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Offline MoJo Qc

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United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« on: September 29, 2008, 04:59:48 AM »
Montreal Impact News Release - www.montrealimpact.com

Sunday, September 28, 2008

MONTREAL, QC -- The Montreal Impact qualified for the USL First Division semifinals thanks to a 3-1 win (4-3 on aggregate goals) over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday at Saputo Stadium. It was the second and decisive match of their home-and-away aggregate goal quarterfinal series. Midfielder Antonio Ribeiro scored the game-winning goal at the 90th minute of play.

Ribeiro's second goal of the year proves critical (Pepe)"At halftime, I was a little bit nervous because even if we had good ball possession we were not playing like we wanted to win the series," said Impact head coach John Limniatis. "But we came back from the locker room to play a spectacular second half to come from behind and win the series."

Midfielder David Testo opened the scoring for the Impact at the 56th minute. After several passes in the offensive zone, Testo completed the set play by sending the short- sided pass of forward Peter Byers into Seattle's net. Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander dove to make the save but ended up deflecting the ball in the top left corner.

The Sounders tied the game three minutes later. Midfielder Sanna Nyassi accepted a back-pass from forward Sébastien Letoux on the right flank and centered a low pass to forward Roger Levesque (59th minute), who deflected the ball into the net while diving to the ground.

Levesque was later ejected from the game, receiving a red card for a hard tackle on Impact defender Adam Braz. On the ensuing Sandro Grande free kick, Mauro Biello took the ball in the face but managed to make a short pass to a trailing Rocco Placentino. From the very top of the box, Placentino took a powerful shot that went off the inside of the post to beat Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander.

At the 80th minute, Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan made a spectacular diving save to his right on a Seattle free kick from outside of the box. On the play, defender Adam Braz was handed a red card for taking forward Roger Levesque down inside the six metre area and the Sounders were awarded a penalty kick. Alcaraz-Cuellar scored, but the goal was refused because a Seattle player had entered the box too early. On his second attempt, Alcaraz-Cuellar hit the post to Jordan's left.

“Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar is a good player, but on the second penalty kick I just decided to stand him up and to react,” said Matt Jordan. “I don’t know if he saw me and if that made a difference in the play but I’m just glad that he missed. Again, the guys were unbelievable tonight. We had a never-die attitude and that shows a lot of heart from us as a team.”

Midfielder Antonio Ribeiro entered the game for the Impact in the 88th minute and scored the series-winner less than two minutes later. On the play, midfielder Joey Gjertsen took a well-placed shot from about 35 metres out, hitting the crossbar, but leaving an easy tap into an empty net for Ribeiro, who was all alone in the goalmouth.

"Once again today we showed all the quality we have on the bench," explained team captain Mauro Biello. "Seattle is a very good team with a lot of strong players technically. We beat one of the best teams in the league."

"In the second half, I think they sat back a little bit too much because of the fatigue," said David Testo. "We had more legs and we took advantage of it. It's an amazing win for us. We had a really strong finish to the regular season finishing in third place and we're trying to keep that momentum going in the playoffs."

The Montreal Impact now has a lifetime playoff record of 16-16-5 (47 goals for, 38 against) and a lifetime record of 11-7-3 at home (32 goals for, 17 against).

The first match of this home-and-away series on Friday night resulted in a 2-1 loss for the Impact at the Starfire Complex in Tukwila, near Seattle.

The Impact will now face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals. Last night in Minnesota, the Thunder rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the return match 4-3, but the Whitecaps still advanced 6-5 on total goals.

Montreal will likely face the Whitecaps on Friday and Sunday, but the series details will be confirmed on Monday.

In the meantime, the Impact will hold a training session on Monday morning before leaving for Honduras on Tuesday. They play CD Olimpia on Wednesday at 10 pm ET, as part of the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
36th minute - Deep inside the 18-metre box, forward Peter Byers did well to deflect a pass from Joey Gjertsen off the left side, but the shot missed just wide.

