The Montreal Impact will be more than pleased with the progress that on-loan midfielder Calum Mallace showed this past weekend.
Playing for Minnesota United in their 2-1 win at FC Edmonton, Mallace (above) got the scoring started with a 25-yard volley minutes before halftime. He brought the ball down off his chest in the 37th minute before rocketing a volley to the bottom corner of the net. The goal gave momentum to a Minnesota team that did not slow in the second half en route to picking up a victory that propelled them into third place in the NASL standings.
Corey Hertzog started and went the distance for Edmonton, but was largely ineffective in turning the tides for the hosts. The Eddies now sit in seventh place of the eight-team league.
Meanwhile, the Carolina RailHawks fell short in San Antonio with a 2-1 stoppage-time loss to the last-placed Scorpions despite deploying three MLS-based players in the fight in Enzo Martinez, Kenney Walker and Bryan Gaul.
Walker hit a free kick in the 14th minute that found RailHawks defender Kevin Rutkiewicz, who nodded it home to get the scoring started. The Scorpions fought back and tied the match in the 53rd and the game seemed destined for a draw.
But shortly after Gaul made a cameo in stoppage time, the drama began as the Scorpions earned a penalty kick in the final minute of play. The resulting spot kick was buried by Hans Denissen, who tied Brian Shriver for the NASL Golden Boot lead and gave San Antonio their first win of the fall season.
In Tampa, Kellen Gulley made a rare appearance this season. The Chicago Fire forward, who is on loan to the Atlanta Silverbacks, came on with 33 minutes remaining in a 3-1 loss to the Rowdies.
Tampa Bay Rowdies 3, Atlanta Silverbacks 1; Saturday, Sept. 21
F Kellen Gulley, Atlanta (Chicago Fire) - Substitute, played 33 minutes
Ft. Lauderdale 0, New York Cosmos 2; Saturday, Sept. 21
F Bradlee Baladez, Ft. Lauderdale (FC Dallas) - Substitute, played 30 minutes
GK Richard Sanchez, Ft. Lauderdale (FC Dallas) - Started, played 90 minutes
San Antonio Scorpions 2, Carolina RailHawks 1; Saturday, Sept. 21
M Enzo Martinez, Carolina (Real Salt Lake) - Started, played 64 minutes
D Bryan Gaul, Carolina (LA Galaxy) - Substitute, played 1 minute
M Kenney Walker, Carolina (LA Galaxy) - Started, played 90 minutes, one assist
Minnesota United FC 2, FC Edmonton 1; Sunday, Sept. 22
M Calum Mallace, Minnesota (Montreal Impact) - Started, played 90 minutes, one goal
F Corey Hertzog, Edmonton (Vancouver Whitecaps) - Started, played 90 minutes
