Hell is Real for Cincinnati as Crew Scores Four

BAY LAKE – Columbus Crew SC managed a mammoth 4-0 derby win over in-state tical FC Cincinnati to claim the Hell is Real derby, at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Saturday.

The match was delayed due to the opening match of the day’s MLS is Back play, between the New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United FC, being affected by lightning. Pushing back kick-off to 11 p.m. in Florida, but it didn’t seem to impact Columbus.

Lucas Zelarayan opened the scoring in the 27th minute thanks to a free-kick. Zelarayan lined it up and curled it around the wall and out of reach of Cincinnati goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton to give his side the lead.

It didn’t take long for a second with Gyasi Zardes scoring on the half-hour. Somehow the defense lost track of the US International, giving him all the space in the world to put away Youness Mokhtar’s through ball.

Highlights: Columbus Crew SC v FC Cinicnnati – MLS is Back Tournament – July 11 2020

Four minutes into the second half Zardes sealed his brace and effectively wrapped up the match for Columbus. Another great cross, this time from Zelarayan, perfectly found Zardes, who slammed it home.

From there, the Orange and Blue defense fell apart. They allowed opportunities left and right, and on the 60th minute, Mokhtar wrapped up a simple finish.

READ MORE: Sounders and Quakes Blow Chances in Scoreless Draw

It could have been a lot worse, but Crew SC couldn’t put away the other chances that came, leaving it to only a 4-0 scoreline.

New York Red Bulls players celebrate their goal (Photo Courtesy: Matt Stith & Jared Martinez)

In the other match of the day, a fourth-minute goal from Florian Valot was enough for NYRB to overcome Atlanta 1-0. A long ball from Kaku allowed Valot to be clear of the defense and left him with a smooth finish for the early goal.

The Red Bulls continued to attack and could have doubled the lead in the 25th when Daniel Royer got a shot away unmarked in the box. Kyle Duncan sent the cross in and found his teammate, but Royer’s shot was well saved by Brad Guzan, who kept his team in the match with some impressive goalkeeping.

Highlights: New York Red Bulls v Atlanta United SC – MLS is Back Tournament – July 11 2020

In the latter stages of the first half, Atlanta could have been on level terms when George Bello launched one from distance. The shot went over goalkeeper David Jensen only to be denied by the crossbar, keeping the Jersey club in front.

Guzan time-and-time kept his team in front through the second half, keeping the former champions in the game. That allowed for one more stunning moment late when Adam Jahn looked sure to score with a header only for Jensen to stretch out, make the save, and keep all three points.

Featured Image Courtesy: Devin L’Amoreaux and Matthew Stith

Late Fernandez Goal Sends Rowdies Past 10-Man Atlanta

ST. PETERSBURG – After playing against 10-men for over 80 minutes, the Tampa Bay Rowdies needed a Leo Fernandez tap-in at the death to seal a 2-1 win over Atlanta United 2 at Al Lang Stadium Saturday night.

Atlanta United 2 was reduced to 10-men in just the 7th minutes after Amir Bashti pulled down Lewis Hilton on the edge of the box. Both sides surrounded the referee arguing their case, the Rowdies for a Penalty, and Atlanta for a yellow. After consulting with his assistant, the referee gave the red card as Bashti denied an obvious opportunity, but the foul was out of the box.

Read More: USL Championship Announces 2020 Schedule

Despite being down to 10-men, the visitors took the lead in the 11th minute. Jackson Conway received the ball after a Dominic Oduro error. He saw Evan Louro slightly off his line, allowing him to hit a powerful shot just over the Rowdies keeper to open the scoring.

The hosts finally got back on level terms in the 61st minute through Lucky Mkosana’s goal at the near post. The shot went right at the keeper, but Ben Lundgaard couldn’t hold on to it, letting the veteran get on the scoresheet after a short pass from Juan Tejada.

With just three minutes to play, the Rowdies finally hit the lead, and again Ludgaard was left feeling he could have done better. A free-kick was swung into the box and found Forrest Lasso, whose header was too tricky for the Atlanta netminder. That saw the ball spill in the box, and it was Leo Fernandez who reacted fastest and tapped it home.

Tampa Bay attacked throughout the first half, but wayward shooting cost the side. Despite managing ten shots during the first half but just one of them was on target, and it was an easily saved shot.

That trend continued in the second half, with the Rowdies managing just five shots on target through the entire match despite having 22 shots through the whole match.

With the victory, the Rowdies will be top of the group at least now but will need to improve to have an impact.