50th minute - Overlapping the Montreal defense on the right flank, Sounders midfielder Sanna Nyassi centered the ball towards forward Sébastien Letoux, who deflected the ball to the left of the Impact net.

Offline Tallman

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Second-half surge lifts Kickers to USL-2 title
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2009, 07:38:31 AM »
Second-half surge lifts Kickers to USL-2 title
By Vic Dorr (Richmond Times-Dispatch)


Home, they say, is where the heart is. And heart is what the Richmond Kickers, playing on their home field, displayed in abundance in the USL-2 championship game.

Outplayed by a wide margin and trailing by a goal at halftime, the Kickers erupted in the second half last night to defeat the Charlotte Eagles 3-1 and capture their second USL-2 title in the past four years and their third league championship overall.

Edson Elcock, a cat-quick forward who joined the club as a tryout player in late July, scored what may have been the Kickers' biggest goal of the season when he tied the game by knocking a 5-yard header past Charlotte keeper Steward Ceus in the 63rd minute.

Twenty minutes later, Richmond finished what Elcock started.

John DiRaimondo scored on a free kick from the left side in the 83rd minute and David Bulow punched a penalty kick past Ceus in the 86th.

Elcock called the sensation "overwhelming, to be honest. Coming here, I knew we had a great team and I knew we'd be in the playoffs for sure. But this?"

He shook his head. His smile was electric. "This is amazing."

Since the end of July, Elcock said, "The level of our play has done nothing but go up and up and up. We played our hearts out today."

Well, in the second half, certainly. The Kickers (13-3-6) were little short of splendid in the second half after being a little better than ordinary in the first. The insertion of Bulow, a Kickers veteran, and DiRaimondo, a clever midfielder on loan from D.C. United, seemed to deliver a transfusion of vitality and urgency.

Charlotte "swarmed all over us in the first half," said Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw. "To come back from a goal down against that team -- one of the hardest teams to play in the league -- wow. What a great feeling."

Cowlishaw said the Kickers "played some amazing soccer" in the second half.

No one fit that description more than Bulow, who collected his 10th goal of the season on his 11th-hour penalty kick. Bulow, performing like a cyclone unleashed, assisted on Elcock's goal with a deft feed to the right-hand goalpost. He was chosen as the game's most valuable player.

As the final seconds of stoppage time melted from the UR Stadium clock, the crowd of 2,998 saluted the Kickers' unbeaten home season (7-0-5) with an appropriate chant: "This is/our house."

That same crowd, noisy and excited prior to kickoff, deflated faster than a punctured balloon in the first half. Charlotte, tall in the midfield and athletic up front, controlled play in the early going and delivered a thunderbolt of a goal in the 14th minute.

The Eagles, apparently believing their attackers to be faster than Richmond's defenders, generated momentum with sustained possessions in the neutral third of the field before sending attackers on solo forays into the Richmond end.

One such foray produced a high-quality scoring opportunity that died when Richmond defender Henry Kalungi, racing up from behind, poked the ball away from Dustin Swinehart with a sliding tackle.

Charlotte's next serious thrust found its target.

Eagles midfielder Diego Martins split the center of Richmond's defense following a nice buildup near the midfield circle. Darren Toby's pass found Martins in full stride. Martins burst past a pair of Kickers and pulled the trigger on a 16-yard shot. Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale had no chance.

None of which qualified as a great surprise. Martins is something of a Kickers nemesis. He enabled Charlotte to steal a 1-1 tie in its May 15 visit to Richmond when he scored on a free kick in the 84th minute.

Richmond, so dominant ofFensively in last week's semifinal victory over Harrisburg, found the going far more difficult last night.

Ceus, the Charlotte goalkeeper, scarcely broke a sweat in the first half. The Kickers' best scoring opportunity of the half occurred when an entry pass squirted through a tangle of legs and found its way onto Elcock's foot in the 30th minute.

Elcock seemed startled by his good fortune. He wheeled and shot from the doorstep, but his shot was soft and floated into Ceus' waiting arms.


