USL Playoff Thread

[Midknight]

I'm not sure how many people follow this league closely or what its real value is but the playoffs might interest a few people just for the strong Trini flavour.

USL-1 Playoff Berth Scenarios

Kendall Jagdeosingh, Osei Telesford, Nigel Henry, Edson Elcock

Puerto Rico: (15-6-7, 52 pts.) Qualified and need one point in final two matches (vs. Atlanta, at Montreal) to clinch Commissioner’s Cup as top seed*. They can finish no lower than second.

* the top seed, as regular season champions, get a bye to the play off semifinals. The six other qualifying teams are paired off in home and away ties to determine the three other semifinalists

Leslie Fitzpatrick

Rochester: (11-9-9, 41 pts.) Currently in fourth place and will secure at least the fourth place finish with a win in Miami tonight. Can finish third with a win tonight* and if Montreal fails to win at least one of its final two matches. They can finish no lower than sixth.

* lost 0-1 to Miami

Randi Patterson

Charleston:  (11-11-7, 40 pts.)  Has clinched a berth in the playoffs and trails Rochester by just one point.  A win over Carolina in the season finale will guarantee them at least a fifth place finish.  Charleston can finish as high as third with a win and if Rochester loses at Miami combined with Montreal gaining no more than two points in their final two games. The Battery hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Montreal (2-1-0) and the three-way tiebreaker, including Seattle. A head-to-head tiebreaker with Seattle would be determined in Charleston's favor on league wins (11 to 10).  They can finish no lower than sixth.

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Brent Sancho

Atlanta: (8-11-9, 33 pts.) Eighth place. Can clinch a playoff spot with wins over both Puerto Rico and Miami, or with one win over either Puerto Rico or Miami FC combined with a Minnesota loss to Montreal, and a Carolina loss or draw in one of its final two games. Atlanta would need at least four points to clinch a berth should Carolina win both of its final two games. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with both Minnesota (2-0-1) and Carolina (1-0-2) should they finish in a tie with either club. They can finish no lower than ninth.

Avery John 

Miami FC Blues: (6-12-10, 28 pts) Miami has been eliminated from playoff contention . Miami can finish as high as eighth if Atlanta loses its final two games, and Carolina loses at Charleston and ties at home versus Portland in their final two games. Miami would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Atlanta (2-0-1) should they finish tied, but Carolina holds the head-to-head tiebreaker versus Miami (2-1-0). Portland and Miami are equal in their first two tiebreakers with goal differential as the next determinant if they finish tied (current GD: Portland -6, Miami -8).

[WestCoast]

I'm not sure how many people follow this league closely or what its real value is but the playoffs might interest a few people just for the strong Trini flavour.

Thanks for all your work here MidKnight
keep us up to date with all the teams and their progress
 

[teddy bear]

Just a side note Darren Toby is playing for Charlotte Eagles in the USL second div. which I think (not 100%) they won and would then be promoted to compete in this league next season.

[Midknight]

Just a side note Darren Toby is playing for Charlotte Eagles in the USL second div. which I think (not 100%) they won and would then be promoted to compete in this league next season.

Do you have more information on this Darren Toby?

[Tallman]

Just a side note Darren Toby is playing for Charlotte Eagles in the USL second div. which I think (not 100%) they won and would then be promoted to compete in this league next season.

Do you have more information on this Darren Toby?

Midfielder from Tobago. Played for Signal Hill, St. Clair's Coaching School, University of Mobile, and College of Charleston. Was called up by Wim for the camp in South Carolina in 2006.

[Sando prince]

Thanx for this info MidKnight.... myself have a growing interest in this league primarily because we have a significant number of Trinbagonians in this league...

[Peong]

If a league decide to have playoffs, ah find that this playoff format is decent.
At least give the winner on pts some kinda reward.
Could even put them straight into the final instead of semis.

