Miami, North Carolina Shine On The Road In Week 9

 

On the road against Jacksonville Armada FC on Sunday, Miami’s forwards flexed their attacking muscle once more. Stéfano Pinho and Jaime Chávez, who scored twice, fired the club to another victory. Miami has yet to drop any points against Armada FC in four meetings this year.

 

North Carolina FC also grabbed a crucial three points on Saturday to bolster the club’s chances at reaching The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament, in a victory over the New York Cosmos. New York was unable to take advantage of a stretch of three straight home games, taking two points from those contests.

 

The San Francisco Deltas also earned three points on Saturday night, following up on a midweek draw with the Cosmos on Wednesday. The Deltas defeated FC Edmonton at Kezar Stadium with Devon Sandoval playing a key role for the club in Week 9.

 

Continue below for a recap of each matchup from the weekend: 

 

 

Miami FC extended its unbeaten streak to seven games after defeating Jacksonville Armada FC, 3-0, at Hodges Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

 

Stéfano Pinho and Jaime Chávez, as they have done so often, led the way for the club.

 

Pinho gave Miami an early advantage when he netted his 12th goal of the year in the 15th minute. Jacksonville goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell misplayed a long ball from Chávez and the Brazilian forward took advantage.

 

Jacksonville nearly had an immediate response. Bryam Rebellón sent in a teasing cross and veteran forward Brian Shriver met the ball with his head, but his effort came off the post.

 

In the waning moments of the game, Chávez really came to life. He forced Patterson-Sewell into a save in the 81st minute, but the veteran wouldn’t be denied getting on the scoresheet. 

 

In the 90th minute, Pinho laid the ball off to Chávez at the top of the box and, while Patterson-Sewell got a hand to the shot, the ball found the back of the net. The forward wasn’t done yet, heading home his second of the game in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Chávez has now scored in six straight games, scoring nine times in that span.

 

 

North Carolina FC stormed into Brooklyn and left with three points, shutting out the New York Cosmos, 2-0, at MCU Park on Saturday night.

 

Brazilian youngster Renan Gorne and veteran midfielder Austin da Luz bagged first-half goals to set the tone for the visitors in an impressive victory.

 

Bledi Bardic nearly got the Cosmos off to a dream start just six minutes into the game, but the Montenegrin forward’s shot rang the outside of the post. Just six minutes later, there was a goal at the other end. Paul Black picked out Gorne, who beat New York’s offside trap and ran onto the ball in yards of space. The Botafogo loanee composed himself, dribbled towards goal, and fired a perfect shot past the outstretched arms of Cosmos goalkeeper Brian Holt.

 

With time nearly up in the first half, da Luz doubled North Carolina’s advantage. The club’s captain, Nazmi Albadawi, carried the ball inside the penalty area and squared the ball for da Luz, who calmly finished into an open corner of the net to make it 2-0.

 

The Cosmos came close to pulling a goal back in the 77th minute. U.S. youth international Eric Calvillo rifled a shot that caught teammate Emmanuel Ledesma on its way towards the goal, but visiting goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre was there to palm it away.

 

 

The San Francisco Deltas picked up yet another positive Fall Season result, topping FC Edmonton, 2-1, at Kezar Stadium on Saturday night.

 

Bryan Burke was on target for the Deltas, who also benefitted from an Eddies own goal to earn the victory.

 

The catalyst in Burke’s opening strike was forward Devon Sandoval, who entered Saturday’s game on the heels of a two-goal performance in midweek action against the Cosmos. Sandoval followed up some fancy footwork with a pinpoint cross that Burke headed home. 

 

In the 35th minute, San Francisco found itself up 2-0 after some good fortune. Burke hit a dangerous cross into the penalty area, and, while attempting to clear the ball, Eddies defender Albert Watson directed the ball into his own net.

 

The Eddies did attempt to mount a second-half comeback, generating some momentum after Dustin Corea’s 80th-minute goal. In the end, however, San Francisco stood tall and sealed all three points.