Contact Vic Dorr Jr. at (804) 649-6442 or vdorr@timesdispatch.com .

Charlotte ------------------------- 1 0 -- 1
Richmond ------------------------- 0 3 -- 3

Scoring 1, Charlotte, Martins (Toby), 14th minute; 2, Richmond, Elcock, 63rd; 3, Richmond, DiRaimondo, 83rd; 4, Richmond, Bulow (pk), 86th
Shots: Richmond 15-11
Saves: Charlotte, Ceus 8; Richmond, Pascale 5
Corner kicks: Richmond 6-3
Offsides: Charlotte 3-2
Fouls: Charlotte 12-10
Yellow cards: Nunes, C, 41st; Williams, C, 46th; Ceus, C, 85th
Referee: Tony Russo
Attendance: 2,998
The Conquering Lion of Judah shall break every chain.

Offline Tallman

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Errol McFarlane named USL-1 Player of the Week
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2009, 05:24:48 AM »
Errol McFarlane named USL-1 Player of the Week
uslsoccer.com


United Soccer Leagues announced the Team of the Week honors for the 22nd week of the USL season, honoring Rochester’s Errol McFarlane as the USL First Division Player of the Week.

On Thursday evening in Portland, midseason Rhino acquisition Errol McFarlane accomplished something no team in the USL First Division has done this season – score twice against the Timbers. His two-goal outing gave the Rhinos their first victory of the year over a club in the current top four in the league, but most notably, ended Portland’s league-record 24-game unbeaten streak.

After nearly putting away a header from 15 yards out in the first half, McFarlane capitalized on his first attempt of the second half in the 52nd minute. Off a ball played into the box by Steve Kindel, McFarlane bounced a header around the out-stretched arms of Steve Cronin and across the goal mouth, dodging two Timbers defenders, before finding the back of the net to give Rochester a 1-0 lead.

After Ryan Pore pulled the Timbers even in the 81st minute, McFarlane capped his brace in second-half stoppage time. Fighting for a loose ball inside the box, he was able gain possession before the Timbers could clear it from danger. McFarlane slotted a shot into the back of the net to seal the 2-1 win and end the Rhinos four-game winless stretch.

The two strikes were his first points of the year for Rochester and were only the fifth and sixth goals allowed by the Timbers at home in 12 games.




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« Last Edit: September 11, 2009, 06:24:01 AM by Tallman »
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Offline royal

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United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2011, 08:27:23 AM »
Eagles Continue Undefeated Streak
Toby, Bundu find net in 2-0 victory against Dayton
Charlotte Eagles News Release -- www.charlotteeagles.com

Saturday, June 18, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Eagles extended their unbeaten streak to seven games on Saturday night, six in USL PRO, as they downe the Dayton Dutch Lions in a 2-0 victory. Darren Toby scored the first goal in the 12th minute off a beautiful pass by Cheyne Roberts before Dayton was reduced to 10 men in the second half due to a red card incurred by Mettin Copier. Sallieu Bundu scored the second goal in the 80th minute off a cross from Brady Bryant.

After a late start due to rain, the game got underway at 8:25 p.m. The game was wide open for the first 10 minutes with Dayton causing the first scare just three minutes into the match. Eric Reed made a diving save breaking up a cluster of players just outside the goal mouth. The Eagles were able to find the net first in the ninth minute. Roberts created a great give-and-go to make his way past the Dayton defense, and he then sent a cross through to Toby who placed the ball just right of Dutch Lions goalkeeper Jesper Leerdam, putting the Eagles up 1-0.

The Eagles next chance came in the 12th minute from a set piece as Toby creatively chipped the ball over Dayton’s wall to Jorge Herrera who placed the ball just wide of the net. In the 27th minute Mettin Copier pulled down Allan Sanchez to receive the first caution of the game.

George Davis sent a rocket towards the Eagles’ net in the 29th minute creating the best chance of the first half for Dayton. Eric Reed made it just in time to punch the ball, keeping it out of the net.

