, Ates Diouf judged to be offside. A minute later Azaad Liadi split the back line from a Isaac Cano through ball, the chip over Christian Garner threatening the uprights than top post. The pressure would finally pay off in first half stoppage time. Cameron Lancaster would win the ball in the Lexington defensive third beat his man and find Ates Diouf. Diouf would get Tyler Polak and first half substitute Ben Zakowski out of position before finding an unmarked Isaac Cano. Garner would get a palm to the ball but it enough to delay play. At 1-0 going into halftime, it wasn’t the lead Lexington SC deserved, as they had ample opportunity to score 3 or 4 that went by the wayside, and fortunate a last kick of the half from Leonardo Castro didn’t find the net but the post to send the game into the interval level.
Lexington thought they had put the game away 3 minutes from the hour, Liadi using Christian Young as a screen before beating Polak and Pascal Carvino to the end line, a simple centering pass to Cameron Lancaster from 5 yards out easy to finish as Garner had cheated near post. It would be at this point Greenville would wake up and the game changed.
Credit goes to Greenville for exploiting how much Lexington SC had tracked back and softened up their lines as the lead would only be 2 for 8 minutes. Lynn Mackinnon started the sequence to Louis Herrera. His pass to Leonardo Castro to Evan Lee spotted Jamie Smith on the run, Greenville going completely to sleep allowing Ben Zakowski to take a centering ball and back heel it far post, kept on by Modesto Mendez.
The game would change in the 79th minute when on a long throw by Hayden Anderson was flicked on towards goal. Amahl Knight would attempt the punch the ball clear unsuccessfully, the ball falling to Leonardo Castro, who’s shot was blocked on the line by Modesto Mendez. After consultation Knight would pick up a yellow for the foul on Jorge Corrales, and would immediately pick up a second bookable offense for dissent. Lexington was fortunate to have a final substitute left as Nico Campuzano could come in as the backup keeper. He would only be on the pitch for four minutes before Greenville Triumph would equalize. A simple pass down the left to Jamie Smith, his cross poorly cleared right into the path of Lyam MacKinnon, an unchallenged effort getting through traffic and in from the edge of the penalty area.
Greenville would win in in the eighth minute of second half stoppage time. A long throw by Greenville Triumph through the hands of Nico Campuzano and in off a poor goal line touch by Keaton Fox.
Central Valley Fuego FC 0 Forward Madison FC 3: On a miserably wet and cold night in Fresno, it would be Forward Madison scoring 3 in 21 minutes to end the first half. That would be enough to pick up their first win of the season, 3-0 over Central Valley Fuego FC, who ended on 10 players.
Thanks to technical difficulties due to a wet and windy night in the central valley of California, transmission of the broadcast was lost from 24:45 until resumption at 30:40. During that time Forward Madison would hit the front through the foot of Derek Gebhard, a goal to this moment only those at Fresno State Soccer Stadium has seen. Central Valley would have their chances off the restart, but Bernd Schipmann was strong to the task to deny at the near post.
Forward Madison would double their advantage in the 42nd minute, Central Valley conceding too many easy passes allowed Madison to pass it along the back and walk it past the center line, before stringing an additional three passes together. The last pass from Derek Gebhard found the feet of John Murphy who had plenty of time to settle and blast one on the near post from 23 yards out a shot Carlos Avilez is going to have nightmares over because it was a shot he should have saved is it went in inches from where he was positioned. It was a goal in 6 passes and 15 touches, only two of those 15 touches contested.
The game would end as a contest in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time. It was a simple long ball out the back directed toward Juan Galindrez. Galindrez beat Razak Cromwel with ease, got the ball to the end line, and pulled a ridiculous back hell back central into the path of Devin Boyce. Before anyone could get back to cover Boyce had blasted it far post, game over.
