The NASL has changed their playoff structure. 4 teams will make the playoffs and be seeded by the overall year points. Sort of. http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/19...-to-compete-for-the-championship#.Uw-xkvldWSr #1 seed - Spring or Fall season winner with the most overall points #2 seed- the other Spring or Fall winner (if that is the same team as #1 then overall points are used for the rest of the seeds.) #3 seed - the team with the most overall points that isn't a #1 or #2 seed #4 seed - the team with the next most overall points that isn't a #1 or #2 seed In other words, the overall standings are used to seed the teams but the Spring and Fall season winners still get at least the #2 seed. This ensures that the top teams for the overall season make the playoffs. But they will not necessarily host a game. The playoffs are one-game knockouts hosted by the higher seeds. Semifinals are November 8-9 and The Championship is November 15-16. Oh, and they are apparently getting rid of the name "Soccer Bowl". The article refers to it as "The Championship".
The 2014 NASL Spring Season starts this week: Saturday, April 12 Fort Lauderdale Strikers v. Ottawa Fury FC 6:30 pm Indy Eleven v. Carolina RailHawks FC 6:30 pm Tampa Bay Rowdies v. FC Edmonton 6:30 pm San Antonio Scorpions v. Minnesota United FC 7:30 pm Sunday, April 13 NY Cosmos v. Atlanta Silverbacks 4:00 pm The NASL is playing a 9 game Spring Season and then taking a break for almost the entire World Cup. The Spring Season winner will automatically advance to the Championship tournament in November. San Antonio will be looking to rebound from their disastrous Fall campaign when they finished 3-10-1 and in last place. That was after finishing 3rd and just 1 point out of winning the Spring season.
This weekend ends the NASL Spring season: Standings: 1. MIN 8 g.p. 19 pts +7 g.d. ----------------------------------- 2. COS 8 g.p. 16 pts +10 g.d. 3. SAN 8 g.p. 16 pts +4 g.d. 4. CAR 8 g.p. 14 pts +1 g.d. 5. FTL 8 g.p. 12 pts +0 g.d. 6. OTT 8 g.p. 10 pts +2 g.d. 7. TBY 8 g.p. 9 pts -5 g.d. 8. ATL 8 g.p. 9 pts -8 g.d. 9. EDM 8 g.p. 5 pts -5 g.d. 10. IND 8 g.p. 3 pts -6 g.d. Week 9 schedule: Saturday, June 7 Atlanta Silverbacks v. Indy Eleven 7:30 pm Tampa Bay Rowdies v. Minnesota United FC 7:30 pm San Antonio Scorpions v. Fort Lauderdale Strikers 8:30 pm Sunday, June 8 FC Edmonton v. Carolina RailHawks 4:00 pm NY Cosmos v. Ottawa Fury FC 5:00 pm The Spring season winner automatically gets a top 1 or 2 seed and a home game in the playoffs this fall. The other three playoff teams are the Fall winner and the next two best in the overall standings. San Antonio has only a very slim chance to win the Spring Season. They need to win while Minnesota loses and the Cosmos fail to win, and even then the Scorpions would need to make up another goal in the goal difference with Minnesota. The next tie-breaker is goals scored and Minnesota leads that on San Antonio, 13-11, at the moment.
The 2014 Spring season is over. Final Standings: 1. MIN 9 g.p. 20 pts +7 g.d. ----------------------------------- 2. COS 9 g.p. 19 pts +11 g.d. 3. SAN 9 g.p. 17 pts +4 g.d. 4. CAR 9 g.p. 14 pts -4 g.d. 5. FTL 9 g.p. 13 pts +0 g.d. 6. OTT 9 g.p. 10 pts +1 g.d. 7. TBY 9 g.p. 10 pts -5 g.d. 8. ATL 9 g.p. 10 pts -8 g.d. 9. EDM 9 g.p. 8 pts +0 g.d. 10. IND 9 g.p. 4 pts -6 g.d. Minnesota United wins the Spring title. They will host one of the semifinals this fall. The other 3 spots are the Fall winner and the 2 next best teams overall. There will be 18 games in the Fall so there could be a lot of movement in the standings. Regular season play resumes on July 12.
The NASL Playoffs starts next week. All matches will be broadcast on ESPN3.com and NASLLive.com Minnesota United, San Antonio Scorpions, and New York Cosmos clinched their playoff spots. Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Carolina Railhawks are battling for the 4th and last playoff spot. Check here for the standings and playoff scenarios. http://www.nasl.com/standings http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/7z...r-8-in-minnesota-and-san-antonio#.VFL3lzCJOuY
Interest in San Antonio still for a MLS team. Major League Soccer is in the process of expanding in the U.S., but San Antonio is said to be well down the list of potential expansion sites. An investment of this scale could vastly enhance the city's fortunes. "There is a potential window of opportunity here to move this to the next level," Hartman said. "I think that is exciting." The move by the Japanese investors comes at a time when the city is juggling a lot of sports possibilities. The Oakland Raiders are still in play, although that is considered a longer shot for San Antonio than attracting an MLS franchise. The city has also submitted bids for future men's NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments. Hartman says the soccer venture would involve a lot of involvement from the Japanese, who would be far more than silent partners. "One of the gentlemen who is part of this group is a very well known soccer player worldwide," Hartman said. "He would be very much involved in what is done here in San Antonio." Read more: http://www.woai.com/articles/woai-l...-soccer-on-the-agenda-12927000/#ixzz3I3baSHZW
SEMIFINALS Saturday, November 8 (1) Minnesota United FC 1-1 (pks 4-5) (4) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2) San Antonio Scorpions 2-1 (aet) (3) NY Cosmos Both games went to overtime with the Strikers winning on PKs and San Antonio getting a goal about 20 minutes into the overtime and then holding on to win. FINAL Saturday, November 15 (2) San Antonio Scorpions v. (4) Fort Lauderdale Strikers 7:30 pm San Antonio gets to host the final.