Copier went after Sanchez again in the 42nd minute, which saw him sent off. At the half Dayton found themselves down by a goal and a man short.

The pace of the second half was much slower. The Eagles found themselves with the majority of the possession due to Dayton playing with only 10 men. In the 80th minute Bryant created the Eagles' second, dribbling through the Dayton defense before his cross found Bundu perfectly as he touched it in for a 2-0 advantage.

The Dutch Lions fought strongly, creating a few chances, but with only 10 men they fell to their fourth consecutive road loss in the league.

The Eagles will next travel to Wilmington on Tuesday night for the second round of the U.S. Open Cup. The game against the Hammerheads kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with the winner heading to face 2009 Major League Soccer champion Real Salt Lake in the third round.

Offline loyalist

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Re: United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2011, 10:37:30 PM »
Do yuh thing Toby....its a pity that the national team haven't even given this guy a look at...another good Tobago born player who should get a look at...

Offline royal

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Re: United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2011, 09:08:02 PM »
USL Pro Team of the Week........ Week 12
   

M - Kevin Molino  Orlando
   
Great energy throughout the contest, always a threat in attack

F-Darren Toby Charlotte
   
Scored his third goal of the season, which proved to be game-winner


Devorn Jorsling - Orlando (honorable mention) 
« Last Edit: June 21, 2011, 09:10:08 PM by royal »

Offline Tallman

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Kevon Villaroel's goal for Puerto Rico Islanders
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2011, 07:43:12 AM »
Puerto Rico Islanders vs Atlanta Silverbacks (August 10, 2011)
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Offline Trini _2026

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USL Pro Thread.
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2015, 04:32:23 AM »
Toronto FC announces USL PRO team
Toronto FC staff
torontofc.ca


In addition, the club has named Jason Bent as the head coach of the new USL PRO team.

“Today marks an important day in the history of Toronto FC. Having our own USL PRO side is crucial in the development of our players. We saw several benefits from our partnership with Wilmington last season and we are pleased to now have our own side here in Toronto,” said Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. "I’d also like to congratulate Jason Bent on being named head coach of the USL PRO team.

Jason has been and remains an important part of our staff at Toronto FC and we felt this role would be perfect for him, as we move players from our academy into the USL PRO team and then onto our first team. Jason is familiar with all levels of our structure at TFC.”

Toronto FC becomes the sixth MLS club to own a USL PRO team and the eleventh expansion side set to begin play in 2015. With the addition of the Toronto USL PRO team, Toronto FC’s official partnership with Wilmington Hammerheads FC has ended.

“First and foremost we must thank MLSE for the continued support and commitment to Toronto FC. I’d also like to thank the front office for the opportunity to continue my development as a coach,” said Toronto USL PRO Head Coach Jason Bent. "I feel this pathway will help us bridge the gap between the academy and first team level and enable some talented young men, especially Canadian players to really learn their trade and develop into legitimate first team players.”

Bent, 37, originally joined the first team ahead of the 2011 season after spending the previous three seasons in the Academy. Prior to coaching, Bent started his professional playing career in 1997 with German second division club, FSV Zwickau; where he spent one season before moving to the Colorado Rapids. He spent three seasons with Colorado appearing in over 50 matches and was part of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup finals squad in 1999. His last professional club was Plymouth Argyle in England where he played three seasons. Bent helped Plymouth win the Division Three Championship in 2001-2002, and the Division Two Championship in 2003-2004. In addition to his club football career, Bent earned 32 caps for the Canadian National Team. Bent holds both his USSF National “A” Licence and a UEFA B Level 2 Licence.

USL PRO featured 14 teams in 2014; prior to Toronto, 10 new teams were announced to begin play in 2015. They include: Austin, Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Louisville, Montreal, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, St. Louis and Tulsa.

The Toronto USL PRO team will train out of the club’s Kia Training Grounds. Additional information on club name, venue for home matches and tickets will be released at a later date.

