Reeves' Army

The Central Florida Kraze won their season opener, 1-0, over Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy.

The match was well-contested all night. Our defense played very tough, and our goalkeeper got some great saves in a shutout. Unfortunately, the team website does not number the players or list positions, so I don’t know who was who.

The Kraze finally blasted in the first and deciding goal at 87′ on a close free kick by #12. It was followed by the Kraze getting a great stop on an exceedingly rare indirect goal kick inside our penalty box to preserve the win.

A couple hundred fans saw the match, including a good representation from The Ruckus.

The next game for the Kraze will be on Friday night, May 6, at 7pm at Fort Lauderdale. The match will be held in the cricket stadium at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill. The next Kraze home game will be on May 21 against Mississippi Brilla. That match will be hosted at Showalter Field.

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As for Orlando City, they got a 2-1 road victory over FC New York to extend their unbeaten streak to four games.

Lawrence Olum opened the scoring at 13′ on a cross from Lewis Neal. New York tied the match at 54′, but Lewis Neal was able to nail a free kick at 81′ to seal a Lions win.

As usual when there’s no video feed, details are scarce, but one FCNY fan on BigSoccer said his team “seemed more interested in playing keepaway than soccer for 90 minutes”. The match was played before a sellout crowd of 2,600 at Belson Stadium at St. John’s University.

Our next match is next Saturday night at 7pm at the Dayton Dutch Lions.

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As for our sponsor clubs…

Stoke City got a precious point as they earned a 0-0 draw against Blackpool. Potters manager Tony Pulis praised his team’s “gritty” performance.

Burnley pretty much squandered their promotion hopes with a 1-0 loss at Leeds United. They are five points out with three matches to go; it would pretty much take divine intervention to return to the Premier League at this point.

Monterrey got a goal from Walter Ayovi at the death of the match to steal a 3-2 victory at Guadalajara. The win solidifies a spot in the playoffs for los Rayados.

First off, I hope all of you who went to Orlando City’s match against Puerto Rico united kept your ticket stubs. You’re going to need them tonight for the 2011 home opener of the Central Florida Kraze.

The Kraze, our local USL Premier Development League team and now an affiliate of the Lions, is opening their schedule–and indeed the entire PDL season–tonight when they play Schulz Academy FC from Fort Lauderdale. Game time is at 7:00pm, and they will be playing tonight’s match at Rollins College in Winter Park.

Nominally tickets are $5, with a season pass available for $25. (The two matches on their schedule at the Citrus Bowl are part of doubleheaders with Orlando City, and included with the City match admission or your City season ticket packages.) However, if you kept your Orlando City ticket stub from the match with Puerto Rico United, you can get in free.

Keep in mind, Cahall-Sandspur Stadium at Rollins has a VERY small stand. They’re not going to hold 7,279 people, so get there early!

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Speaking of your Lions, they will be in New York City to take on FC New York tonight at 7:30pm on the campus of St. John’s University. My reports have told me that they have almost sold out the small stands at the university. Considering their soccer field only holds 2,600 field (nearly 1/25th the capacity of the Citrus Bowl), they may need to move to the 10,000-seat stadium at Hofstra before long.

The National Division of USL Pro, where FC New York resides, has had a streak of bad luck, getting only two wins and one tie among five teams over 11 matches thus far. And certainly FCNY would want to avenge their 3-0 loss here in Orlando.

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In sponsor club action…

Stoke will look to further solidify their Premier League position when they head to Blackpool today at 10am EDT.

Burnley will be at Leeds United at 7:45am EDT, looking to vault into the promotion playoff. Can’t help but wonder how many are still hung over after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton yesterday…

Monterrey, having taken the CONCACAF title, will look to set up for a 2010-11 season sweep when they finish the Clausura at Guadalajara tonight at 8pm EDT. The match will be live on Telemundo.

Real Salt Lake came up unexpectedly small at home, losing 1-0 in their home leg to hand Monterrey a 3-2 aggregate win and their first CONCACAF Champions League title.

Monterrey will travel to Japan in December to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup against the other continental champions.

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Back at home, Orlando City has made two signings: Dennis Chin and Justin Fojo.

Chin’s name is familiar. He originally signed an amateur contract, but it has been upped to a full professional contract.

The other player, Fojo, was born in Trinidad & Tobago, but raised in Lake Mary. He went to Lake Mary High School before graduating and going to the College of Charleston to play soccer. While in college, he received a callup to the Soca Warriors, though he did not play. He will join the team next week after he finishes his senior year classes at Charleston.

Stoke City earned a draw with Aston Villa yesterday, 1-1. Their lone goal was by Kenwyne Jones at 19′. Their next match will be Tuesday afternoon, hosting Wolves at 2:45pm EDT. The match will be on premium FOX Soccer Plus.

Burnley destroyed Derby County, 4-2. Chris Eagles scored a brace (15′, 62′). The win draws them into a points tie for the final promotion playoff spot, with three matches to go. Their next match is tomorrow morning at 3pm, hosting Portsmouth.

Monterrey got a draw with Puebla, 1-1. Next up for them is the away leg of their CONCACAF Champions League final against Real Salt Lake. That will be Wednesday night, April 27,  at 10pm EDT. Any win will get them the title, but a 1-1 or 0-0 tie will hand Salt Lake the first continental title for MLS.

