A delayed edition of USL Week in Review

With a full slate of USL PDL, USL W-League and USL-1 games that I attended in my home state of Minnesota this weekend, along with the historic US v Brazil Confederations Cup game, this blogger is offering you a delayed edition of the weekly USL-1 report. So much soccer and so little time to report on it.

I’m makeing***

League News

USL named their First Division Team of the Week - Week #11:

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United Soccer Leagues announced the Team of the Week honors for the 11th week of the USL season, honoring Puerto Rico’s Bill Gaudette as the USL First Division Player of the Week.

Last year, the 2008 USL-1 Goalkeeper of the Year started the season off with only two shutouts in the Islanders’ first 12 games. Puerto Rico’s Bill Gaudette appears to be mirroring that campaign in 2009, posting back-to-back shutouts over league-leading Charleston two weekends ago after posting just one in his first 12. The pair of 1-0 wins allowed the Islanders to jump from fourth to first in a matter of three days.

Pos   Name   Team  Highlights

G Bill Gaudette Puerto Rico Two shutout wins against Charleston

D John Ball Rochester Two assists in 2-0 win at Austin

D David Hayes Portland Goal, assist in 5-1 win over Minnesota

D John Krause Puerto Rico Goal in 1-0 win over Charleston

D Cristiano Dias Miami Led team to pair of wins at Cleveland

M Matt Watson Carolina Goal in 1-1 draw at Austin

M Michael Callahan Austin Assist in 1-1 draw against Carolina

M Kwame Sarkodie Rochester Goal in 2-0 win at Austin

F George Josten Portland Goal, assist in 5-1 win over Minnesota

F Paulo Araujo Miami Goal, assist in pair of wins at Cleveland

F Rocco Placentino Montreal Goal, assist in 2-1 win over Vancouver

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USL-1 Goal of the Week
Trailing on the road, Minnesota Thunder midfielder Ricardo Sanchez cut into the deficit before the break with a perfectly paced free kick against the Portland Timbers for the USL Goal of the Week.

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A tribute to former USL PDL players
As we all watched the US National team have great success in the Confederations Cup, there were numerous USL PDL players that participated in the tournament for the US. Former PDL players featured in the tournament were Jay DeMerit (2001-02; Watford FC/ENG), Jonathan Spector (2001; West Ham United/ENG) and goalkeeper Brad Guzan (2004-05; Aston Villa/ENG). Charlie Davies (Hammarby/SWE), who featured for the Westchester Flames in 2006, saw a lot of minutes in the tournament. Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo/US) was also a Fire PDL man.

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RailHawks to face Panama in Historic International Exhibition
The Carolina RailHawks will play a historic international friendly against the Panamanian National team on Tuesday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park.

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Star Tribune’s Secret Fan: Thunder (and lots of rain)
The Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minnesota has been featuring a series of articles called the “Secret Fan.”  The idea is they send a writer out anonymously to observe a pro sports event in the metro area and they report on their experience. The Minnesota Thunder were second in the Star Tribune’s 10-part series on taking in the fan experience at Twin Cities-area sporting events. The writer game out to a very rainy US Open Cup game. He left wet but with a good experiance.

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US Open Cup news

There’s a full slate of 3rd round US Open Cup games this week.  See the games listed below but please go to US Open Cup for exact game times, locations and Joshua Hakala has got links to who is covering the games via TV, blogging or by Twitter.

3rd Round Action June 30, 2009

Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Veterans Stadium – New Britain, CT | 7 p.m.

Ocean City Barons (PDL) at D.C. United (MLS)
Maryland Soccerplex – Boyds, MD | 7:30 p.m.

Chicago Fire (MLS) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2)
Legion Stadium – Wilmington, NC | 7 p.m.

Chivas USA (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Blackbaud Stadium – Charleston, SC | 7:30 p.m.

Columbus Crew (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
Marina Auto Stadium – Rochester, NY | 7 p.m.

Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
National Sports Center – Blaine, MN | 8:35 p.m.

3rd Round Action JULY 1, 2009

Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Austin Aztex (USL-1)
Nelson Field – Austin, TX | 8:30 p.m.

Seattle Sounders F.C. (MLS) at Portland Timbers (USL-1)
PGE Park – Portland, OR | 10 p.m.

You can track the third round of the US Open Cup here.

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Ansu Toure
Vancouver announced on Wednesday that midfielder Ansu Toure would undergo knee ligament surgery. He is expected back for the end of the season.

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Rhinos acquire forward, defender
The injury-plagued Rhinos have acquired two players, forward Warren Ukah and defender Ty Harden, to bolster their thin, 19-player roster.

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Joey Saputo is making Montreal to MLS noise again
“I’m trying to push for 2011,” Saputo said. “I feel very, very comfortable that we’ll be ready. We’ve spoken about that with the [MLS] commissioner [Don Garber], and he understands that.” Soccernet with the story.

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Nash brothers team up for charity
Vancouver Whitecaps FC team captain Martin Nash took part in the second annual ‘Showdown in Chinatown’ charity soccer match last Wednesday along with his slightly more famous brother Steve. Both those Nash brother can play some football. The Vancouver Whitecaps have the story and so does Adam Spangler at This Is American Soccer.