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« Last Edit: January 25, 2015, 04:37:36 AM by Flex »
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Offline Flex

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Re: United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2020, 05:50:43 AM »
DaMarcus Beasley's post-playing career plan? USL franchise owner in Fort Wayne
Jeff Carlisle
U.S. soccer correspondent


From the moment DaMarcus Beasley retired from professional soccer at the end of the 2019 Major League Soccer season, he felt a low rumble of unease. Granted, this is a man used to playing in front of tens of thousands in some of the biggest competitions the game had to offer, but he was stepping into the unknown; while there was excitement at what the future could hold, there was also uncertainty about how his future in the game he loves would play out.

"It's more a sort of a nervousness of when will I get my shot, and where's it going to be," Beasley told ESPN FC during a video call.

Beasley's future is beginning to come into focus. In conjunction with the United Soccer League (USL), he is putting together an investment group that will acquire a League One franchise -- the third tier of America's soccer pyramid -- in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He estimates that he has 60% of the financing in place, though the rest oftentimes can be the hardest to secure. The city's mayor, Tom Henry, is on board, and the discussions are far enough along that a development company is in the early stages of working with Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and Fort Wayne Economic Development staff about a mixed-use development project that could be the future site for a 7,500-seat stadium. The proposed parcel of city-owned land is in the North River area of downtown.

Beasley retains enough of his local-kid-done-good cachet to draw people in.

"It's kind of funny," he said about some of his would-be partners. "They're all, 'back when you were in high school, you played with my son. That made a connection. Now it's just literally getting the final touches on the land -- crossing the T's and dotting I's and then, hopefully, everybody can be on board. Obviously, we hit a snag because of the coronavirus; we had to take a step back. But we're in stages where it is definitely progressing."

At present, League One has 12 teams, but USL is aggressively looking to expand in this area; according to the league, there are 50 potential markets under consideration, with active negotiations taking place in 15. The plan is to announce five expansion teams by the end of the year.

One gets the sense from Beasley that he's in the right place for the next chapter in his life. Upon retirement, he was determined to take a meeting with anyone who would agree to give him time. He picked the brains of soccer executives across the country, discussing everything from academy structure to style of play to how teams are built.

Among the teams he spent time with was the Houston Dynamo, the organization with which he finished his career, but nothing materialized. That said, he found enough interested parties to get the information he desired.

"Some didn't reach back," he said. "I won't lie. But that's business and that's something I'll obviously learn down the line and get used to. But I was probably traveling on a consistent basis more than when I was playing, because I really want to be good at this and put my effort, my knowledge, my work, just everything into what I do. And that's how I was as a player, and that part never failed me, that hard work part."

Beasley knows that he has plenty to learn. While his expertise is more on the technical parts of the game, it is on the business side that he wants to dive in. He admits there will be a steep learning curve in terms of figuring out how things get done, and he's determined not to let his ego put him in positions for which he's not ready.

"Trust me, this is not me saying, 'I can do this. I can do that.' No, not at all," he said. "I'm 100% even willing to take a lower role and learn the business, learn the day in and day out, really getting my feet wet with the team. And making decisions and seeing, OK, this works, this doesn't work. OK, you guys did this here, but maybe that didn't work.

"Obviously, still having a voice, having some power in team decisions, those kinds of things. But no way in hell am I saying that I'm ready to be the main man making every single decision. No, I need help."

Not for the first time in Beasley's professional life, his connection with Tim Howard proved fruitful. During their playing days with the U.S. men's national team, there were plenty of times when the goalkeeper released Beasley with a pass. In this instance, Howard alerted his former international teammate that the USL was interested in working with him in some capacity.

As part owner, sporting director and player with Championship side Memphis 901 FC, Howard could offer some advice in terms of transitioning into the ownership ranks, while Beasley also sought the advice of another former teammate, San Diego Loyal part owner and head coach Landon Donovan. Starting a team in his hometown seems a natural fit.

