A new club record of goals scored in a half was achived at home by the Fire with all coming in the first time frame while defeating the reigning MLS champions in a big way.
In that we saw the previous games of both the USMNT and Jamaica in Philly, I was pleasantly surprised to see the US take the game between the two of them 3-1. The attack of the US was anemic as that of the Jamaica was stout, both had good defensive games at Lincoln Financial Field. Now in their 11th, a record Final, they will take on EL Tri, who else? This is a Mexico team that although it won 1-0 facing the surprise of the Cup, Haiti, they were just not able to put away enough chances.
All the hand wringing may now come to a stop. The NWSL is back on TV in a deal that will be more valuable should the USWNT take the World Cup yet again on Sunday. From 14 regular season games, a pair of semis, and the final, it begins just after the World Cup ends, Sunday at 3.
One of the biggest brands in worldwide football has proven its case in the North America as it has hit 150 clubs in 43 states, amazing in so short of a time. The top club from Germany is now tops here with fan clubs over any team foreign or domestic. Jorg Wacker, Munich's Exec. Bd Member for Internationalization & Strategy informed, "Exactly 5 years ago we opened our first international office in New York to grow our fan base, support the growth of soccer on and off the field and form mutual beneficial partnerships.
HC Stuart Shape has tapped his 14 to play for the Red, White & Blue starting July 8 in Spain facing Iran at 3 p.m. ET. With a pair of NJ players, there is a bit of a local flavor to the team with Jacob Kaplan of Morganville & Shea Hammond out of Upper Montclair. Great results in their most recent games, the 2017 World Championships & last year's IFCPF Copa America has left them in the #4 spot world wide, their best ever rank.
The USMNT, aided by a weak group are again getting a big help in drawing Curacao in the quaterfinals of the Gold Cup. They did beat a pair of teams who beat them during World Cup Qualifers, Panama & Trinidad & Tobago but please let's be serious, they admitted themselves that they did not hope to have to play their best soccer in running the table and not relenting a goal while for the 2nd time in history & a best yet +11 goal differential.
As noted by HC Chris Armas, an inductee into the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, there have been a great many goal scorers for his team this year. This evidenced itself as a trio of players scored and an equal number had assists, yet only one did both, Royer getting his Goal well into extra time off a great run by Kyle Duncan, fresh out of camp with the US, the 2nd assist going to BWP who looked well after quite a long layoff, had 20 minutes. Kaku had the goal of the game taking the ball, misplayed by the 'keeper then burying it in the back of the net at 8' in.
With their respective New Zeland & Brazil booted from the World Cup, these two stars are now back with their club teams. Following a bye week, their returns could not have been better timed as the 3-2-4 Courage match up against the league leading Spirit under first year coach Richie Burke at 5-1-3 in their home park. A strong showing as they dropped Orlando 3-0 on June 1, the Courage then had a 1-1 draw with the Thorns 2 weeks later.
Midwest United FC will match up with San Diego Surf in this game. 8 p.m. ET Friday, it is for all the marbles nationwide. The 16 team tourney began June 20 for the top of the female youth programs. Both semis were close affairs, now for the grand finale. Midwest is a bit of a Cinderella story as they came in at #9, making it to tthe semis by goal differential. This set them on a collision course with with Mid-American Div. foe Sockers FC, who overcame Midwest United on the last day of the regular season.
Contributed by Steven Torres
Montenegro forward Bledi Bardic scored twice to lead New York Cosmos to a 5:0 win over visiting Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds in the NPSL’s (National Premier Soccer League) encounter at Uniondale’s Mitchel Athletic Complex on Sunday evening. The victory gives 1st place Cosmos a 12-0-0 record in the NPSL’s North Atlantic Conference and have secured a berth into the 2019 postseason.
