USL First Division Week 3 Wrap

By: Bob Kellett | April 27th, 2008

Thursday
Portland Timbers 2-1 Minnesota Thunder: Recap here

Friday
Puerto Rico Islanders 0-2 Miami FC Blues: This result reaffirms my belief that I could never make a living betting on sports. I would never have predicted that a beat up Miami team would travel to Puerto Rico and take it to the Islanders. Sean Cameron and Juan Pablo Galavis were the goal scorers and Josh Saunders recorded four saves, picking up his first shutout of the season. Cameron was ejected in the 77th minute and four minutes later Galavis scored. The Islanders start the season with a pair of losses. The home opener for Puerto Rico played on a rain drenched pitch drew 4,382 fans who now know the definition of humidity.

Atlanta Silverbacks 3-2 Montreal Impact: The Impact are going to be very happy when their new stadium is finished and they can play at home. Playing their third straight game on the road, Montreal gave up a pair of second half goals in the loss before 2,183 in Atlanta. Macoumba Kandji, David Hayes and Jason McLaughlin all scored for the Silverbacks, who might just play the most wide open and entertaining style of play in the league.

Saturday
Carolina RailHawks 1-0 Charleston Battery – Connally Edozien scored in the 32nd minute to lift Carolina to a victory in their home opener played in front of 5,102 in Cary, NC. The Battery played the final 30 minutes a man down after John Wilson was sent to the showers early (he probably used up all the hot water before his teammates finished the game). Carolina is off to a solid start with a win and a draw. Charleston, not so much. The Battery have a loss and a pair of draws. I suspect when it is all said and done these two teams will finish near one another somewhere in the middle of the table.

Vancouver Whitecaps 0-1 Minnesota Thunder – The second shocking result from the week. Minnesota had not won in Vancouver since 1997 and they were coming off a loss against the Timbers on Thursday night. Somehow they managed to break their 15-game winless streak at Swangard Stadium. Ricardo Sanchez’s spot kick goal in the 68th minute was the difference. Nicolas Platter made three saves to pick up the shutout. The game was played in front of 4,989 in Vancouver. I have to think that Minnesota is ecstatic coming away with three points from their NW trip.

Portland Timbers 2-0 Seattle Sounders – Recap here

Sunday
Puerto Rico Islanders 3-1 Miami FC Blues – These two teams had so much fun playing one another on Friday that they decided to do it again on Sunday. Talk about weird, typical USL First Division scheduling. Puerto Rico took advantage of the 48 hours off to regroup from Friday’s loss and took it to Miami to pick up their first points in three games in a game played on a field that resembled a lake. Miami’s defense has given up seven goals in its first four games. Keeper Josh Saunders can’t be especially pleased with the defense in front of him. Alex Afonso did score for the Blues and he now leads the league with three goals. A small crowd of 2,289 was on hand for this one.

USL First Division Table
Timbers fans could look at this table all day and be happy.

Average Attendance (home games)
Portland (3) – 8,597
Vancouver (2) – 5,139
Carolina (1) – 5,102
Puerto Rico (2) – 3,336
Charleston (1) – 4,324
Miami (2) – 2,909
Atlanta (2) – 2,807

League average (13): 4,892

Much more attractive attendance chart and some coherent thoughts about attendance found here.