"Timmy has been very helpful and actually I've spoken to Landon this week, and we're going to speak again soon," Beasley said. "But I'm just talking to different guys like that, just trying to get as much information as I can about USL, about the new projects and franchises going into league. So just that whole concept really intrigued me."

Beasley has maintained his connection to Fort Wayne over the years, primarily through his soccer school in which he made sure he was a hands-on presence, and feels that the market has potential. He notes that the area has produced other notable players besides him, including Sky Blue FC midfielder Sarah Woldmoe, U.S. U-17 women's national team forward Amelia White and Louisville City FC defender Akil Watts.

Fort Wayne also has had its share of soccer teams pass through, from the Flames of the American Indoor Soccer Association in the late 1980s to the present-day Fort Wayne FC of the NPSL. There are other minor league sports in town as well, with baseball, basketball and even roller derby competing for attention.

Beasley hopes that his budding outfit and Fort Wayne FC can work together to grow the sport of soccer, though time -- and the continued presence of the coronavirus -- will determine the extent to which that comes to pass.

"It's unfortunate that Fort Wayne FC had to cancel their season because of the coronavirus," he said. "But just the amount of fans and businesses and everyone getting on board behind a team, that really showed me that, 'Oh, man, they, they can really get behind a soccer team.' I've seen it with baseball and the TinCaps and I've seen it with the Mad Ants in basketball. But with soccer, obviously, you never know. It's still a growing sport, but I think the city is big enough. It's ready."

So is Beasley.


DaMarcus Beasley retired as a player in 2019 after a glittering 20-year career. John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2020, 09:39:54 AM »
Eleven T&T USL players still awaiting decision on season.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).


No fewer than 11 T&T international footballers who ply their professional trade in the United States Soccer League Championship Division and League One still awaits word on whether or not the 2020 season will come off due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown.

Last weekend, the USL stated on its usl.com website which noted that the full-team training moratorium for clubs had been extended while numerous return-to-play scenarios were still under consideration.

Thus far, Championship and League One clubs, at their option are allowed to open outdoor fields for non-contact training in small groups as well as training rooms for player treatment.

And among the T&T players attached to Championship Division clubs are Andre Fortune (North Carolina), Leston Paul (Memphis 901 FC), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven), Duane Muckette (Memphis 901), Shannon Gomez (Sacramento Republic), Triston Hodge (Memphis 901 FC), Cordell Cato (Oklahoma City Energy FC), Kevan George (Charlotte Independence), Noah Powder (Real Monarchs), and the duo of Kierron Mason and Leland Archer—both of Charleston Battery.

The trio of Jelani Peters (Toronto FC II), Josiah Trimmingham (Forward Madison) and Luke Singh (Toronto FC) are attached to USL League One clubs.

However, in its latest release the USL the United Soccer League said both the Championship and League One full-sided training moratoriums have been extended.

The USL release added: “While clubs across both leagues will continue to be allowed to train in limited small group settings, the full-sided training moratoriums will now coincide with any potential adoption of a return to play model.”

With regards to the competition to be played when and if the 2020 season does get going the USL said: “While the league hopes that a decision on resumption of play can be made in the coming weeks, all options remain on the table for both leagues.

These include regionalised competition as well as other alternative structures if a traditional league format is no longer possible.”

Looking ahead USL noted that as from the beginning of the crisis, the league continues to participate in a national COVID-19 task force and will not resume play under any scenario until it is in alignment with the recommendations of that task force, as well as local and state health authorities.

The USL also continues to work with the USLPA on COVID-19 management, player safety and well-being, economic relief, and the larger collective bargaining process.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

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Re: United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2020, 09:23:19 AM »
Powder's Monarch start USL defence against San Diego.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).


T&T international defender Noah Powder and reigning United Soccer League (USL) Championship Division title-holder, Real Monarch, will kick off defence of their title via a revamp format versus debutants San Diego Loyal at Zions Bank Stadium, on Saturday from 4 pm in one of six matches on the day.

