The week in review:

Thursday

Montreal @ Portland - A relatively even affair that went back and forth.  The game was scoreless through 84 minutes, when Montreal cleared the ball directly to Neil Dombrowski at the top of the box who knocked a bouncing shot into the net.  Almost immediately following the subsequent restart a similar play occurred in the Timbers box with a mad scramble resulting in the ball finding its way to Alen Marcina, who scored his first for the Impact following his trade from Puerto Rico.  And that's how it ended

Final: 1-1
My Prediction: 0-1 Portland

Friday

California @ Rochester - Hamed Diallo got a little lucky after a flurry in the California box in the 15th minute.  Four Rhinos touched the ball in the box resulting in Diallo finding himself all alone in the six yard box with Victory keeper Eric Reed.  Reed stopped the first shot, but the ball was just trapped under his arm and Diallo was able to poke it across the line.  That's the way the score stayed until the 84th when a turnover in the midfield let to a mini-break by Cali.  Hugo Casillas trailed the play and the ball was passed to him near the top of the box.  Casillas took it to the far side of the box and floated a cross in the crossed the Rhinos keepers' feet up and tucked just inside the far post for a fluke goal.  The Victory had a few chances the rest of the way but weren't able to steal the win.

Final: 1-1
My Prediction: 0-2 Rochester

Atlanta @ Charleston - I missed the broadcast and Comcast zapped my DVR remotely somehow so it lost everything that I had recorded.  So, I'm a bit short on details.  Scott Buete put the 'Backs up in the 37th and it looked like Atlanta might make it stand up.  Things got a little crazy though with Aaron King, a half-time sub, scoring in the 87th.  The final minute and stoppage time saw a goal and three yellow cards with Stephen Armstrong knocking in a penalty.

Final: 1-2 Charleston
My Prediction: 0-1 Charleston

Vancouver @ Miami - Mostly a low-key affair, Miami had the edge in total shots, but the run of play was relatively even.  Eduardo Sebrango put himself back atop the goal scoring leader board all by himself with a goal in the 87th minute.

Final: 1-0 Vancouver
My Prediction: 1-1

Saturday

Charleston @ Carolina - The Battery rarely ventured into the attacking third in this game and it cost them.  Carolina got goals from Phillip Long in the 55th and a penalty from Kupono Low.

Final: 0-2 Carolina
My Prediction: 0-0

Montreal @ Seattle -  The Impact continued in their effort to get things back on track on the road.  They certainly succeeded getting the game winner from Leonardo Di Lorenzo in the 71st minute.  That makes for a four point swing through Portland and Seattle.

Final: 1-0 Montreal
My Prediction: 1-1

Sunday

Vancouver @ Puerto Rico - The Whitecaps had their own four point road trip on tap this weekend as they held on for a scoreless draw in Puerto Rico.  Richard Goddard had a good weekend keeping two clean sheets stepping in for Tony Caig who has left the team.

Final: 0-0
My Prediction: 2-2

California @ Minnesota - A hard and evenly contested game, the bottom two definetely played a fun game to watch.  Minnesota got rolling early with a Brian Farber goal in the third minute and that was all they would need.  The teams traded opportunities the rest of the way, but no one was able to finish them off.  Of course, the Open Cup game on Tuesday ended up the main event with the Thunder playing their best game of the season but coming up short in the end.

Final: 0-1 Minnesota
My Prediction: 1-2 Minnesota

For the week that makes me 3-5, with two correct margins of victory and zero perfect scores.  For the season I'm now at 30-45 with 13 correct margins of victory and six exact scores.  The wheel of chance is lost a little ground and is 25-50.

Rankings:
Rnk(+/-) Team (W-D-L) Notes
1(+1) Vancouver (7-4-2) - Four point road trip
2(-1) Rochester (6-6-3) - Fell flat against Cali
3(+4) Montreal (5-5-2) - Four point road trip
4(+2) Carolina (4-5-3) - Nice win over Charleston
5(-2) Portland (4-3-2) - Home draw to Montreal
6(-1) Puerto Rico (3-6-3) - Home draw to Vancouver
7(-3) Seattle (5-4-5) - Home loss to Montreal
8(0) Charleston (5-3-5) - Home win over rivals before rough loss in Carolina
9(+3) Minnesota (2-5-6) - A home win, a home win!  I was wondering if we'd get to see one this year.
10(-1) California (1-5-5) - Draw at Rochester before loss in Minnesota
11(-1) Miami (4-2-8) - Home loss to Vancouver
12(-1) Atlanta (3-4-5) - Last second loss to Charleston

Predictions:

Thursday

Portland @ California - I'm still not sure how Portland is manufacturing results, but they're doing it.  Meanwhile, the Victory ground out a point last weekend and a win in the Open Cup, but it wasn't pretty.  Gregor, Kreamalmeyer and the gang should get it done.

My Prediction: 1-0 Portland

Miami @ Seattle - Miami's lack of fans probably has them well prepared for the road as they still won't have any support.  If you throw out the Orange Bowl games, they have an almost identical record home and away.  That Orange Bowl weekend was such an anomaly it probably should be thrown out.  Seattle, like Portland is plugging along looking like a playoff team, but its hard to say if it will last.

My Prediction: 0-2 Seattle

Friday

Puerto Rico @ Montreal - The Islanders still haven't put it all together and look settled into a middle of the pack season.  Montreal got things going in the right direction last weekend after some disastrous home results previously.  Good news for Islanders fans, I won't be predicting another draw here.

My Prediction: 1-2 Montreal

Atlanta @ Rochester - There hasn't been a more disappointing squad in the USL First Division this season than Atlanta.  Things aren't about to get better in Rochester even though the Victory were able steal a point there last weekend.

My Prediction: 1-3 Rochester

Saturday

Vancouver @ Charleston - The Whitecaps road trip continues with a visit to the Battery.  Vancouver currently sits on top of the league in both points and points per game.  Charleston has been up and down the last few weeks and finds themselves firmly planted in the middle of the table.

My Prediction: 1-0 Vancouver

Miami @ Portland - If my Miami can't get it done in Seattle, they're surely not getting in done against their hotter cousins in Portland.  The Timbers should be riding high off three road points in San Fran.

My Prediction: 0-2 Portland

Sunday

California @ Montreal - Cali will be looking to repeat their feat in Rochester from last week.  Montreal will be looking to firmly bury memories of just two points from four consecutive home games with a second consecutive win.

My Prediction: 0-2 Montreal

Tuesday

Seattle @ Rochester - Seattle has a good shot at stealing some points from this game.  Rochester is one of two teams that hasn't lost at home yet this season.

My Prediction: 0-1 Rochester.

Vancouver @ Carolina - Vancouver has one of the stingiest defenses in the league.  So does Carolina.  Unfortunately for Carolina, they are only scoring at the same rate as their opponents.

My Prediction: 0-0

Wednesday

Charleston @ Atlanta - Charleston won both games against Atlanta in Charleston, now its the Silverbacks turn in this rivalry.  I've said it before, I'll say it again, you just don't know how Charleston is going to play in any given match.  Atlanta needs to get something going now if they want to make the playoffs.

My Prediction: 1-1

Miami @ California - California got to play the team just above them in the standings last weekend and now they'll get to play they'll get to play the team one up from that, at least in terms of points per game.

My Prediction: 1-1