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.
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With their 2nd win in as many days, 2-0 over the Rhode Island Reds, with Bledi Bardic & Matt Levine putting the balls in the net for the visitors as Paul Blanchette got the shutout. A striker and a center back each getting a goal, could you ask for much better balance as the team is now 10-0-0 with a playoff berth assured and have been in a great groove all season long. Bledi is trying to get a goal a game this year as his 9th came at the 7' mark as he spun, advanced to the top of the box and fired from 18 yards and sent it home. at 30' Lewis doubled the leading heading a corner true.
readA pair of games in New England kicked off with Boston City and a 3-1 win. Different players, same result with Ricardo Bocanegra getting one at 13', @ 17' the home team tied it up only to have Bocanegra complete his brace on an assist from Darwin Espinal at 19' off a crossing ball, as Ricardo cleaned up his own rebound in putting it past Katz. Espinal got back on the scoresheet with a goal putting him also on the scoreboard at 65', his 4th in 3 games facing Boston City FC. A 5 p.m. start the next day means more players are getting more minutes, this will serve to keep all fresh and fit.
readNCFC, coached by the interm USMNT coach, David Sarachan had already matched up wth 15 MLS teams about half an MLS season, in this one of the oldest soccer competitions in the nation, they were not up to the task as they dropped this one 4-0 at St. John's Universitys' Belson Stadium. They had a great chance early as a short corner played into Steven Miller put NYCFC GK Brad Stuver to the test. After that, the result was never in doubt despite the many new pieces on the field for NYCFC then began to gel far better.
readHas he even owned this Serie A team a week yet? NY media mogul Rocco B Commisso now has his new team in this most prestigous summer tourney replacing rival Roma, who had to withdraw due to UEFA Europa League Qualifier commitments. The games for Fiorentina will be July 16 V Chivas at SeatGeek Stadium, IL, then on to Arsenal July 20 in NC at Bank of America Stadium, then closing it out July 24 v Benfica in Red Bull Arena, so close to the home of both his company Mediacom and his family, a thrill I am sure for Rocco.
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