Yeah, but in his defense, he only did that because he couldn't keep the ball rolling and was in danger of being crushed.
I think that is one of the closest play off races I can remember in the last 15 years. going into the weekend, there were seven teams competing for the remaining 5 spots. Even playing the last match last night affected the who qualified and where everyone else ended up. USL has a good review on their website http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/655434.html but the cliff not version is Orlando Rochester Charleston Richmond Wilmington Harrisburg #3 Charleston play #6 Harrisburg in Charleston, Saturday, August 25 at 7:30pm #4 Richmond play #5 Wilmington in Richmond, Saturday, August 25 at 7:00pm Orlando and Rochester get a bye the first round. Second round: The lowest remaining seed plays Orlando in Orlando August 31at 7:30pm the highest rank remaining seed plays Rochester in Rochester on August 31 at 7:35pm I have a feeling the twisting and turning the season ended with isn't done yet.
USL PRO PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE Quarterfinals Saturday, August 25No.5 Wilmington Hammerheads at No.4 Richmond Kickers, 7 p.m. ET No.6 Harrisburg City Islanders at No.3 Charleston Battery, 7:30 p.m. ET Semifinals Friday, August 31 Lower remaining seed at No.1 Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. ET Higher remaining seed at No.2 Rochester Rhinos, 7:35 p.m. ET
It will be intresting to see who will be in the final. Orlando was the team to beat during the season, but I don't see them playing as well as they have. The Battery turned around when they needed to get results to stay in the playoffs. Rochester had a good season even though there has been a lot of negativity about the team's future. Wilmington had a great season and moved up the standings towards the end. Harrisburg was in the final last year. Richmond has been solid. There will be a lot of question marks going in to the quarterfinals.
The Rhinos didn't have a good season at all. They had a great 6-0 START to the season, but have stumbled badly since. Against the other 5 playoff teams, they're a combined 2-7-2 (both ties came against Wilmington), and were beaten 4-0 twice. In one of the 2 wins (on the road against the Battery), they were out shot 20-2 and the keeper stood on his head. Anything can happen in single elimination, but I don't like their chances. The rest of the bottom four, take your pick. All are decent, and one of them could sneak past Orlando. It'll probably take PKs to do it, but it's possible. If I had to choose one, I'd go with the Battery.
Two well deserved clubs playing in the Championship game. Should be a good turn out for...Rivalary teams and cities are somewhat close to each other.
Looking forward to the Championship match. I know the atmosphere will be fantastic as Im sure Wilmington will bring big numbers down We were taling before the match last night at our watch party about how both The Battery and The hammers would be riding on a high having won the week before where the bye week might actually be a negative as both orlando and Rochester had that extra week off. In the end both teh lower seed teams won (it was a blue moon last night!)
Anyone note how Orlando City was selling tickets for the championship game before the semifinal was done? A little cocky don't you think?
Unless the NASL invented it (like they invented the two-legged final, remember). Then it would be brilliant. You know a one-off favors the better team, right? In the other thread, you decry the one-off because of fluky results, when, in actual fact, "better" teams have a much better chance of advancing in a one-off than they do in a two-legged scenario.
From their Facebook page: Yesterday ALERT: If we win, Championship Game tickets will be on sale immediately following tonight's game So, not exactly