What a great start to the USL season for Miami FC "Blues" as they defeated the Cleveland City Stars by 3-1The Sun Sentinel's Jeff Rusnack wrote this quote from Ray Hudson:
"It's a wonderful night and a good atmosphere from the fans, especially with just two weeks' notice that they were playing here"
"Diego Serna, 35, made plays reminiscent of his Miami Fusion days in leading Miami FC to a season-opening victory."Miami Herald
"Miami FC opened its 2009 USL season with a 3-1 victory over the 2008 USL- 2 Champions, Cleveland City Stars." Miami FC site
The ambiance was electric, The Miami Ultras never ceased to yell and the Southern Legion also showed up to make their presence felt. Both fan groups competed in their chants; but remained firm in their resolve to Support their team till the end. Lockhart hadn't felt this alive since the Miami Fusion days and this marked the return of U.S. Professional Soccer in Broward County after years of absence.
The festivities never truly begin until the guest of honor has arrived, "the Goal". Alen Marcina scored the first off of a Diego Serna header to make it 1-0 but Cleveland leveled it as Haitian international Ricardo Pierre-Louis made it 1-1. The Stars couldn't enjoy it for long as Diego Serna scored on a break away to make it 2-1 Blues and finally Brazilian Leo Inacio Nunes made it 3-1 Miami FC off of another Serna pass.
It was Serna who put this team on his shoulders with a goal and two assist making him easily the man of the match. Notable mentions go out to Zach Kirby who was solid in the back and Walter Ramirez on the flank.
In the end the chants of "Diego, Diego, Diego" filled the stadium and the Miami FC players left with their heads up high. Next up the Montreal Impact at FIU stadium on Friday April 24 at 8pm!
Miami FC starting Lineup - GK Pat Hannigan, D Zach Kirby, D Cristiano Dias, D Chris Williams, D Walter Ramirez, M Edwin Miranda, M Richard Perdomo, M John Pulido, M Leo Ignacio Nunes, F Alen Marcina, F Diego Serna.
Cleveland City Stars- GK Christopher Seitz, D Anthony Stovall, D Troy Roberts, D Ibrahim Kante, D Godfrey Tenoff, M Warren Kanu, M Gordon Kljestan, M Ronald Aguilar, F Joshua Boateng, F Ryan Stewart, F Ricardo Pierre Louis
CLE: Joshua Boateng 30, Gordan Kljestan 71
MIA: Chris Williams 35, Diego Serna 37
Ejections
CLE: Joshua Boateng 43
Info from USLsoccer.com
All pictures by Victor Palkaninec see them at http://www.miamifc2.com/