Orlando City did something they’ve never done before tonight: they earned a draw. A 2-2 draw, to be exact, with Puerto Rico United.

The give-and-take was vigorous all game long, with the Lions showing technical prowess and United exhibiting excellent speed. But the supporters rode the visiting side hard for several seemingly easy falls. United managed the first goal at 31′ for a 1-0 halftime lead.

City answered very quickly early in the second half, with Max Griffin scoring two goals at 47′ and 59′. But United got an equalizer at 73′ on a breakaway that got behind Miguel Gallardo.

The match got very ugly late, as United goalkeeper Jose Miranda earned two yellows quickly to get sent off. The mayhem that followed gave the Lions oodles of stoppage time to win the match, but they were unable to get composed enough to sink in the dagger.

The crowd was just about as great as the first match, with an announced attendance of 7,279. Not terrible for a Friday night.

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Got some action for the rest of the weekend…

Stoke City will be at Aston Villa tomorrow at 10am EDT. The match will be on the premium FOX Soccer Plus. The Potters will be looking to solidify their footing in the Premier League, as they are 13th, and there’s only six points separating 11th place from the drop zone.

Burnley got a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday, catapulting them back to 9th place and within three points of the promotion playoff with four matches to go. They have to keep winning, and next they have Derby County tomorrow at 10am EDT.

Monterrey will hope to shake off their stunning CONCACAF Champions League home-leg draw with Real Salt Lake when they host Puebla in Clausura action tomorrow night at 7pm EDT.

Orlando City’s majority partner, Stoke City boardmember Phil Rawlins has issued the official challenge: Come to the game tomorrow night against Puerto Rico United, and bring two friends.

If you are a season ticket holder, remember that you are entitled to four free tickets over the course of the season. You can use them at any time. All you need to do is call the Orlando City office at 407-536-5368.

In addition, Orlando City has allied with the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Passback program. At all City home matches from now on, you can bring new and gently-used soccer gear to the match and donate them. You can also bring them to United World Soccer at the Florida Mall throughout the season.

Orlando City has announced Heineken as the official beer of the team. Heineken will be served at the vending areas at the Citrus Bowl, and be connected to the club in the community.

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City has also announced a corporate sponsorship with the Rosen Plaza Hotel. Not only will visiting teams stay at the hotel, but visiting fans will be eligible to stay at the swanky I-Drive hotel for $99 per night. (This is summer, after all.)

The hotel is on International Drive just north of the Orange County Convention Center, just across from Pointe Orlando. It is easily accessible from SR 528 exit 1.

So apparently, I got it backward. The home side of Monterrey’s home-and-away CONCACAF Champions League final was yesterday.

Monterrey came in way over-confident and went out on their backside, suffering a humiliating 2-2 draw to Real Salt Lake.

When striker Aldo de Nigris hit the first goal for los Rayados at 19′, the team immediately substituted him and fellow forward Sergio Santana out. The announcers for FOX Soccer Channel rightfully labeled this an unsporting move, as if Monterrey was saying they did not expect an American club team to be able to compete with them.

They would come to regret that move later, as Salt Lake equalized at 35′ with an unlikely goal from defenseman Nat Borchers. By the end of the night, it would become clear that away goals would be vital in this final.

Salt Lake would keep the pressure up throughout the second half. Although Monterrey re-took the lead with a penalty kick by striker Humberto Suazo at 63′, they would tire much quicker than Salt Lake as time grew shorter. The relative dagger would come at 89′, when Argentine midfielder Javier Morales struck another leveling goal for Salt Lake. Monterrey was unable to muster up to push for another goal before the final whistle.

There are severe consequences to Monterrey’s overconfidence. Now they will have to travel to Rio Tinto Stadium in suburban Salt Lake City next week, where it’s likely to be cold and they will effectively be at altitude. And with Salt Lake’s two away goals, a result of 0-0 or 1-1 at Rio Tinto would hand Major League Soccer its first ever CONCACAF title–the North American equivalent of winning the UEFA Champions League.

And it may result in a bitter taste of hubris for one of the finest Mexican sides in recent years.

Bolton Wanderers must’ve lost a bet when they got creamed by Stoke City this past weekend in the FA Cup Semifinal, because they will be joining Newcastle United in Orlando this summer.

Bolton will be playing Orlando City on Sunday, July 17. Like the Newcastle game, it will be held at the Citrus Bowl, and will be part of the season ticket package. Game time is TBD.

Bolton, who are currently 8th in the Premier League table, will also play Houston Dynamo of MLS during their summer tour of the U.S.

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Two Lions players were again named to the USL Pro Team of the Week for this past weekend.

Defender Rob Valentino was named for his first career professional goal, and midfielder Lawrence Olum got a good comeback from injury with his ball control.

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Remember, Monterrey plays the away leg of their home-and-away final in the CONCACAF Champions League Final at Real Salt Lake tomorrow night at 10pm EDT. The match will be on FOX Soccer Channel, and I will be at Buffalo Wings and Rings in south Orlando to watch the match. Their home leg will be next Wednesday night at Estadio Tecnológico in Monterrey.

What can $15 million buy you?

It can buy you a complete 27,500-seat soccer stadium. And it can be generally completed in four months.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Empire Field.

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