Major League Soccer

Sunday 6th March 2016

Kick off 14.00 Actual 14.20

Orlando City S.C. 2 Real Salt Lake 2,  attendance 60,147

26′ 0-1 J. Plata (pen)

66′ 0-2 J. Plata

90′ + 4, 1-2 C. Larin

90′ + 5, 2-2 A. Winter

@ Orlando Citrus Bowl

1, Citrus Bowl Place

Orlando, FL 32805

Admission $23.55 + $7.53 fees, print at home ticket

No programme.

This was high on the priority list as it is the last scheduled season at the Citrus Bowl before Orlando City S.C. move to their brand new ‘soccer specific’ stadium in 2017. The stadium was opened in 1936 and has undergone two periods of renovation. The first was from 1999-2002 and then in 2014 the bottom two tiers were demolished, with the third tier remaining in place, and the lower section totally rebuilt. The stadium now has a capacity of 61,348 and has had an artificial pitch since 2010. It was one of nine venues used in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and will host games in the upcoming Copa America Centenario this Summer. With OCSC moving out, it will be primarily used for American Football.

Now, onto the match. Disappointed not to see Brazilian superstar Kaka in the home ranks, as were well over half the crowd judging by the number of replica shirts bearing his name. I should imagine Coach Adrian Heath was just as disappointed, as his team are woeful without him. Both teams had a man sent off in the first half and RSL will wonder how they managed to throw away a two goal lead in stoppage time. Apparently, today’s attendance was only bettered by four clubs worldwide this weekend. Can’t be too often that can be said about an MLS crowd and this one was genuine, unlike some of the joke numbers that the likes of San Jose Earthquakes and F.C. Dallas claim !

We had parked in a factory yard, less than ten minutes walk away, for $10 and were on the right side of the stadium for a quick getaway to the airport and a flight home at 8pm.

Friendly

Saturday 5th March 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.10

University South Florida Bulls 1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 3,  attendance 1,500

38′ 1-0 N. Bartman

63′ 1-1 D. King

83′ 1-2 F. Adu

90′ 1-3 T. Heinemann

@ Corbett Soccer Stadium

4800, Elm Drive

Tampa, FL 33617

$5 admission

Team sheet free, double printed card.

The Corbett Stadium was opened in 2011 and has a capacity of 3,000, with nearly 1,000 seats and has a bowl feel to it with grass banking on three sides. Apparently, the furthest seat from the pitch here, is nearer than the nearest seat was to the pitch at their former stadium, which is still in use for track & field.

Parked in the same car park as we had used for the basketball on Wednesday, but it was free tonight, as opposed to $10 charged then. A decent game that was played at a competitive pace throughout. Got a bit chilly towards the end so had to put on a jacket, but not bad for a night game in early March.

North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 1B (Spring Season)

Monday 29th February 2016

Kick off 19.00 Actual 19.09

Gamtex F.C. 1 Dartos 0,  attendance 13

32′ 1-0

@ Premier Park, Pitch 1

1115, Elam Road

Balch Springs, TX 75180

No admission or programme.

I had Googled ‘Gamtex’ and come up with what I thought was a ‘works’ team. However, it turns out they are immigrants from The Gambia, now living in Texas !

There are occasionally an odd game or two during midweek in this league due to pitch unavailability on Sunday’s or even due to cancellation due to weather. Apparently, if one complex is unfit for play, then the whole day’s schedule is cancelled and rescheduled the week after the last block of fixtures. At least it keeps all teams on the same number of games played.

Premier Park is a complex of seven parallel pitches, all floodlit. The only facility on site is the Groundsmans Shed that has toilets round the back. Tonight’s game, on Pitch 1, is nearest this and also the car park.

North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 1A (Spring Season)

Sunday 28th February 2016

Kick off 17.00 Actual 17.13

Matadors 2 Dallas City F.C. 2,  attendance 14

21′ 1-0

66′ 1-1

81′ 1-2

89′ 2-2

@ The Colony Five Star Soccer Complex, Pitch 6

4100, Blair Oaks Drive

The Colony, TX 75056

No admission or programme.

There are eight pitches here, this one being floodlit and having a couple of sections of metal bleachers. There is a building at the centre of the complex that has toilets and a thriving refreshment bar, mainly due to the amount of women’s and youth teams playing.

North Texas Premier Soccer Association

Division 1B (Spring Season)

Sunday 21st February 2016

Kick off 11.00 Actual 11.11

Inter Dallas 2 Crusaders A.S.F. 3,  attendance 6

27′ 0-1

44′ 1-1

62′ 2-1

86′ 2-2

90 + 1′ 2-3

@ R. E. Good Soccer Complex, Pitch 5

Elm Fork Drive

Carrollton, TX 75056

No admission or programme.

This was my first dip into the N.T.P.S.A. Teams don’t have their own grounds, but games are allocated by the league, although most tend to play ‘home’ games at a set number of venues nearest to where they are based. The standard is nothing special and games involve Rolling Substitutions much like Step 7 in England. As a league rule, all players must wear the same coloured shirts, although shorts and socks do not need to match. Not too bad today, but I can imagine some teams will take this to the extreme. At least all games have 3 officials, which apparently goes right from the top divisions 1A and 1B, down to Division 5.

Todays game took place at a complex of 5 pitches, three of full size. The pitch was floodlit and had a few sections of metal bleachers dotted around. There was a brick building nearer the youth pitches that has toilets and a refreshment stand.