USSF D2 Table Update

Hello soccer fans and welcome to the first of what we hope are many new posts here at NASLNews.com. The fundamental of every soccer site is the results on the pitch and the current standings in the table. Thus at the end of each week of action we will be posting a recap of the results, as well as a look at how the table is shaping up. So without further ado here are the past week's results.

Week 2:

Austin Aztex vs. AC St. Loius

 - Result: 2-1 (Austin)

 - Full Match Reports: Austin Aztex and AC St. Loius

 - Thoughts: The Aztex ruined St. Louis home opener in front of a crowd over 5,000 strong. Austin is off to a great start with 2 wins in 2 games, the club only recorded 5 victories in all of 2009. At leas St. Louis was able to field an entire team this week. 

Carolina Railhawks vs. NSC Minnesota Stars

 - Result: 1-0 (Minnesota)

 - Full Match Reports: Carolina Railhawks and NSC Minnesota Stars

 - Thoughts: The Railhawks played without passion Friday night and appeared as though a completely different team took the field than the one that won 2-0 the week before. It was technically the Stars first win in franchise history, however the club is mainly a reformation of the old Minnesota Thunder from last season.

Miami FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

 - Results: 0-0

 - Full Match Reports: Miami FC and Vancouver Whitecaps

 - Thoughts: The goalies shined in the this scoreless draw. But the player of the match award goes to Miami goal keeper (with Carolina last year) Caleb Paterson-Sewell who stopped a penalty in the second half. 

Portland Timbers vs. Rochester Rhinos

 - Results: 1-0 (Portland)

 - Full Match Reports: Portland Timbers and Rochester Rhinos

 - Thoughts: Portland started the 2010 season, just like the ended the 09 season, with a victory. The Timbers are in their last year of second division soccer before moving to the MLS and brought in a very respectable crowd of over 15,000 (that is nearly double the combined attendance at the other 4 USSF D2 games this week). The match itself however was very close the entire time and it took until the 85th minute and a penalty kick before Portland could go ahead for the three points. 

Crystal Palace Baltimore vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies 

 - Results: 1-0 (Tampa Bay)

 - Full Match Reports: Baltimore and Tampa Bay

 - Thoughts: This was the season opener for two clubs making the the jump to US Soccer's second division. While the offensive battle wasn't the most spectacular it is nice to see these two clubs grow and join the D2 ranks. Hopefully Tampa Bay can kick off rivalries with Miami and Puerto Rico and grow soccer in Florida, where the MLS could not.

Current Table:

(Note: The two division winners and the next best six clubs qualify for the playoffs)

NASL Conference Standings

NASL Conference
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Playoffs
1	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	4	2	1	0	1	2	0	+2	*
2	Carolina RailHawks FC	3	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	*
3	Miami FC	2	2	0	0	2	1	1	0	*
4	Crystal Palace Baltimore	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	-1
5	Montreal Impact	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	-2
6	AC St. Louis	0	2	0	2	0	1	4	-3

USL Conference Standings

USL Conference
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Playoffs
1	Austin Aztex	6	2	2	0	0	4	1	+3	*
2	Portland Timbers	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	*
3	FC Tampa Bay Rowdies	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	*
4	NSC Minnesota Stars	3	2	1	1	0	1	2	-1	*
5	Rochester Rhinos	1	2	0	1	1	1	2	-1	*
6	Puerto Rico Islanders	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

(Wikipedia)

As this is the first of these posts, please feel free to leave feedback on what you liked, did not like, would like to see added, etc.