[Midknight]

If a league decide to have playoffs, ah find that this playoff format is decent.
At least give the winner on pts some kinda reward.
Could even put them straight into the final instead of semis.

Well I believe the final is a one off game - so that won't be too fair. The chances of the regular season team winning the playoffs would be 50/50, maybe even better when you consider how them other teams bun to make it through the playoffs.

My only problem with this format is that I find no team that do worst than top half of its league should ever be rewarded with a playoff spot.

[Midknight]

Kendall Jagdeosingh, Osei Telesford, Nigel Henry, Edson Elcock

Puerto Rico: (15-6-7, 52 pts.) Qualified and need one point in final two matches (vs. Atlanta, at Montreal) to clinch Commissioner’s Cup as top seed*. They can finish no lower than second.

Puerto Rico drew their last 2 matches and won the commissioner's cup.

Leslie Fitzpatrick

Rochester: (11-9-9, 41 pts.) Currently in fourth place and will secure at least the fourth place finish with a win in Miami tonight. Can finish third with a win tonight* and if Montreal fails to win at least one of its final two matches. They can finish no lower than sixth.

* lost 0-1 to Miami - Finished 4th

Randi Patterson

Charleston:  (11-11-7, 40 pts.)  Has clinched a berth in the playoffs and trails Rochester by just one point.  A win over Carolina in the season finale will guarantee them at least a fifth place finish.  Charleston can finish as high as third with a win and if Rochester loses at Miami combined with Montreal gaining no more than two points in their final two games. The Battery hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Montreal (2-1-0) and the three-way tiebreaker, including Seattle. A head-to-head tiebreaker with Seattle would be determined in Charleston's favor on league wins (11 to 10).  They can finish no lower than sixth.

Lost to Carolina but still finished 5th
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Brent Sancho

Atlanta: (8-11-9, 33 pts.) Eighth place. Can clinch a playoff spot with wins over both Puerto Rico and Miami, or with one win over either Puerto Rico or Miami FC combined with a Minnesota loss to Montreal, and a Carolina loss or draw in one of its final two games. Atlanta would need at least four points to clinch a berth should Carolina win both of its final two games. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with both Minnesota (2-0-1) and Carolina (1-0-2) should they finish in a tie with either club. They can finish no lower than ninth.

Drew Puerto Rico and lost to Miami. No playoff berth, finished 10th of 11 teams

Avery John 

Miami FC Blues: (6-12-10, 28 pts) Miami has been eliminated from playoff contention . Miami can finish as high as eighth if Atlanta loses its final two games, and Carolina loses at Charleston and ties at home versus Portland in their final two games. Miami would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with Atlanta (2-0-1) should they finish tied, but Carolina holds the head-to-head tiebreaker versus Miami (2-1-0). Portland and Miami are equal in their first two tiebreakers with goal differential as the next determinant if they finish tied (current GD: Portland -6, Miami -8).

:Miami won their last 2 games, finished 9th

Seed 4 Rochester Rhinos play Seed 5 Charlston away and home on the 26th and 28th
Seed 1 Puerto Rico will play the lowest seed among the teams advancing to the playoff semifinals - between the winners of Vancouver Whitecaps (seed 2) - Minnesota Thunder (seed 7), Montreal Impact (seed 3) - Seattle Sounders (Seed 6) and Rochestor - Charlston

[Midknight]

Rochester beat Charleston 2-0 away and then held on for the aggregate 2-1 victory at home despite conceding an early goal. Both Trinis Patterson and Fitzpatrick played every minute of both games.

In the other series, Montreal lost the first leg 1-2 but then stormed back with 2 late goals in the last 15 minutes in Seattle to tie and then clinch the series 4-3 on aggregate.

Minnesota went down 0-2 at home to Vancouver and lost out on aggregate 4-5 despite scoring three unanswered second half goals in Vancouver.

