Minnesota and Fort Lauderdale Earn Key Wins In The Race for The Championship
Soccer News: Ottawa Fury FC clinched a postseason spot, but its final seeding is yet to be determined after besting Canadian rival FC Edmonton, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon. Sinisa Ubiparipovic scored in each half to push Fury FC back in front in the Combined Standings, and further the club’s gap at the top of the Fall Season Standings.
Minnesota United FC’s unbeaten streak hit double digits when the Loons defeated 10-man Tampa Bay, 1-0, at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn., on Saturday night. The goal by Christian Ramirez, his 11th of the year, puts the Loons only two points back of Fury FC in the Combined Standings.
In San Antonio, Texas, Fort Lauderdale rode three first-half goals and then held off the Scorpions to end a two-game losing streak. The victory, on the strength of a hat trick by the league’s leading goalscorer Stefano Pinho (15), puts the Strikers right back in the thick of the race for a berth in The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament.
The Strikers are now level on points (34) with FC Edmonton and the Rowdies. The New York Cosmos, who face visiting Atlanta on Sunday evening, have already claimed a postseason berth by virtue of winning the Spring Season title. Both Ottawa and Minnesota seem headed to The Championship, with both capable of winning the Fall Season title and/or finishing first in the Combined Standings.
Ten-man Jacksonville, wearing attractive pink and dark blue jerseys in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was on its way to its second consecutive victory until Brian Brown knotted the match and Indy Eleven grabbed a point in its second straight 1-1 draw of the week in Florida.
The New York Cosmos and Atlanta Silverbacks settled for a point on Sunday evening at Shuart Stadium. Michal Mravec gave the visitors the lead late in the first half, but a Simon Mensing own goal in the second stanza pulled the Cosmos level. While New York ramped up pressure in the final minutes, the home side couldn’t find a winner as the score finished at 1-1.
Jacksonville Armada FC 1, Indy Eleven 1
Jaime Castrillón scored his third goal of the Fall Season, in the 29th minute, to give Jacksonville (4W-3D-8L, 15 points Fall; 7-6-12, 27 Combined) a 1-0 lead before 6,734 at Community First Park in Jacksonville, FL. It was an impressive buildup by the Armada FC, made all the more so because Castrillon was fouled and knocked to the ground during the play, but Jacksonville maintained possession and referee Juan Guzmán allowed play to continue. The ball found its way to Pascal Millien for a cross from the left to Castrillón, who had bounced back into the play. He skied to head it past Indy Eleven (3-5-8, 14 Fall; 6-9-11, 27 Combined) goalkeeper Keith Cardona. Jacksonville, which has lost only once at home (7-4-1) in its inaugural season, played a man down from the 63rd minute after Mechack Jérôme was shown a straight red card. Indy Eleven broke through when second-half substitute Brian Brown first-timed a looping pass from Wojciech Wojcik past Jacksonville goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. The tie was the second this week for Indy after Wednesday’s match at Tampa Bay, also a 1-1 draw.
Minnesota United 1, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
Playing a man up after Tampa Bay (4-3-9, 15 Fall; 9-7-10, 34 Combined) defender Ben Sweat was ejected, Minnesota (9-5-2, 32 Fall; 12-10-4, 46 Combined) took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute in front of 8,932 at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn. Kevin Venegas’ cross from the right caused confusion in the Rowdies’ defense and the ball fell to Christian Ramirez. He tucked it into the net for his 11th goal of the year. The Loons extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games and are unbeaten in nine games against the Rowdies: five wins and four draws.
San Antonio Scorpions 4, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2
Fort Lauderdale (6-5-4, 23 Fall; 9-7-9, 34 Combined) took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute when Stefano Pinho opened the scoring before 7,832 at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas. The big striker from Brazil controlled the ball and split two San Antonio (3-5-7, 14 Fall; 6-8-11, 26 Combined) defenders before scoring his 13th goal of the year with a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes. The Strikers doubled the lead minutes later on a goal by Marlon Freitas. San Antonio squandered a chance to pull back a goal when Rafael Castillo sent a penalty kick wide of the goal in the 20th minute. It was Pinho scoring again, his 14th, in the 40th when he put a shot inside the near post. San Antonio’s new signing Kris Tyrpak scored a stunning goal in his debut for the club. He controlled the ball with his chest and then hit a looping volley that froze Strikers goalkeeper Lionel Brown, who could only watch the ball spin in under the bar. Fort Lauderdale’s lead melted to a single goal in the 79th minute when Stephen DeRoux scored in his 70th appearance for the club. Pinho completed his hat trick with his 15th of the season when a pass from Shawn Chin found him at the far post for an easy tap-in.
Ottawa Fury FC 2, FC Edmonton 0
Ottawa (11-4-1, 37; 13-9-4, 38 Combined) clinched a spot in The Championship as the club still chases the Fall Season title and the No. 1 seed by virtue of finishing atop the Combined Standings. After a blistering road trip where Fury FC took all nine points on offer, Sinsia Ubiparipovic provided the offensive touch to lead the way against the Eddies. The Bosnian midfielder was free at the back post in the 23rd minute and finished off Paulo Jr.’s low cross. In the second half, Ubipariovic added his second of the match when his initial shot was blocked, but he was able to corral the ball and fired his shot into the top corner. FC Edmonton (7-4-5, 25 Fall, 9-7-10, 34 Combined) is tied on points with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, but ceded control of its destiny after the loss. The Strikers lead in goal differential and have a game in hand over the Eddies.
New York Cosmos 1, Atlanta Silverbacks 1
The Silverbacks (6-5-5, 23 Fall; 7-10-9, 31 Combined) earned a hard-fought point on the road against the Cosmos. Michal Mravec scored his first goal for the Silverbacks when he nodded in Junior Burgos’ free kick in the 38th minute. New York (6-6-4, 24 Fall; 11-11-4, 44 Combined) would level the score with a little bit of fortune. After Atlanta defender Simon Mensing made a key block, the ensuing corner from Ayoze caromed off the Englishman and in for an own goal in the 70th minute, as the score would remain at 1-1 for the remainder of the match.
Photo Credit: Steve Kingsman
