Miami, FL- A couple of days after digesting the elimination on the quarterfinals of the USL First Division Playoffs against the Vancouver Whitecaps, we can now analyze the 2006 Miami FC Season. Overall, we have to conclude that the outcome was more than positive for the first year franchise. Even though the competitive nature of the company that owns the club, TRAFFIC SPORTS USA, gave them the tools to win the championship in its inaugural season, they fell just short. At the end of the regular season Miami FC achieved 5th place out of 12 teams in the USL First Division which qualified them to the USL Playoffs. Fans around the world, and especially South Floridians, should be very proud that their Miami FC entered the USL Playoffs in their inaugural season.
Miami FC finished the regular season 5th overall, with 39 points. In addition, the South Floridian Club finished as the top scoring team in the USL First Division, with 47 goals scored.
Brazilian forward, Romário, fulfilled the expectations as he finished top scorer in the league (along with Seattle Sounders forward, Cam Weaver) with 18 goals and 3 assists. At the same time, his Brazilian partner, Zinho, led the USL First Division with 10 assists.
Both Romário and Zinho were named to the USL First Division All-Star Team, along with Guatemalan forward, Mario Rodriguez (10th in the League in scoring with 18 points). The two Brazilians were also named to the USL First Division All-League, First Team.
MIAMI FC GOAL LEADERS FOR THE 2006 SEASON
Romário 18 (19, including solo goal in the USL Semifinals)
Mario Rodríguez 7
Diego Walsh 5
Sean Fraser 4
Zinho 3
Fabian Sandoval 3
Oscar Gil 3
MIAMI FC ASSISTS LEADERS FOR THE 2006 SEASON
Zinho 10
Mario Rodríguez 4
Sean Fraser 4
Romário 3
Jamil Jean-Jaques 3
Oscar Gil 3
MIAMI FC MINUTES PLAYED LEADERS FOR THE 2006 SEASON
JP Rodrigues 2,475
Zinho 2,159
Romário 2,070
Mario Rodríguez 1,993
John Pulido 1,968
MIAMI FC PLAYERS NAMED USL FIRST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Romário 3 (Week 4, 9 and 19)
MIAMI FC PLAYERS NAMED TO USL FIRST DIVISION TEAM OF THE WEEK
Romário 4 (Week 4, 9, 15 and 19)
Fabian Sandoval 3 (Week 3, 11, 18)
Diego Walsh 3 (Week 9, 17 and 19)
Mario Rodriguez 2 (Week 8 and 13)
Zinho 2 (Week 1 and 20)
Oscar Gil 1 (Week 4)
Allen Handy 1 (Week 6)
Walter Ramirez 1 (Week 18)
Sean Fraser 1 (Week 19)
In Week 3, Fabian Sandoval scored the USL First Division Goal of the Week, Romario took the same honors in Week 6, as well as Zinho in Week 21. Goal highlights are available at http://www.uslsoccer.com/broadcastcenter/video/index_E.html .
About Miami FC
Miami FC, Florida's new and only professional soccer team, is in the First Division of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). Miami FC will play its home matches at Tropical Park Stadium, which is located on the grounds of Tropical Park in the heart of Miami-Dade County. Miami FC is owned by Traffic Sports USA, the North American subsidiary of The Traffic Group, the leading soccer event management company in the Americas with headquarters in Brazil and offices in the U.S. and Europe. Miami FC is committed to growing soccer in South Florida both at the youth, amateur and professional levels.