USL-1 Semifinals Set
Monday, September 29, 2008

TAMPA, FL – The USL First Division Semifinals are set with the two-leg, aggregate score series slated for Friday, October 3 and Sunday, October 5 with regular season champion Puerto Rico facing Rochester in one series and the two Canadian clubs, Montreal and Vancouver, squaring off again for national pride in the other. The second leg in Vancouver will air live on Fox Soccer Channel at 6:30 pm ET.

The Puerto Rico Islanders used their first round bye to rest, watching this past weekend’s results play out in favor of the three top seeds, giving them a showdown with Rochester, whom they won the season series against at 2-0-1 with an aggregate advantage of 7-1 in the scoreline.

Following Puerto Rico’s CONCACAF Champions League match Wednesday in Guatemala against Municipal (available on FSC at 1:00 am ET), the series will open Friday at 7:35 pm ET in Rochester, where the Islanders posted a 2-0 victory just three weeks prior, and concludes Sunday at 6:00 pm ET in Bayamon, where Puerto Rico has not lost to the Rhinos since 2006.

The Canadian showdown in the other Semifinal begins Friday in Montreal at 8:00 pm ET and wraps up in Vancouver Sunday at 6:30 pm ET live on Fox Soccer Channel.

[Midknight]

Montreal takes 1-0 lead to Vancouver

Friday, October 3, 2008
MONTREAL, QC -- A goal from midfielder Antonio Ribeiro in the 61st minute of play gave the Montreal Impact a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Saputo Stadium, Friday in the first leg of their USL semifinal.

Ribeiro collected the rebound off of Peter Byers' shot in the six metre box and scored his second goal of the playoffs into an empty net, as Whitecaps goalkeeper Tyler Baldock was sprawled out on the pitch.

Rhinos post 2-0 lead on Puerto Rico

Friday, October 3, 2008

ROCHESTER, NY -- The Rochester Rhinos played host to the Puerto Rico Islanders in the first game of the USL First Division playoff semifinals Friday night at PAETEC Park and left with a 2-0 lead heading into the second leg in Bayamon Sunday.

The Islanders had advanced with a first round bye as the Commissioner’s Cup champions and the Rhinos earned their spot with a first round defeat of the Charleston Battery. With the higher seed, the road weary Islanders, who played in a CONCACAF Champions League match on Wednesday, chose to stay on the road for the first match of this two game aggregate home and home series.
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As the match continued to heat up, tempers would flare in the 36th minute when Puerto Rico’s Edwin Miranda was sent off for an elbow at Rochester’s John Ball. Puerto Rico’s Scott Jones earned a caution for aggressively arguing the Miranda send off.
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However, Rochester would finally capitalize on the man advantage in the 67th minute. John Ball sent the ball into the box and Menyongar’s challenge for the 50-50 ball would find the right boot of Palguta whose blast from just inside the 18 would force Islander goalkeeper Bill Gaudette to make a tremendous diving save to his right. The rebound stayed in play for the Rhino’s Andrew Gregor, who buried the free ball for a Rochester 1-0 lead.

The goal marked only the third time during Puerto Rico’s 17 game unbeaten streak that they had even trailed during a match. Rochester would add to their lead 15 minutes later as Steve Guppy, who had entered the match in the 67th minute for Ball, sent a pass down the left wing to an overlapping Danny Earls. Earls would beat two defenders and send the ball into the box to Menyongar, who would settle with his left foot, transfer to his right foot, and beat Gaudette from eight yards out for a Rochester 2-0 lead.

The raucous Rhino fan base would be silenced in the 83rd minute, not by an Islander goal, but by a violent collision between Rochester’s Delicate and Puerto Rico’s Nigel Henry. Both players would remain down for nearly 10 minutes before Henry was carted off the field. Delicate was taken to the Rhino locker room.

The match would resume after a nearly 15 minute delay. Less than one minute after the re-start, Rochester’s Tiger Fitzpatrick would be cautioned just outside the Islander 18 yard box setting up a direct kick. Rochester’s Scott Vallow would handle the opportunity for his third save of the match.

