A week after securing the USL Pro regular-season trophy, the Richmond Kickers continued their winning ways into the postseason. D.C. United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra (pictured above) continued his good form by securing another shutout as the Kickers eliminated the Dayton Dutch Lions 1-0. Brian Ownby (Houston Dynamo), Conor Shanosky (United) and Dykstra all played 90 minutes for the Kickers, while fellow United loanee Michael Seaton came on with a minute remaining.
Elsewhere in USL Pro, two late substitutions helped two teams advance to the semifinals. Orlando City also advanced with a 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds as Sporting Kansas City loanee Christian Duke came in for the Lions with 23 minutes remaining. And the Charleston Battery defeated the LA Blues 2-1, with Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Bryce Alderson stepping on for the final eight minutes.
The only team advancing to the USL semifinals without the aid of MLS players are the Charlotte Eagles, who defeated Philadelphia Union affiliate Harrisburg 3-1 in a heated affair. Greg Jordan started and played 90 minutes while fellow Union midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin saw out the final 10 minutes of the match.
The USL Pro semifinals begin on Friday when Orlando City host Charleston at 7:30 pm ET. Richmond welcome Charlotte at 7 pm ET on Saturday.
The Ft. Lauderdale Strikers have climbed out of the NASL cellar thanks to a win this past weekend spearheaded by two members of the FC Dallas Homegrown brigade. At opposite ends of the field, goalkeeper Richard Sanchez and forward Bradlee Baladez starred in the 1-0 win over hosts and spring season champions the Atlanta Silverbacks.
Baladez nodded home the game-winner in the 34th minute after former Chicago Fire defender Ivan Guerrero found him with a well timed cross. At the other end, Sanchez earned a relatively easy shutout as Atlanta failed to test the Mexican youth international.
Elsewhere in NASL, LA Galaxy midfielder Kenney Walker made his Carolina RailHawks debut, checking in for the final 30 minutes of a 1-0 win over Minnesota. Minnesota United again deployed their two Montreal Impact players, with Calum Mallace and Sinisa Ubiparipovic both getting the start. The two could not do enough to alter the outcome, however, as NASL Golden Boot leader Brian Shriver scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute.
In Tampa Bay, Corey Hertzog went the distance for visiting FC Edmonton but failed to register a goal in their 1-1 draw with the Rowdies.
See below for the complete list of MLS players in action while on loan this past week.
USL PRO:
Charlotte Eagles 3, Harrisburg City Islanders 1; Saturday, Aug 24
M- Jimmy McLaughlin (Philadelphia Union) - Substituted, played 10 minutes
M- Greg Jordan (Philadelphia Union) - Started, played 90 minutes
Richmond Kickers 1, Dayton Dutch Lions 0; Saturday, Aug 24
F- Michael Seaton (D.C. United) - Substitute, played 1 minute
M- Conor Shanosky (D.C. United) - Started, played 90 minutes
GK- Andrew Dykstra (D.C. United) - Started, played 90 minutes
F- Brian Ownby (Houston Dynamo) - Started, played 90 minutes
Charleston Battery 2, Los Angeles Blues 1; Saturday, Aug 24
M- Bryce Alderson (Vancouver Whitecaps) - Substitute, played 8 minutes
Orlando City SC 5, Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1; Saturday, Aug 24
M- Christian Duke (Sporting Kansas City) - Substitute, played 23 minutes
NASL
Carolina RailHawks 1, Minnesota United 0; Saturday, Aug 24
M- Kenney Walker, Carolina (LA Galaxy) - Substitute, played 30 minutes
M- Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Minnesota (Montreal Impact) - Started, played 90 minutes
M- Calum Mallace, Minnesota (Montreal Impact) - Started, played 71 minutes
Ft. Lauderdale 1, Atlanta Silverbacks 0; Saturday, Aug 24
F- Bradlee Baladez (FC Dallas) - Started, played 60 minutes, scored one goal
GK- Richard Sanchez (FC Dallas) - Started, played 90 minutes
FC Edmonton 1, Tampa Bay Rowdies 1; Saturday, Aug 24
F- Corey Hertzog (Vancouver Whitecaps) - Started, played 90 minutes