Photo: Tampa Bay Rowdies

Sounders and Quakes Blow Chances in Scoreless Draw

Shea Salinas fights for possession (Photo Courtesy: Jared Martinez & Devin L’Amoreaux)

BAY LAKE – The two teams had 28 shots between them, but it wasn’t enough as Seattle Sounders FC and the San Jose Earthquakes fought out a scoreless draw in the MLS is Back tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World on Friday night.

It was all Earthquakes in the first half, dominating possession, but Stefan Frei was a brick wall in the Sounders’ goal, saving everything that came his way. Despite San Jose’s domination of the first half, the best chance of the first half fell to Seattle in the 28th minute. Cristian Roldan got behind the defense and was able to shoot only to be denied by a robust Daniel Vega save.

READ MORE: Stoppage Time Winner Sends Orlando Past Miami to Open MLS is Back Tournament

After the break, the Quakes came out determined to get the opener and pushed throughout the half, and if not for Frei’s efforts would have had it.

Their best chance of the match came in the 70th minute when only an improbable Frei save kept the match level. Jackson Yueill unleashed a shot from distance that took a deflection, seemingly catching Frei out, but the keeper managed to make a stunning dive and make the save.

Highlights: Seattle Sounders FC v San Jose Earthquakes – MLS is Back Tournament – July 10 2020

With so much possession (62 percent), there was always a chance that a late chance could catch out the California club, and it nearly happened with six minutes to play. Kelvin Leerdam found a wide-open Raul Ruidaz, but Vega quickly came off his line and made the stop on Ruidaz’s shot to preserve his clean sheet and the point for the Earthquakes.

The match was physical with 20 fouls and 81 duels, something that Yueill reflected on after the game.

“It’s a normal game. Everyone comes to compete and to play hard. You only have three games, so each game is very important to win. If you lose, it lessens your chances of making it through. I think everyone is going to come with 100% attitude.”

San Jose Earthquakes’ midfielder Jackson Yueill

Stoppage Time Winner Sends Orlando Past Miami to Open MLS is Back Tournament

Nani celebrates scoring the winner with his team-mates (Photo Courtesy: Jared Martinez)

BAY LAKE – A stoppage-time goal from Nani has handed Orlando City SC its first derby win in the MLS era. The Lions defeated Inter Miami CF 2-1 on Tuesday night in the opening match of the MLS is Back tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World.

The match opened with a demonstration from the Black Players for Change (apart from starting this match) surrounding the field and raising their fists for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the same length of time former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd. It was an emotional display, occurring as the players and referees knelt in silence, all showing solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

“It’s emotional for those there, and I felt it for a couple of moments, and I started thinking that everyone in the world should stop for a minute and start thinking about their attitudes and to see what we all can do to make a difference in the world”

Orlando City SC’s Nani

After a scoreless first-half, Miami opened the scoring in the 47th minute. A good ball from Matias Pellegrini found Victor Ulloa on the right. Ulloa squared for Juan Agudelo to poke home and the Herons their first competitive goal.

After huffing and puffing, Orlando got its equalizer in the 70th minute. Mauricio Pereya’s pass found Nani charging up the left. Nani sent the ball into the box where Chris Mueller was able to slide in and get the equalizer.

Orlando City SC v Inter Miami CF: MLS is Back Tournament, July 8 2020 Highlights

Seven minutes into stoppage time, the Lions stole all three points. Joao Moutinho’s cross was deflected in the box and fell fortuitously for Nani, who slammed it home.

“I want to tell everybody how proud we are of the players, the effort and the job that they have done through this last period. They are a tremendous group and tonight they showed that they are very strong inside. Both teams were very generous with the effort and we saw a lot of soccer there. We are proud with the victory.” (Oscar Pareja, OCSC Head Coach)

Orlando City SC Head Coach Oscar Pareja

The first half was tight, both sides still getting back into their rhythm in a match that lacked some of the pace you’d typically see this time of year. Agudelo had the best early chance in the ninth minute. Pellegrini beat his man and sent a perfect cross for the eventual goalscorer whose shot went just wide.

Orlando’s best chance of the first half came in the 22nd minute with a strong shot from Mueller that was only denied by a stunning save from Miami captain Luis Robles.

“We’re never happy when we lose. We hope to play better in the next match, we had some good moments, but I think we can play better to be able to win matches.”

Inter Miami CF Head Coach Diego Alonso

With the win, Oscar Pareja is off the mark as OCSC Head Coach, after joining in the off-season.

At half-time in the broadcast, MLS Commissioner Don Garber joined the commentary team to speak about the tournament. Despite FC Dallas withdrawing before the game and Nashville FC withdrawing after it, both due to the number of positive tests, Garber was still confident at completing the tournament. There’s still been no stoppage of the competition despite “the bubble” failing to protect players from getting COVID-19 and spreading it and Florida continuing to increase its cases.