Saturday’s action will also include a showdown between national midfielder Neveal Hackshaw's Indy Eleven and Saint Louis FC at Lucas Oil Stadium where both teams will be looking to pick up where they left off after emphatic wins to start the campaign.

On Monday, then brings two matches from the Western Conference, with Black Gold Derby rivals Oklahoma City Energy FC with T&T winger Cordell Cato on its roster, and FC Tulsa set to square off at Taft Stadium in a game that will air live on ESPN2 at 7 pm (T&T time).

Shannon Gomez and the Sacramento Republic FC and the Tacoma Defiance then provide the nightcap with kickoff at Papa Murphy’s Park slated for 10 pm.

Then on July 15, T&T trio Triston Hodge, Duane Muckette and Leston Paul and their Memphis 901 FC travel to BBVA Compass Field for a clash with Birmingham Legion FC.

USA-born T&T midfielder Andre Fortune will next see action on July 17, when his North Carolina FC faces Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium while OKC Energy returns to action as well versus Austin Bold FC.

A day later, Powder and the Monarchs battle Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Hackshaw's Indy Eleven faces Sporting Kansas City II, and the trio of Paul, Hodge and Muckette and Memphis travel to Atlanta United II.

Leland Archer and Kierron Mason will be the last T&T players to see action in the opening week when their Charleston Battery battles Birmingham Legion FC on July 19 while Gomez' Sacramento Republic meets Reno 1868 FC.

Overall, 11 T&T international footballers will feature in the league's revised schedule for the 2020 USL Championship season.

The league’s clubs who have been placed in eight groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) to limit travel, and are set to play 263 games over 13 weeks from which the top two teams in each pool will advance to the 16-teams 2020 USL Championship playoffs, which will open in the second weekend of October.

There are five groups made up of four teams, and three groups made up of five teams to cover the 35 member clubs of the Championship.

The 2020 USL league officially kicked off in mid-March but was then put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Games played before the suspension of the season will count toward the allotment of 16 overall games, either as in-group contests or as one of the additional four contests that will complete the schedule.

Trimmingham, Singh set for League One action

The USL League One Division will feature the T&T duo Josiah Trimmingham (Forward Madison) and Luke Singh (Toronto FC) and their new league format will see each of teams play 20 games across 15 weeks in the regular season to determine the sides that will meet in the 2020 League One Final.

The revised schedule will see each team in League One face 10 teams during the regular season, with one opponent omitted from each club’s schedule to help limit air travel.

Each team will play its assigned regional rival four times – twice home and twice away – and seven other clubs in a home-and-home series.

The final two games of the season will be made up of one home and one away game against two more clubs, creating a 20-game slate.

The regular season will be played over a single-table format, with the schedule set to kick off on July 18 and conclude on October 24. The top two teams in the final regular-season standings will then meet the week of October 31 in the 2020 League One Final.

T&T players and their USL Championship clubs: Andre Fortune (North Carolina), Leston Paul (Memphis 901 FC), Neveal Hackshaw (Indy Eleven), Duane Muckette (Memphis 901 FC), Shannon Gomez (Sacramento Republic FC), Triston Hodge (Memphis 901 FC), Cordell Cato (Oklahoma City Energy FC), Kevan George (Charlotte Independence), Noah Powder (Real Monarchs), Kierron Mason (Charleston Battery), Leland Archer (Charleston Battery).

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: USL: Montreal in semifinals!
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2020, 03:05:23 AM »
Flemmings on leave but denies homophobic slur
T&T Guardian Reports.


TAMPA, Florida – Jamaican striker Junior Flemmings has denied making a homophobic slur against an opposition player in a United Soccer League match this week, but has agreed to take administrative leave pending an investigation into the matter.

The contest at San Diego’s Torero Stadium erupted after San Diego Loyal midfielder Collin Martin – an openly gay player – was given a red card on the stroke of half-time with the hosts up 3-1 against Flemmings’s Phoenix Rising FC.