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Gbeke called up for Canadian National Team duty
Charles Gbeke has been called up to Canada’s Men’s National Team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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Akinbiyi, Noel-Williams set to reunite
Austin’s Gifton Noel-Williams and Houston’s Ade Akinbiyi became close friends during their time playing together back in England and get a chance to see each other again Wednesday in the U.S. Open Cup.

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Two more MLS players loaned to Aztex
Early in the season I predicted that Austin might surprise a few people this year as a start up USL-1 franchise, but I also said they were very thin in depth, which matters in the long grueling seasons of USL-1. Because of injuries and that thin bench, Austin will bring back the Houston Dynamo’s Erik Ustruck on a free loan, this time on a more permanent basis. Ustruck’s loan will last until the end of August. Los Angeles Galaxy defender Yohance Marshall will also be with the Aztex on a free loan that will last a week, meaning the Trinidad & Tobago national will be available for Saturday’s game against Cleveland and Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup third round match against the Dynamo.  To add depth at Austin’s goalie position, which is lacking starter Miguel Gallardo with a leg injury, the Aztex will also sign goalkeeper coach David Winner to the roster to provide a backup to Sam Reynolds.

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Coaches lead star-studded Bayern Munich II cast
Led by coaches Mehmet Scholl and Gerd Mueller, both German soccer icons, Germany’s Bayern Munich II is set to bring a star-studded cast to Portland, Ore., for its preseason tour, which includes an exhibition match against the Portland Timbers at PGE Park on July 2 at 7 p.m.

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Thunder’s Leonel Saint-Preux to Join Haitian National Team
Leonel Saint-Preux will join the Haitian national team to compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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Thunder to Host Guatemalan Champion C.S.D. Comunicaciones July 22 in Schwan’s USA Cup Challenge
The Minnesota Thunder announced today that it will face off against Guatemala’s storied soccer team, Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones, in an international matchup at the National Sports Center in Blaine on Wednesday, July 22 in the annual Schwan’s USA Cup Challenge. Kick-off is set for 7:35pm.

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RESULTS THIS PAST WEEK:

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

7:00 pm Vancouver Whitecaps  2-2  Cleveland City Stars @ Middlefield Cheese Stadium (Bedford) - Game Report – Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
VAN: Marcus Haber (Martin Nash) 18
CLE: Leo Gibson (Ibrahim Kante) 28
CLE: Pato Aguilera (penalty) 45
VAN: Martin Nash 90
Attendance: 1066

7:45 pm Miami FC  0-1  Montreal Impact @ Saputo Stadium - Game Report – Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
MON: Nevio Pizzolitto (Sandro Grande) 80
Attendance: 12676

Thur, June 25, 2009
(Fox Soccer Channel)

8:00 pm Puerto Rico Islanders 0-1 Charleston Battery @ Blackbaud Stadium - Game Report – Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
CHA: Randi Patterson 30
Attendance: 4681

Sat, June 27, 2009

7:00 pm Austin Aztex  2-2  Cleveland City Stars @ Middlefield Cheese Stadium (Bedford) - Game Report – Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
CLE: Joshua Boateng (Israel Sesay) 11
AUS: Josh Alcala (Eddie Johnson) 30
AUS: Jeff Harwell (Kyle Brown) 38
CLE: Ricardo Pierre-Louis (Israel Sesay) 90
Attendance: 1517

7:00 pm Puerto Rico Islanders  2-1  Carolina RailHawks @ WakeMed Soccer Park - Game Report – Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
CAR: Amir Lowery 40
PR: Jonathan Steele 42
PR: Petter Villegas 63
Ejections
PR: John Krause 85
Attendance: 2783

8:35 pm Rochester Rhinos  2-1  Minnesota Thunder @ National Sport Center - Game Report - Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
ROC: Andrew Gregor (Chris Nurse) 32
ROC: Mike Ambersley (Kwame Sarkodie) 82
MIN: Brian Cvilikas (Marco Terminesi) 89
Attendance: 3421

Sunday, June 28, 2009

8:00 pm Montreal Impact  0-4 Portland Timbers @ PGE Park - Game Report – Box Scores
Scoring Summary:
POR: Mandjou Keita (David Hayes) 9
POR: Mandjou Keita (George Josten) 47
POR: Brian Farber (George Josten) 56
POR: Own goal 64
Attendance: 7783

IIMS~IMS~IMS~IMS~IMS

GAMES THIS COMING WEEK:

Games times are listed EST. Games all available on USL Live except Friday night game available on Fox Soccer Channel.

Friday, July 3, 2009
(Fox Soccer Channel)

8:00 pm Austin Aztex at Cleveland City Stars @ Middlefield Cheese Stadium (Bedford)

Sat, July 4, 2009

8:00 pm Puerto Rico Islanders at  Miami FC @ FIU Stadium

8:05 pm Portland Timbers at Minnesota Thunder @ National Sport Center

Sunday, July 5, 2009

3:00 pm Austin Aztex at Rochester Rhinos @ Rochester Rhinos Stadium

3:45 pm Charleston Battery at Montreal Impact @ Saputo Stadium

USL-1 Standings

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As promised last week, the USL-1 goalkeeping stats to this point of the season.