WEEKEND RECAP – MAY 12, 2014
Fans and supporters of the NPSL are at a fever pitch with the full slate of regular season play just a week away and an incredible group of Open Cup matches happening midweek.
The West Region has been at it for quite some time now with the race for the playoffs becoming more and more intense as each week passes. Only one team has been eliminated from postseason play so it is literally anyone’s game.
Spartans Futbol Club continued their domination of the Northwest Conference, defeating upstart Seattle Sporting FC 4-2 with goals from Omar Gomez (7th minute), Nino Ayala (32nd), Oswin Williams (71st), and David Hernandez (83rd). Seattle responded with goals from Vinicius Oliveira (31st minute) and Robin Casillas (81st). This was an impressive win for Spartans FC, considering they played a man down for over 35 minutes after Christian Hernandez was dealt a red card. Fans and supporters described the match as physical and “chippy,” which makes sense considering that seven yellow cards were handed out in the match.
FC Force was able to slip past FC Hasental 1-0 in an intense affair. Five yellow cards were issued in the first 45 minutes, but it was two red cards to Hasental players in the second half that tilted the match in favor of the Force. All it took was a Luis Ramirez goal in the 84th minute to seal the win for the El Centro side.
The San Diego Flash finished in a 2-2 draw with Temecula FC. Tim Roby was the first to strike for the Quails in the 68th minute. The Flash’s Nathan Medina brought things even at 1-1 just three minutes later. San Diego would go up 2-1 in the 77th on a goal from Edgar Mendez before an equalizer came from Mark Ebanks in stoppage time.
“We are really happy with this result as it places us in good position going forward for the NPSL playoffs,” Temecula FC head coach Paul Byrne stated. “I always want the win but for us to come back at the last minute like that we can be happy with the tie and leave here with our heads high.”
Miami United continued their hot start in the Sunshine Conference, beating expansion side Storm FC 4-2 behind two early goals from Italian striker Jacopo Camilli.