Central Valley nearly had a lifeline back into the game in the opening minute of the second half, but a double stop by Bernd Schipmann to deny Raui Mendiola and Shavon John-Brown made it clean was going to keep a clean sheet. It could be argued Forward Madison should have a fourth goal in the 55th minute, but Stephan Payne’s pass to Ferrety Sousa was just enough behind him that the shot skied over the crossbar. Central Valley’s night would go from bad to worse when Jose Carrera-Garcia would pick up his second booking in five minutes after taking out John Murphy without a hint of playing the ball.
One Knoxville SC 1 South Georgia Tormenta FC 0: An Angelo Kelly-Rosales goal ten minutes from halftime was enough for One Knoxville SC to keep a perfect start to the season, winning 1-0 over South Georgia Tormenta.
In a game of few chances of consequence it would be One Knoxville who got the breakthrough in the first half. After Frank Ross’s long distance effort was parried out for a throw in by Sean Lewis, the throw in would be cleared briefly. The third phase of the sequence would see Callum Johnson set up Angelo Kelly who was given the freedom of space 25 yards out to collect, set and fire from 25 yards out as Mason Turnbridge only moved aside, Ford Parker unable to do anything about the screamer near post.
Innocent Nshuti would give the near post a workout in the second half, but would only register one shot on target. South Georgia would get their best chance in the 65th minute but Pedro Fonseca would put the shot over from 12 yards out. One Knoxville would easily see the game out from here.
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Union Omaha: PPD due to pitch upgrades.
Weekend Observations and Random Musings
1: Seeing the announcement from USL about the letter of intent with the City of Roswell just doesn’t sit well with me. Unless you already have an owner that can pass muster and a potential stadium/training site picked out to build on all this seems like is a possibly maybe. USL has to get better at making their announcements when teams are further along in the process. This goes with the City of Palm Beach announcement as well.
If nothing comes from this (which is my biggest fear considering local politics can change with the wind), it only makes USL look like a fly by night operation. Just look at New Orleans and Milwaukee, even the pause of Oklahoma City. If this make a fourth in recent memory that either doesn’t start, or starts well after the initial date, your going to have people who might want to look into joining USL look elsewhere.
At least the Buffalo announcement looks like it might have legs. Same with the Arkansas. Personally, I’m starting to get concerned at the delays in the announcements where the Jacksonville USL stadium will be but at least they have a front office.
2: If you are a professional football team, it is inexcusable for your pitch to not be ready for week 1 of the regular season. The only way a game should be postponed this far out is either through a major death in the organization, a known weather event that could cause harm to those traveling, or an act of God. Having your next two games postponed due to pitch maintenance and upgrades not being completed on time should result in automatic forfeits, points deductions and fines for not being ready for play when the season kicked off.
What is even more embarrassing for Chattanooga Red Wolves, the team who have had to postpone their next two games, USL League One gave them the benefit of the entire month of March to get their pitch upgrades completed. Instead of having a huge build up to your opening home game of the season, it’s now going to be damp squib. It’s probably a good thing I don’t run leagues because Union Omaha and Charlotte Independence would have both gotten 3 free points and Chattanooga Red Wolves would be 5 points to the negative for failing to be ready for play.
3: To the readers of Beyond the 90, I owe you a debt of thank you for making our Charlotte Independence/Spokane Velocity FC match report one of the highest engaging pieces on the site in March. You have given us something to seriously think about moving forward.
4: Dear people who create highlights for USL, if a goal is scored it’s important enough to be included in the highlights package. To miss the opener for Forward Madison against Central Valley is just horrific form. I get technical difficulties happen in a live broadcast, but there is this beautiful thing after the fact called inserting a clip. Use it, you might be surprised.
5: Now that we are out of April, can anyone in the USL front office explain to me why two teams in the USL Championship have yet to kick a ball in anger at home? Furthermore, why have some teams who have already played 3 of their first 4 games at home while one team has only played twice (both on the road)? I get venue availability is always tricky, but this imbalance to your schedule makes you come off in not the best light and gives critics to your league a legitimate and valid argument about why they don’t take the league seriously. Next season, fix it.