Both semifinal matches tonight were very good. If you missed it, there are replays for both games on the WatchESPN website. Any Dynamo supporters planning a road trip to San Antonio? I can't make it there next week because I'm going to my cousin's wedding.
Caught the Scorps, I'm considering going but I also don't want to miss the final U18 game of the year here in Houston. :-/
I watched the Scorpions, much better product for them this year. In NASL, it looks like there is almost zero player consistency from year to year. Players move around the league so quickly. Having said that, Josue Soto is still playing for them and looked pretty decent. I hope they end up winning it all next Saturday.
The Scorpions two goals in the final: http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/11/...tch-highlights-video-nasl-championship-final/ The last few games I've watched, I've liked the way that some of their young guys have played. Forbes (only 23) clinched it with the second goal.
FINAL Saturday, November 15 (2) San Antonio Scorpions 2-1 (4) Fort Lauderdale Strikers San Antonio wins the Soccer Bowl for 2014. 2014 NASL trophies Spring Season - Minnesota United Fall Season - San Antonio Scorpions Woosnam Cup (best overall season record) - Minnesota United Soccer Bowl - San Antonio Scorpions Trophies so far for the new NASL: 3 - Minnesota United (Soccer Bowl 2011, Spring 2014, Woosnam 2014) 3 - San Antonio Scorpions (Woosnam 2012, Fall 2014, Soccer Bowl 2014) 2 - NY Cosmos (Fall 2013, Soccer Bowl 2013) 2 - Carolina RailHawks (Woosnam 2011, Woosnam 2013) 1- Tampa Bay Rowdies (Soccer Bowl 2012) 1 - Atlanta Silverbacks (Spring 2013) The 2015 schedule format has not been announced.
The 2015 NASL spring schedule is out: http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/1j...ing-season-fixture-list-revealed#.VJHblSvF98N They are sticking to last year's format. There are now 11 teams with Jacksonville joining so teams will play every other team once in the Spring for 10 games. That's 5 league games each weekend with 1 bye. The Spring winner will get a 1 or 2 seed in the playoffs next fall. They are not saying how or when the Fall season will work. Waiting to see on LA apparently. I would expect 20 or 22 games in the Fall. San Antonio's Spring schedule: Saturday April 4 San Antonio Scorpions v. Tampa Bay Rowdies 7:30pm Saturday April 11 Bye Saturday April 18 San Antonio Scorpions v. Indy Eleven 7:30pm Saturday April 25 Minnesota United v. San Antonio Scorpions TBD Saturday May 2 Jacksonville Armada FC v. San Antonio Scorpions 8:30pm Saturday May 9 San Antonio Scorpions v. Carolina RailHawks 7:30pm Saturday May 17 FC Edmonton v. San Antonio Scorpions TBD Saturday May 23 New York Cosmos v. San Antonio ScorpionsT BD Saturday May 30 San Antonio Scorpions v. Fort Lauderdale Strikers 7:30pm Saturday June 6 Atlanta Silverbacks v. San Antonio Scorpions TBD Saturday June 13 San Antonio Scorpions v. Ottawa Fury 7:30pm
The Fall NASL schedule is out. http://www.nasl.com/article/uuid/kh...ounces-2015-fall-season-fixtures#.VL_StUfF-Ys Still just 11 teams. Apparently the rumored LA team will not start this year. Teams will play 20 games between July 4 and November 1. That's only a two week break between the split seasons this year. The playoffs will run the same as last year.
The NASL starts their 2015 Spring season this week. All games except Cosmos home games will be on ESPN3. The Cosmos have their own deal with One World Sports. Saturday, April 4 Carolina Railhawks v. Ottawa Fury 12:00 pm Atlanta Silverbacks v. Indy Eleven 6:30 pm Fort Lauderdale Strikers v. NY Cosmos 6:30 pm Jacksonville Armada v. FC Edmonton 6:30 pm San Antonio Scorpions v. Tampa Bay Rowdies 7:30 pm BYE: Minnesota United
The bad news is the Scorpions didn't win. They ended up tied 2-2 against Minnesota and are currently in last place of the 10-match Spring season table.
I thought it was chutzpah. It's all how you read the tea leaves on whether Miami gets a soccer stadium. If MLS isn't up and running, you don't have to leave the market fallow. Still a crap market, long history of opened then closed teams, but hey. I'm convinced MLS let Beckham exercise his option to get that issue out of the way, and played along with his decision. OK, if you want Miami, we are only letting you start with a SSS. In the post Marlin stadium world of Miami, good luck. But it's his option and his choice. Meanwhile NYC is running now and LA2 is in other hands. I'm not sure MLS really wants him owning a team, even though they gave him an option. If he kind of wastes the option farting around.....no cash value, don't have to worry about him throwing elbows around the league or hogging PR. I think he'll eventually want to pursue something else but the easy coastal choices are pretty much off the board. Do you see Beckham buying into the flyover choices, even smart ones like San Antonio?
So, what will going to happen to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers? There's no way that the South Beach metropolitan area can support two local teams in South Florida, let alone four clubs in the state of Florida if you add Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.