Join Now  | 
Home About Contact Us Privacy & Security Advertise
Soccer America Daily Special Edition Around The Net Soccer Business Insider College Soccer Reporter Youth Soccer Reporter Soccer on TV Soccer America Classifieds
Paul Gardner: SoccerTalk Soccer America Confidential Youth Soccer Insider World Cup Watch
RSS Feeds Archives Manage Subscriptions Subscribe
Order Current Issue Subscribe Manage My Subscription Renew My Subscription Gift Subscription
My Account Join Now
Tournament Calendar Camps & Academies Soccer Glossary Classifieds
Revs and Fire set for semifinal showdown
by Ridge Mahoney, June 30th, 2009 7:01AM
Subscribe to Soccer America Daily


MOST READ


[SUPERLIGA] Frequent playoff opponents New England and Chicago are set for a SuperLiga semifinal meeting following the conclusion of group play last weekend. Kenny Mansally's goal Sunday at Gillette Stadium carried the Revs to a 1-0 win over Altas, which hit the woodwork twice in the second half but finished the tournament without a goal and with a record of 0-1-2.

Kheli Dube's dribble and pass at the edge of the penalty area set up the chance for Mansally, whose low shot took a deflection on its way into the net.

That result meant Kansas City (0-1-2) needed only a tie against Santos Laguna to reach the semifinals, but Santos (1-1-1) romped to a 3-1 victory to capture second place. Agustin Herrera broke open a goalless game in the 61st minute, Matias Vuoso added a second goal with a header from a cross by Osmar Mares, and after Claudio Lopez's swerving free kick cut the deficit in half with 10 minutes left, Juan Pablo Rodriguez added a Santos third in stoppage time.

As the winner of Group B, New England (2-0-1) hosts Chicago (2-1-0) in the semifinals at Gillette Stadium on July 15. The Fire lost its finale to UNL (Tigres), 2-1, Saturday at Toyota Park, and needed a penalty kick from Cuauhtemoc Blanco to avoid the two-goal defeat that would have eliminated it.

Armando Pulido scored twice for UNL for a 2-0 lead, but Patrick Nyarko drew the foul for the penalty kick that Blanco converted in the 85th minute. Both Chicago and UNL finished play in Group A with 2-1-0 records but the Fire held all tiebreaker advantages and so won Group A.

UNL, however, had to wait for the outcome of the second game Saturday at Home Depot Center to learn its fate.

A late goal by Atiba Harris forged a 1-1 tie for Chivas USA with San Luis and eliminated both teams from the semifinal round. That was the only point earned by Chivas USA (0-2-1) in three games; San Luis (1-1-1) would have advanced with a win.

Alfredo Moreno converted a penalty kick to give San Luis a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute. Carey Talley nearly equalized a few minutes later but his shot hit the post, and Harris hit the side netting in the 83rd minute before nailing home Bojan Stepanovic's corner kick two minutes later. In stoppage time a Moreno goal that would have put San Luis through was waved off.

The second semifinal of a July 15 doubleheader at Gillette Stadium matches up Santos Laguna with UNL. The final will be played Aug. 5 at a location to be determined.

 



No comments yet.

Sign in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join Now


AUTHORS

ARCHIVES
FOLLOW SOCCERAMERICA

Recent Soccer America Daily
Tampa Bay and Atlanta eye outright lead    
[NASL SCHEDULE: Week 8] After winning their 2012 Soccer Bowl rematch with Minnesota United FC last ...
Timbers put unbeaten road record on line    
[MLS SCHEDULE: Week 13] The Portland Timbers sit third in the Western Conference with one loss ...
What They're Saying    
"I seriously felt like a coward. These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the ...
Seaton scores in Richmond win    
[USL PRO REWIND: Week 10] D.C. United's latest homegrown signing, Jamaican U-17 Michael Seaton, and midfielder ...
Charlotte remains unbeaten with 2-2 tie    
[USL PRO REWIND: Week 10] The Charlotte Eagles (3-0-4) remained unbeaten with a 2-2 tie against ...
Tijuana concedes late tie; Hoffenheim coasts    
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Americans Edgar Castillo and Joe Corona will have to head back to Brazil in ...
Busch Stadium friendly draws standing-room crowd    
[CHELSEA-MANCHESTER CITY] Manchester City kicked off the international summer friendly season with a bang, rallying from ...
Soumare deal is win-win for all parties    
[MLS TRANSACTIONS] Few deals seem to work out for all parties, but the Bakary Soumare trade ...
New York and FC Dallas look to solidify leads    
[MLS SCHEDULE: Week 13] MLS finishes its third month Memorial Day weekend with six games Saturday ...
Taylor instrumental in Flash's third win in a row    
[NWSL REWIND: Week 8] Defender Brittany Taylor assisted on goals by Abby Wambach and captain McCall ...
>> Soccer America Daily Archives