Game is Saturday night in Wilmington. A must win for both teams in Open Cup qualifying. After the reception Mario, ex Dynamo now current Hammerhead, got in Greensboro I have a feeling he is set on go for this one. Hammerheads - Dynamo is a really good rivalry and is good for soccer. Both teams have excellent ownership and support. Close enough, a 3 hour drive, that fans go to away games. Except for the addition of Nansha from an early season injury I do not believe the Dynamo has any surprises for the Heads. Look for Nansha to get 30-45 minutes as he works back into form. Although the Heads have played a little better style than the Dynamo (tended to get fragmented and too direct) in past few years, both teams this year play a pretty attractive style. Chemistry is better on Dynamo this year and players/coach seem much more commited to playing a more attractive style. This should be a great game for anyone in the area.
Open qualifying LDB, in pro select, teams play four qualifying games. Top five point total plus last year's champ, Long Island, get in for a total of 6 pro select teams. How they pick the games is another story. Carolina plays 2 against Long Island and 2 against Wilmington, two of the toughest teams in the league. Seems to me there is a little home cooking going on to make sure some different teams get in each year. Example, Carolina plays a very weak Reading team last week in a non qualifying game and wins 4-1. Reading is 3-0 in qualifying games against even weaker teams.
great rivalry The game won 2-1 by the Dynamo brought this rivalry to a new level. Attendance announced at almost 2,500 surprised me, I thought there was more. The key to success of professional soccer in the lower divisions in the US is more games like this one. Very competitive game, yet skill still present among the pressure. Wilmington does a great job at putting on the games in a good stadium and pitch.