Rowdies Match to be Aired on Fox Sports Sun

Graphic: Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG – For the first time a Tampa Bay Rowdies match will be broadcast on Fox Sports Sun beginning with the Rowdies v Atlanta United 2 match this Saturday.

“We are excited to resume the 2020 USL Championship Season with our first match on FOX Sports Sun. While many of our players’ families and fans are not able to sit inside Al Lang on Saturday night, they won’t have to miss out on watching their Rowdies in action thanks to FOX Sports Sun.”

Lee Cohen, President of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a press release.

Fans outside of Fox Sports Sun’s broadcast range don’t need to worry about the game not being aired with the USL Championship’s contract with ESPN+ means the game will still be televised there. The coverage will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the play-by-play provided by Drew Fellios and color from Ryan Davis.

Gaining Fox Sports Sun as a broadcast partner for the Rowdies is unsurprising given the network’s relationship with the Rowdies owners the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.

Read More: Rowdies, Miami FC Learn Group Opponents for USL Championship Resumption

The match is the first match of the restarted season, with seven other games at home there are potentially more broadcasts, but nothing more is announced. Presumably the longer other sports are down, the more Fox Sports Sun will need content. If USL Championship continues its season despite how bad the COVID-19 case numbers are in Florida, the more likely that there will be more broadcasts.

The United States crossed three million COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, at a case-positivity rate much higher than when USL shut down the league on March 12th. That makes it surprising that everything is still going ahead, but that is the case for now.

USL Championship Announces 2020 Schedule

Photo: Miami FC

TAMPA – The United Soccer League Championship has revealed the schedule for the revised 2020 season, with teams now grouped regionally and facing minimal travel following COVID-19.

There will be four Florida derbies, in Miami on August 7th and September 26th and in St. Petersburg on August 16th and September 2nd. While there’s no ruling from USL on if fans will be allowed, given the spike in cases in both parts of Florida it would be best for the safety of fans if at least the earliest games are closed.

READ MORE: Rowdies, Miami FC Learn Group Opponents for USL Championship Resumption

The Rowdies will open the restarted season with two home games, facing Atlanta United 2 on July 11th and North Carolina FC, an out-of-group opponent, on July 17th. The first away match for Tampa Bay will be an out-of-group match against Birmingham Legion FC on July 25th.

The remaining out-of-group game will be at Al Lang Stadium against Philadelphia Union II on September 6th. The regular-season will complete on October 3rd against Charleston Battery.

Rowdies taking on the Philadelphia Union in 2018 (Photo: Tampa Bay Rowdies)

For the Miami FC, the first match will be an out-of-group opponent in Charlotte Independence at home on July 22nd. That will be the first of two meetings between the sides with the return fixture taking place on September 23rd.

Birmingham will be Miami’s other out-of-group opponent, with that match slated for September 16th in Florida. The big news for FC is that the season will finish with three straight games at Riccardo Silva Stadium beginning on September 26th. That will be a Floridian derby before visits from Charleston and Atlanta round out the regular season.

With two teams from the group advancing to the modified playoffs, it seems likely that one of the two Floridian teams will play.

But that assumes the season will be completed. With over 10,000 cases in Florida alone on Friday, it’s already looking like the season shouldn’t go ahead. Still, the USL has so far ignored all of that despite its headquarters being based in Tampa, so it seems like nothing, not even the worst day yet for cases will stop USL.

Rowdies, Miami FC Learn Group Opponents for USL Championship Resumption

Graphic: USL Championship

TAMPA – The United Soccer League Championship has released its groupings for the return to play. The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Miami FC are in Group H with ATL UTD 2 and Charleston Battery in Group H.
Having those four teams in the group was expected, with USL taking a different approach to MLS and NWSL. Unlike those two leagues, USL Championship teams will be traveling, so the groups were designed to keep travel down to a minimum.
Each team will play their group opponents four times, for 12 matches before playing three more games against regional opponents outside of the group. That will provide four Floridian derbies; something USL Championship hasn’t had for several years.

READ MORE: Coronavirus Forces MLS and USL to Extend Season Suspensions


The league is scheduled to restart on July 11th, but whether it should begin so soon is a different question. Florida, and especially the Tampa Bay region, has experienced a severe uptick in COVID-19 cases, which will put all players at risk. With the teams traveling, they then run the risk of taking that infection back to the communities.
While Georgia hasn’t been experiencing as bad, or consistent, a surge in cases as Florida, it has experienced a significant surge recently that would worry the players heading to Atlanta.
Of the three states, South Carolina has the smallest surge, but cases are still going up there, putting Battery players at risk.
Three weeks from now is much too soon for USL Championship to get started if player and staff welfare is its priority. Still, unless MLS stops its tournament at Disney World, it’s hard to see USL delaying its plans.

