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USL Pro: A Look Back at Week 6

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By FRANCO PANIZO

Not even games on back-to-back days are enough to ruin the run of good form the Rochester Rhinos are currently on.

The Rhinos tied the USL Pro record for wins to start a season while also extending their shutout streak to six games by winning two matches this weekend. Rochester first toppled the Charlotte Eagles, 1-0, on Friday before winning by the same scoreline against the Charleston Battery on Saturday.

Rochester topped the Eagles thanks to a first-half goal from former Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls forward Connor Chinn, and the Rhinos were again victorious a day later through a second-half finish from Danny Earls in a game in which they were outshot 20-2.

Rochester is now 6-0 to start the season and second to only Orlando City SC in the standings.

Here's a look back at all the Week 6 action in USL Pro:

ORLANDO CITY 1, ANTIGUA BARRACUDA FC 0

For a second straight game, Orlando City SC were victorious with a last-gasp goal. Having won in dramatic fashion last weekend, Orlando claimed its fifth win of the season thanks to a late own goal from Antigua Barracuda FC defender George Dublin in the 1-0 affair in Antigua. Dublin deflected the ball into his team's net when Max Griffin hit a shot in the final minute of regulation.

LOS ANGELES BLUES 1, DAYTON DUTCH LIONS 0

Allan Russell went from scapegoat to hero for the Los Angeles Blues on Friday. Russell scored the winner in the Blues' 1-0 victory over the last-place Dayton Dutch Lions 11 minutes before the final whistle blew, and it came after he had failed to convert a penalty kick earlier in the match. The result gave the Blues a second win in their last three games.

HARRISBURG CITY ISLANDERS 2, RICHMOND KICKERS 2

The Richmond Kickers twice took leads against the Harrisburg City Islanders in their match on Saturday, and twice they gave up quick equalizers in a 2-2 draw. Matthew Delicate opened the scoring in the eight minute for the Kickers, but the celebration was shortlived as J.T. Noone found the back of the net a minute later for Harrisburg City. Richmond again took the lead in the 78th minute when Christopher Agorsor scored, but it was deja vu all over again as Yann Ekra knocked in the equalizer two mintues later.

LOS ANGELES BLUES 3, PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS 0

A day after playing the Dayton Dutch Lions, the Los Angeles Blues kept up their winning ways in May by beating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 3-0. Portland Timbers forward Bright Dike, who is on loan with the Blues, played a part in the shutout win, scoring his first goal for the club before assisting on Matt Fondy's finish in the 69th minute. Ricky Waddell netted the opener for Los Angeles a minute after halftime. 

ORLANDO CITY 2, ANTIGUA BARRACUDA FC 1 

Orlando City SC fell behind Antigua Barracuda FC in the team's second match in three days, but it rebounded and picked up another win. Having gone down after Quinton Griffin converted a penalty kick 20 minutes into the game, the Lions responded with an equalizer from Max Griffin six minutes later. Orlando City then scored the winner in Antigua four minutes after halftime through a goal from Wes Allen.

 

USL PRO STANDINGS

1. Orlando City (6-0-1, 19 points, +10 GD)

2. Rochester Rhinos (6-0, 18 points, +7 GD)

3. Charleston Battery (4-2-0, 12 points, +7 GD)

4. Los Angeles Blues (3-2-1, 10 points, +2 GD)

5. Wilmington Hammerheads (2-2-2, 8 points, 0 GD)

6. Charlotte Eagles (2-6-1, 7 points, -6 GD)

7. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-5, 6 points, -5 GD)

8. Antigua Barracuda FC (2-6, 6 points, -9 GD)

9. Richmond Kickers (1-2-3, 6 points, -2 GD)

10. Harrisburg City Islanders (1-1-2, 5 points, 0 GD)

11. Dayton Dutch Lions (0-3-2, 2 points, -4 GD) 

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What do you think of these results? Think it is only a matter of time before Rochester unseats Orlando at the top of the table? Do you see the Blues continuing to pick up wins?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I’m looking for Rochester/Orlando to stay at the top, and the beauty this year is they don’t meet each other until July 14th and August 3rd, and those games may determine the regular season cup!

    Reply
  2. NASL and USL Pro is a waste of time. Combine the two and have just division two soccer. This will allow for better financial stability, better marketing opportunities and create a greater fan base. There’s really only one viable soccer league in America, and that’s MLS. If USL Pro and NASL are serious, they will reconsider the current horrid systems they have in place and create a more sustainable division two league.

    Reply
  3. I wouldn’t look for the Dutch Lions to remain at the bottom of the table all year. They are markedly improved over last year, and the defense is pretty spectacular. It seems that teams have figured out how to bottle up our “build from the back” offensive philosophy, but I’m seeing better scoring opportunities than I did last season.

    Reply
  4. Agrred. Just made related comment on nasl article!

    That league is too small. These folks need to work something out!

    Reply
  5. i think the table above is the most obvious indicator yet that Rochester and Orlando need to get the HELL out of Division 3 USL and join Division 2 NASL asap. like yesterday already…
    this NASL v. USL feud is L-A-M-E.

    Reply

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