August 7, 1998
The San Diego Flash (13-6, 39), Pacific Division front-runners, travel to Tennessee to meet the Central Division leader Nashville Metros (15-6, 41) in what could be a battle for the best point total in the Western Conference.
Nashville plays host to Cincinnati on Friday night and with a regulation-time win can remain in the top spot of the Western Conference with 44 points, regardless of the outcome of the Flash match on Saturday. However, if the Metros should lose or win in a shootout, the Flash could become the Western Conference leader by securing the three points in a regulation-time victory. In addition, the Flash will have three games in hand on Nashville in the contest for home-field advantage throughout the Western Conference post-season.
The Seattle Sounders (12-8) have entered the race for first place in the Pacific Division. The Sounders, winners of three consecutive games, have 34 points and are tied for second with Orange County (12-9). The Sounders have a game in hand on the Zodiac. Seattle will finish a four-game road trip with a match in Cincinnati on Wednesday before returning home to play the Vancouver 86ers on Saturday. By Sunday evening, the Flash will have two games in hand on the Sounders, Zodiac and 86ers.
ANTONIO ROBLES RUNNER-UP AGAIN FOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK
San Diego Flash forward Antonio Robles was runner-up for A-League Player of the Week for Week 18. The Professional Soccer Reporters of America honored Seattle forward Mark Baena for his four goals in three matches. Robles' three goals helped the Flash overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit and win an important road match on national television, but it was not enough for the second time in three weeks. His five-point performance against California on July 17 was overshadowed by Toronto's Nikola Vignjevic's two-goal game. Robles was named to the Team of the Week for the third time. Joining Robles on the Team of the Week was midfielder Carlos "Chile" Farias (3rd) and defender Michael N'Doumbe (1st). Having three players on the Team of the Week is a first for the Flash.
Robles cracked the A-League's Top 10 Scoring Leaders by virtue of his three-goal performance. He is tied for fifth with 11 goals and three assists for 25 points with Darren Tilley of Richmond and Jacksonvile's Mike Burke.
SOUTHWESTERN SWEEP FOR SAN DIEGO
The San Diego Flash won both matches of an important two-game road trip in the Southwest. The team needed last-minute heroics to win both matches. On Friday in Albuquerque, the Geckos had a 1-0 lead before Carlos "Chile" Farias scored twice in a seven minute span for the win. In El Paso in Saturday, The Flash tallied three goals in the last four minutes to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat the Patriots before a crowd of 6,861. Jerome Watson notched the game-winner in the 88th minute. San Diego improved to 5-3 on the road.
ROBLES LEADS THE TEAM IN SCORING
Antonio Robles leads the Flash with 25 points, he had 11 goals and three assists. He recorded six points and the first-ever hat trick in club history on August 1 in El Paso. Robles had a five-point performance against California on July 17. Robles had a four-game goal streak, the longest of the season. Carlos "Chile" Farias scored twice in Albuquerque and now has a two-game point streak.
PLAYOFF FORMAT ANNOUNCED
The San Diego Flash controls its own destiny in its bid to make the A-League playoffs in the club's first season. If the Flash make the post-season, the first round will be a one-game affair.
The top eight teams in the Western Conference will be seeded, with the two division winners being seeded as #1 and #2 seeds. The top four clubs will host a first-round single-game elimination match.
The second round will feature a home-and-away series, with the higher seeded team choosing which game they want to host. The Conference Finals will be a best-of-three series, with the higher seed hosting game one and three, if needed. The A-League Championship Game is scheduled to be played on October 16 or 17.
COSTA IN CHARGE
San Diego is 5-1 since Costa Skouras took over as head coach from the departed Ralf Wilhelms. Skouras is only four wins away from becoming the winningst head coach in team history. Skouras implemented a new "Samba Soccer" 3-4-2 formation and the team has responded with 16 goals in six games. In the previous 13 games, the team has scored only 20 goals.
San Diego Flash Reserve Team to Hold Tryouts
The San Diego Flash announced today that beginning Tuesday, August 11, the team will be conducting tryouts for the Flash Reserves, a team scheduled to compete in the San Diego County Premiere Men's League this fall.
Sam Kaloustian, Flash Reserve coach, will be in charge of the tryouts that begin on Tuesday evening. Players who are interested in attending the private session should have a resume of their playing career available before contacting Coach Kaloustian at 619/485-5849.
The San Diego Arsenal Soccer Club was named as the Flash's Reserve team on July 28. The club operated by Kaloustian has adopted the Flash logo and colors as they prepare for their upcoming outdoor season.
Ya Viene la temporada de Soccer del AYSO!
Ultimas fechas para registrarse...
Se acabó el Campeonato Mundial de Fútbol, pero la emoción continúa con la temporada de Soccer del AYSO en el South County.
Todos los niños y las niñas están invitados a participar en nuestros equipos dentro de un ambiente divertido y amable que hará de esta una placentera experiencia para los niños y sus papás.
Para inscribirse vengan al McDonalds de Bonita (4340 Bonita Road) de 6:30 PM a 7:30 PM en las siguientes fechas: Agosto 4, 12, 20, 24, 28 y 31.
Sólo necesitan traer una prueba de residencia (que puede ser una cuenta de gas o de cablevisión y un com-probante de la edad del jugador que puede ser un acta de nacimiento o un pasaporte.
Para mayores informes llamen al (619) 479-AYSO o visiten nuestro web site en www.webstation.com/sandiego/ayso.
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