Today, this national league let it be known that although the number of games will reamain unchanged at 34 for its' 2nd year, they will now take 33 weeks to play these matches. Wednesday during the USL Board of Governors Mid-Seanon Meetings held in Atlanta this decision was ratified.
Contributed by Steven Torres
Italian side Juventus FC topped SL Benfica of Portugal, 4:2 on penalty kicks after a 1:1 draw, on Saturday, during the annual exhibition club competition - International Champions Cup (ICC), before crowd of 24,194, Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
After a scoreless first half, Spanish defender Alex Grimaldo scored off a free kick in the 65th minute to give the 36-time Portuguese champion, Benfica, the lead.
Contributed by Steven Torres
Soccer Long Island Magazine continues its weekly feature as it looks back at some historical events/games, both on and off the field, from the region of North, Central America and Caribbean.
In this week’s edition you have Mexico capturing 3 Gold Cups (1993, 2003, 2009); Canada winning it's 2nd Concacaf Women’s U-20 Title; and 1st U.S. team competing at Olympic Soccer Tournament on home soil since 1904.
BWP netted his 100th MLS goal and 118 overall as a Red Bull as it was the game winning goal, his 26th in the 1-0 win over DC in their new digs, Audi Filed in a rain soaked affair. Brilliant formerly of NYCFC got the start for the home team as RBNY ran their all time July record to 49-29-22 with 180 goals scored and 163 conceeded.
Kaku gave BWP the assist, he leads the league with 13, including 3 in his last 4 games and 4 over the last 6.
A game we had marked on our calendars to attend as soon as the MLS schedule was released, we will not be attending but rather will be in Philly for Bayern Munich and Juventes. The new Audi Field, with many green features as we had brought to you months ago will host the NYRB for the first time. Beginning at 8p.m. on MSG it will also be avail on MSG GO and New York Red Bulls Radio. DC leads this hotly contested series, last time too hot as a fire broke out during the United's last game at RFK, 34-27-13.
The Chicago Fire are on the road again as on Aug. 8, they will go out to face the Union in the Semi Finals and the Dynamo host LAFC, great result for the first year team.
The Final gets a bit involved but if either Houston or LAFC win, they host on 9/26 while the Fire will do so on 10/3 should they be the victor over the Union.
For the 2nd straight week these 2 teams meet up with just 4 points between them, kickoff is at 6p.m. CT. At home the Fire dropped 3 points in the 2-1 loss and hope to recoup these points.
Just 3 days prior to kick off, facing highly ranked Japan, USWNT HC, Jill Ellis has named her final 23 for the tourney set to start in KC at Children's Mercy Park. Local players dot the selection with Carli Lloyd who plies her trade with Sky Blue and her 100 international goals joined by Allie Long of Long Island looking for her 40th cap and from the first place NC Courage, another Long Islander, Crystal Dunn looking for her 24th goal in only 64 games.
Contributed by Steven Torres
New Jersey’s FC Motown defeated hosts New York Cosmos B, 3:2, in the NPSL’s (National Premier Soccer League) Northeast Region Final at Columbia University’s Rocco B. Commisso Stadium on Saturday evening.
A rare tie for the team tearing up the league, NC Courage at 19-4-1 were held scoreless by the first year team Utah Royals FC in SLC. The Courage were pressing throughout, but unable to get through for that elusive goal Friday evening, despite that, they are now another point closer to their goals of home field advantage throughout the playoffs and the Supporters Shield. Down by more than half a starting lineup (6) due to international call ups, they played as usual and had by far the better of play start to finish.
