There was plenty of reasons for soccer fans in and around the South Florida soccer world to be happy about this week.
The Miami FC got things off to a great start with a win away at New York Red Bulls II on Friday night. The game’s only goal came when Billy Forbes clipped a lovely ball through for János Löbe. The full back centered for Ballard who had his shot blocked but Jamaican international Speedy Williams rifled home a smart finish from the edge of the box.
Former captain of The Miami FC, Michael Lahoud, confirmed on social media Thursday night that he would be signing to play with Fußball Club Cincinnati of the United Soccer League for the 2018 season. The news was first reported by Cincinnati Soccer Talk.
It’s sad times around Miami-Dade County, as The Miami FC are out of the U.S. Open Cup and currently enduring a three-game losing streak. Matt and Omar break it down on Magic City Soccer. Plus, they look ahead to the 2017-2018 English Premier League season. Join us, won’t you?
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Three weeks ago, The Miami FC was the hottest club in North American soccer. Just coming off a 14-game unbeaten streak, the club defeated second-place San Francisco Deltas 7-0 to claim the NASL Spring Season title and had everything to look forward to in a matchup against FC Cincinnati in which it would be favored. Mother Nature intervened and forced a postponement to Aug. 2. Three weeks isn’t that long, right?
For Miami FC and its fans (10,415 of whom showed up Wednesday night — a club record), it feels like an eternity. The club is officially on a losing streak, capped off with the indignity of a 1-0 home shutout to Cincinnati and an ignoble exit from a memorable U.S. Open Cup run.
The make-up date for The Miami FC’s U.S. Open Cup matchup versus FC Cincinnati that was washed out on Wednesday has been set for Aug. 2.
The Miami FC’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal matchup with FC Cincinnati, originally scheduled for July 12, was postponed after a two-hour delay due to intense lightning and localized flooding. No makeup date was initially announced.
How many teams get a chance to continue their fantastic cup run after securing a playoff spot in their league? That answer has to be few to none (I know, I know European leagues don’t do playoffs). Miami’s unbeaten run of 14 games ended on the 4th of July to North Carolina FC in a game that lacked the proverbial fireworks that Miami put on Saturday against the San Francisco Deltas. If anything, it’s clear this team doesn’t appreciate getting hit in the mouth. On the heels of the 1-0 loss, Miami came home and obliterated the Deltas 7-0. Miami FC can continue their historic cup run tonight against an opponent in their same weight class, FC Cincinnati.
After our short Independence Day sabbatical, Matt, Drew and Omar are back on Magic City Soccer! We talk Atlanta, we talk North Carolina (briefly), we talk Cincinnati and we talk San Francisco (and seven awesome goals). Join us, won’t you?
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