Islanders get by Rhinos in series OT

Sunday, October 5, 2008

BAYAMON, PR -- The Rochester Rhinos took their 2-0 aggregate lead over the Puerto Rico Islanders into leg two of the USL First Division semifinal round on Sunday, but were unable to advance to their seventh league title game as Puerto Rico scored twice in the first half to level the series, and in the final minute of series overtime to advance to the final 3-2 on aggregate.

Atieno tied the series at 2-2 in the 33rd minutePuerto Rico was without Nigel Henry (injury), Scott Jones (suspension) and Edwin Miranda (suspension).

It was corner kicks that would seal the Rhinos fate in a 3-0 loss with all three Islander goals coming off a set piece. It appeared that the Rhinos had scored the goal they needed, but it was ruled that Johnny Menyongar was offside.

It was, however, the Islanders who struck first in the early stages of the first half as Fabrice Noel connected on a corner kick in the 11th minute to give the home side a 1-0 lead, cutting the Rochester advantage in half.

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The top scoring team in the league was able to even the aggregate score off a corner kick when Taiwo Atieno finished off a Noah Delgado corner kick in the later stages of the first half, giving them a 2-0 lead in the game at the 33 minute mark.
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The Rhinos ramped up the pressure as regulation was coming to a close, just missing when a Tiger Fitzpatrick attempt just missed wide.


With the time winding down in the second overtime the Rhinos season came to an abrupt end when the Islanders scored off another corner kick with defender Cristiano Arrieta sending the Islanders to the first league title match against the Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps rally past Montreal

Sunday, October 5, 2008

VANCOUVER, BC -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC have reached their second USL First Division Championship Final in three seasons after defeating Canadian arch-rivals Montreal Impact 2-1 on aggregate following a 2-0 home win in the second leg of their playoff semifinal series on Sunday afternoon.

Clarke leveled the series with fantastic strike (Josh Devins)First-half goals by Whitecaps captain Jeff Clarke and former Impact striker Eduardo Sebrango secured Vancouver's place in the final next Sunday afternoon. They will host USL-1 regular season champions Puerto Rico Islanders at Swangard Stadium on Thanksgiving Sunday, October 12, with kickoff set for 4:00 p.m. in Burnaby, BC.

The Islanders, along with the Impact, will be in CONCACAF Champions League action this coming week, with Puerto Rico in Mexico on Wednesday for a Group D clash with Club Santos Laguna before heading to Vancouver for the USL-1 final. Montreal, meanwhile, head to Trinidad & Tobago for an important Group C clash with Joe Public FC on Wednesday evening.

[Midknight]

Vancouver wins second USL-1 title

Sunday, October 12, 2008

BURNABY, BC – The final day of June may have been the most important day of the season in contributing to the second championship in three years for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the final day of the USL First Division season Sunday as Charles Gbeke, who was acquired in a trade that day, scored both goals in the club’s 2-1 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Both clubs had chances as they probed for an opening tally in the first half, but the game would go to the break scoreless. Eleven minutes into the second frame, however, Gbeke would rise above the crowd for his first.

Gbeke lost to Vancouver in the 2006 championship (Bob Frid)Alfredo Valente drove a low corner into the box in the 56th minute that forced Jeff Clarke to lower his head on the near side, popping the ball up into the air to the far post, where Gbeke rose above his marker Cristian Arrieta to head the winner into the far side netting.

I was kind of afraid that Puerto Rico would fall at the final hurdle. Unlucky for them to lose two starters (Henry - injury) and Telesford (International Duty) for the most important game of the season. Oh well, they still have a good impression to make in the CL, and they can now concentrate completely on that...

[Ngozi]

Well if they weren't gonna use Osei they shouldn't have called him up to miss such an important game lawd TTFF no sense or concern for their players