Martin subsequently accused Flemmings of the anti-gay slur as play was halted and after Phoenix refused to remove their leading forward, San Diego abandoned the game by walking off.

“At no point did I say a homophobic slur towards Collin Martin,” Flemmings subsequently tweeted.


“I do not know Collin personally, but I respect all of my opponents equally, Collin included.”

Phoenix manager Rick Schantz, who has also taken leave but unrelated to the investigation, said he had received conflicting information at the time of the incident but had chosen to back his player.

“I work with this young man every day, I was in a serious quandary,” he explained.

“I have one person yelling at me saying this is what happened and I have a player denying what happened. And I just chose to – I had to support my team and support our players.

“If it comes out that he did say that or he said something disparaging, I think that’s reprehensible and I’m deeply sorry to the player, the fans and all those that are affected.”

San Diego manager Landon Donovan, the former US national star, said the fact his side were ahead in the game and closing in on a playoff spot had been irrelevant.

“They were very clear in that moment that they were giving up all hopes of making the playoffs even though they were beating one of the best teams in the league handily,” he stressed.

“But they said it doesn’t matter, there are things more important in life and we have to stick up for what we believe in. So they made the decision to walk off.”

In a statement, the USL said it condemned any such homophobic actions but would carry out an investigation into the matter.

“We are aware of the alleged use of a homophobic slur in [Wednesday’s] match between San Diego Loyal SC and Phoenix Rising FC. Foul and abusive language of any type has absolutely no place in our society and will not be tolerated in USL matches,” the statement said.

“An investigation is currently underway to determine the facts surrounding the incident and more information will be provided as soon as it is available.”

The 24-year-old Flemmings, who has made a handful of appearances for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, is the USL’s leading scorer with 14 goals for the campaign.

Rising has already qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning Group B while San Diego lie third and have been eliminated from playoff contention.

RELATED NEWS

USL bans Reggae Boy Flemmings
T&T Express Reports.


Phoenix Rising FC’s Reggae Boy, Junior Flemmings, will miss the United Soccer League playoffs after being slapped with a six-game ban for using a homophobic slur against an openly gay player in a controversial match last week.

The decision by the league, which includes an undisclosed fine, follows an investigation into the incident which occurred at half-time at San Diego’s Torero Stadium in a contest against Rising San Diego Loyal.

Flemmings, 24, the league’s leading marksman this season, had denied the allegation but was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

The USL said the probe included “interviews with 11 individuals, including players, coaches and match officials”, and had found that Flemmings had used “foul and abusive language in the form of a homophobic slur”.

“Flemmings could also be subject to additional discipline from Phoenix Rising FC and remains on administrative leave,” the league announced.

“(His) suspension covers the entirety of the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs.”

The Jamaican Football Federation in a statement also condemned Flemmings’s actions, noting it hoped the player would recover from the controversy and continue his excellent form.

“The JFF would like to make it clear that we abhor foul, abusive or discriminatory language,” the statement said.

“We are indeed disappointed and we impress upon our players both locally and internationally, to be mindful of their expressions within and without a game.

“Every player should use this incident as a teachable moment while they maintain professionalism even under pressure or provocation.

“We truly hope that Flemmings will quickly pick up the pieces and maintain the great scoring form if and when he is called to the national team.”

Rising FC dominated Group B of the preliminary stage to win handily, primarily thanks to Flemmings’s 14 goals, but will now face Sacramento Republic on Saturday without their leading player.

« Last Edit: October 09, 2020, 08:36:16 AM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Peong

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Re: United Soccer League (USL) - Thread
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2020, 07:03:15 PM »
There's a Trini commentating for the Tampa Bay Charleston game on ESPN.  I eh ketch the name. Anybody know who he is?

Found him, his name is Ryan Davis. Is he a forum member?
https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news_article/show/1125818-ryan-davis-on-his-journey-to-the-rowdies-broadcast-booth
« Last Edit: October 17, 2020, 07:27:13 PM by Peong »

 

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