August 8, 2008
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Puerto Rico and the Rhinos both need the points on the line when they face each other in Puerto Rico tonight and at PAETEC Park on Sunday.
The Islanders are currently one point behind Charleston and Vancouver for first place overall and they have games in hand on both clubs.
The Rhinos would like to distance themselves from Portland, Minnesota, and Miami who currently stand 7th through 9th in the standings.
Andrew Gregor is out tonight with a yellow card suspension and Ross Smith didn't make the trip because of his foot injury.
The good thing is that Scott Palguta is done serving his yellow card suspension!
US Men win Olympic Opener
Big Apple Soccer.com - Match Overview
SBI.net - The story of the missing crests
Stuart Holden's second half goal was all the US needed as Brad Guzan got a clean sheet and the US Men gained three points in their Olympic opener yesterday morning.
Up next for the US Men is Sunday morning's match versus The Netherlands. The Dutch played Nigeria to scoreless draw in the other opening day match in Group B.
Barca destroys the Red Bulls
SBI.net - Cichero signed by NY
Barcelona didn't need their new #10, Lionel Messi, to completely destroy the New York Red Bulls the other night.
I wonder if this display will cause anyone to do something stupid inside the Red Bulls front office?
News & Notes:
- Pat Noonan is back with MLS and has landed with the Crew. Unlike the Brian McBride to Chicago trade, Columbus didn't have to give up any players on their roster to add Noonan.
- In what could have been the last Portland-Seattle USL match, the Sounders defeated the Timbers 1-0 on Sebastein Le Toux's 10th goal of the season.
- If Chris Eylander gets an MLS job ahead of Scott Vallow, something is wrong. Well, unless Scott or the Rhinos turn down offers from MLS......
- If this fan has their way, the Portland-Seattle rivalry will re-emerge in MLS starting in 2011.
- In USL roster freeze run up news, Montreal has brought back Sandro Grande and Seattle has acquired midfielder Ciaran O'Brien on loan from MLS' Colorado Rapids and signed former University of Washington forward Kevin Forrest.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