NWSL Allows Return of Small Group Training

Pride Sylvan Lake
Orlando Pride training in 2019 (Photo: Orlando Pride)

CHICAGO – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Tuesday the next stage in its return to phased play protocol following Coronavirus could commence. This phase allows for small group training to begin under phase two.


“Following the advice and counsel of our medical advisors, the NWSL is pleased to be taking the next steps to safely return to competition.”

NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird


Group training will be limited to eight players who have to have passed a pre-training assessment. Part of that assessment will be a symptom and temperature screening. That doesn’t completely mitigate risk as an asymptomatic carrier would pass that, but it will help.
Teams will now also be allowed to use their weight, training, and meeting rooms. Beyond players, coaches, trainers, doctors, equipment managers, and sports scientists are entitled to attend training. For anyone to participate, they must pass the assessment and antigen and Antibody test, presumably three days before the session.

READ MORE: MLS Not Returning Before June Due to Coronavirus

NWSL also provided a date of Saturday, May 30th, for full team training. That can only happen after five days of small group training has been completed and won’t violate restrictions in the team’s state or city.
Players will be required to arrive in their training kit, and everyone attending will be required to wear masks.

NWSL to Begin Allowing Small Group Training
Graphic: Orlando Pride


The protocol from NWSL emphasizes that physicians will be the ones who have the call on when each team advances to each stage. As such, the league will only restart when all team’s medical personnel agree it is safe to do so.
Orlando Pride will start training straight away, but that puts players and staff at unnecessary risk. Florida’s COVID-19 outbreak isn’t slowing down with over 51,000 positive tests for residents and over 2,300 deaths. The state has reopened before there was any decline in the peak. Results from Memorial Day weekend have not yet processed. Orange County currently has 1,797 cases and 39 deaths. It’s too soon for any sport to go ahead in Florida, but to stay competitive, the Pride will head back to training earlier than they should.

Rowdies Launch Esports Team

Graphic: Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG – The Tampa Bay Rowdies have launched an e-sports team, Rowdies Gaming, announcing the team on Friday. Four games will be part of the group, FIFA, Rocket League, League of Legends, and Hearthstone.
The games that are part of the team were decided based on global popularity, core business, and the programs at local colleges and high schools.
Rowdies Gaming will enter its first tournament with the USL eCup: FIFA 20 edition, which began on Monday. The Rowdies team members are Rowdies fans Carlos Rueda and David Morales, joined by midfielder Malik Johnson. Nuno Bianchi will coach the team.
The team’s focus is on developing players to become elite professionals. Following on from the Rowdies soccer set up, which focuses on development from youth programs to the League Two side and up to full-time professionals for the Rowdies proper.
The hope is that after initially competing in amateur competition, Rowdies Gaming team members will develop into competing at professional tournaments, wearing the Green and Gold.
The team formed after a partnership with local esports company EZ Consulting and individual local leaders in the world of esports.
This announcement comes as Tampa Bay experiences a slight boom in esports with the University of South Florida scheduled to host an esports summit for the second time in September. Meanwhile, the Rowdies aren’t the only sporting interest invested in esports in the area, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik invested in Axiomatic Gaming back in 2017.

Florida Elite Soccer Academy to Host FIFA Tournament

Image: EA Sports

JACKSONVILLE – USL League Two side, Florida Elite Soccer Academy, has found a way to enjoy some competition by launching an online FIFA 20 tournament for the youth in their program.
The event will be held on Friday, May 8th, 2020, and is being called the Florida Elite FIFA E-vitational.
Players will compete in two age divisions, genders, and platforms with nine – 12-year-olds competing separately from 13-18-year-olds. The PlayStation and Xbox consoles will also compete separately.
There will be no charge to enter the tournament. However, players will need to have FIFA 20 on their platform of choice along with a Playstation or Xbox ID that allows for competing in online play.
Florida Elite will be streaming the tournament on their Twitch channel, so competitors who have Twitch will be able to share their play on that platform.
Applications to compete are available on the club website, and the whole tournament will be filled based on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations are open until noon on May 5th, and those that are accepted will receive their codes by email on the 6th.
As for the gameplay, it will consist of six-minute halves with 15 minutes of extra time and penalties to split ties. The top two players from each group will advance to knock-out play, which will be two-legged ties decided by aggregate score.
Florida Elite SA is following in the footsteps of other teams globally, including Inter Miami CF, which did a tournament for its players. The competition will keep its youth players involved in the sport in a time where they’re not able to play physically.

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