Miami FC tied 0-0 in its USL debut at Tropical Park Stadium this Sunday against the Montreal Impact, last year’s best regular season team in front of 3,243 fans.
The game took place on a hot sunny day in South Florida where the heat helped fuel the animosity between the two clubs. Miami FC’s midfield, led by Brazilian international Zinho succumbed to the hard punishing Montreal Impact defense which resorted to hard fouls to stop its rivals. Miami’s quickest player, forward Mario Rodriguez, was one of Montreal’s favorite prey during the game along with midfielder Fabian Sandoval who had to leave the game due to an injury in the 88th minute.
Regardless of Montreal’s hard play, it was Miami FC who was closest to scoring throughout the game. In the first half, a free kick by Zinho came close to getting Miami FC on the scoreboard, but his shot hit the crossbar. In the second half, Jamaican Sean Fraser and Guatemalan Mario Rodriguez each had long distance shots that missed the target by mere inches.
In summary, USL’s newest franchise put forth a great effort and got its first point in its debut against one of the league’s toughest teams. International soccer rules including those of the USL call for three points for victories, one point for ties and zero points for losses.
4/23/2006 at 4PM Tropical Park Stadium
Miami FC vs. Montreal Impact
0 0 Final
Scoring/Goles:
-
Discipline/Tarjetas:
Miami -- Sandoval (caution/amarilla) 15, UB
Montreal -- Pizzolito (caution/amarilla) 17, UB
Miami -- Rodriguez (caution/amarilla) 23, UB
Montreal -- Ribeiro (caution/amarilla) 65, UB
Montreal -- Vincello (caution/amarilla) 76, PI
Game Stats/Estadisticas de Juego
Miami FC Montreal Impact
Total Shots/Tiros al Arco: 12 11
Total Saves/Atajadas: 2 4
Fouls/Faltas: 11 24
Corner Kicks/Tiros de Esquina: 2 7
Referee/Arbitro: Ricardo Salazar
Referee's Assistants/Asistente Arbitros: Adam Nehme; Fernando Iturriaga
4th Official/Cuarto Oficial: Reggie Rutty
Weather/Tiempo: Clear -and- 89 degrees/Despejado y 89 grados
Attendance/Asistencia: 3,243
Miami FC Lineup/Alineacion
1 GK/P Chris Doyle
2 D Allen Handy
23 D Mike Erush
5 D J.P. Rodrigues
18 M Oscar Gil (Tre Lee 46)
13 M Walter Ramirez (Pedro Power 90)
15 M Fabian Sandoval (Luc Harrington 88)
16 M John Pulido
10 M Zinho
9 F/D Mario Rodriguez
12 F/D Yaikel Perez (Sean Fraser 46)
Montreal Impact Lineup/Alineacion
1 GK/P Greg Sutton
3 D Adam Braz
5 D Nevio Pizzolito
6 D Mauricio Vincello
7 D Jason DiTullio
8 D Gabriel Gervais
9 D Lars Lissand (Masahiro Fukusana 26)
10 M Ze Roberto (Mesut Mert 38)
11 F Mauricio Salles (Jason DiTullio 81)
13 F Daniel Antuniuk
14 F John Joel Bailey