6: I wonder if the Eddie Munjoma signing for the Rowdies was Robbie Neilson’s way of telling the squad ‘if you don’t perform to my expectations I will find players who will and sell you elsewhere where you won’t make the same money you are here’. Whatever he said at halftime (and I don’t think what was said in full was included in the quotes provided to us) woke them out of their slumber, if only temporarily.
7: Concerning trends for me a month into the season: Miami FC inability to defend a cross, set piece, or win a second ball. Rhode Island’s willing openness that is resulting in too many goals they shouldn’t be giving up. San Antonio FC and Dertoit City FC and late goals.
8: Louisville City look damn near unplayable at the moment. Granted I’m not entirely sure if using their last two opponents are the perfect judge of that though, but when you are peppering the net, and they start coming, the trend tends to be goals will follow. I’m already salivating at the two games this season they will have with Charleston Battery, and their dates with Orange County and Sacramento. Those four games look to be can’t miss games.
9: This is the 2nd game running the USL has had technical gremlins with an Indy Eleven match. The first time I can understand as things happen, the second time makes it inexcusable and downright unforgivable. Sorry to be so negative with some of these musings this week but someone has to call them out. You want people to cover your league, these are the little things that will cause people to quit and possible fans to not give your product a second look. These are things that need fixing immediately.
10: I am baffled at how New Mexico United have 7 points through the first month of the season. That is an indictment to how bad Pittsburgh Riverhounds were. Phoenix Rising FC looked equally as bad as they the Riverhounds did on opening day. When the New Mexico United counter press is in full flow, I will give them credit it’s difficult to defend. However, it’s consistently inconsistent.
Phoenix also feel into the worst trap of playing slower than New Mexico. If you up the tempo against this side their counter press doesn’t gel.
11: I would have thought after Oakland Roots survived a 1-1 draw with Charleston Battery considering all the circumstances around that game it would have been a building block for the season. Instead I can’t think of any redeeming qualities from the last two games. At least in the first half this week they may have marginally been the better side?
11a: To that end, city of Las Vegas, go out and support this Lights team. They look like they have finally rebuilt the right way and will always entertain. The results are starting to come as well. They may end up being the surprise package of the season.
12: A little note from me as we continue to work on the format of this weekly report. Thanks to Kartik’s ability to cover Miami FC games from the press box, most of the longform coverage will shift to his reports. Unless it’s a long form game on the road (like the game next week in Hartford) it is unlikely I will be adding much color to Miami FC games outside of the observations I place here. That will also be the same with the Tampa Bay Rowdies as they have been gracious in opening their doors to us. For the Rowdies, unless it’s a standalone game or a big game warranting the kind of coverage deserving of a big game, those reports will be coming from Kartik. They’ll still be in the Florida Soccer Report section of Beyond the 90 and linked in this report.
13: I know I’ve said it 3 times already, but I need to say it a 4th, thank you Kartik for the help this weekend. Just doing those two games allowed me to get this done early enough I don’t have to call out of work Monday morning.
Longform Coverage Next Week
FC Tulsa v Phoenix Rising FC
Hartford Athletic v Miami FC
Louisville City v Indy Eleven
Thank you --and take good care of yourself, Jonathan!! I'm a bit worried and would not want this to detract from your long-term wellness!
Bravo for this great work, Jonathan, week by week! This week has the misfortune of coinciding of Kartik's Pro/Rel column which has attracted a firestorm of attention and comments!
So I will comment here: The USL has been great for domestic & international youngsters to establish a career in Pro soccer! In contrast, Pro/Rel is not conducive to having a stable Academy system that brings training, competing, and signing opportunities for multitudes of aspiring young soccer players in this country. The financial, logistical, and administrative chaos of Pro/Rel means LESS investment in the typically money-losing Academy side of a pro soccer club.