Maryland Majors Week 4
We recently received word on the format for the fall 2020 Maryland Major Soccer League season. The eight-team 1st Division will play a 10 game regular season. The top four clubs will qualify for the playoffs involving two semifinals and a final. The eight-team 2nd Baltimore Metro will also play a 10 game regular season. While the twelve-team 2nd Capital Beltway will play an 11 game regular season.
The regular-season winners of the 2nd Baltimore Metro and 2nd Capital Beltway will meet for the overall 2nd Division championship. The 2nd Division champion will receive automatic promotion to the 1st Division for the spring 2020 season. A playoff tournament will determine the second team from the 2nd Division that will receive promotion to the 1st Division. The promotional playoffs will include the loser of the 2nd Division championship final along with the second and third-place teams from 2nd Baltimore Metro plus the second, third and fourth-place teams from 2nd Capital Beltway.
As the league expands, for the spring 2020 season, the 1st Division will grow to 11 clubs which will allow a more-balanced 10-game schedule. In spring 2020 the 1st Division will include the current eight clubs, Academy FC, which sat out the fall 2020 season due to COVID concerns, and the two clubs promoted from the 2nd Division.
Now, let’s take a look at the week four matches.
One match was held Wednesday, September 30 with Annapolis United F.C. playing their first 2nd Capital Beltway match of the season against Rockville S.C. at Troy Park in Elkridge, Maryland. It was an auspicious debut for Annapolis as they won 2-0.
A single match was also held on Friday between 2nd Capital Beltway competitors. IFK Maryland took that game 4-0 over Arundel County F.C. at Catonsville High School.
A full slate of MMSL games was held on Sunday, October 4 headed by a trio of 1st Division matches. In the first match Steel Pulse FC blanked Columbia FC 4-0. Loudoun United’s Alioune Ndour made a hat trick and Paul Afful, who starred for Asheville City SC in 2019, scored the other for Steel Pulse. Damion Whyte had a clean sheet in goal. In the other 1st Division match of the afternoon, Christos FC and La Dolce Vita drew 1-1.
The evening 1st Division match was held at Catonsville High School. League-leading Maryland International FC eked out a 1-0 victory over the Baltimore Kickers with Mulama Buana scoring the lone goal. With that victory, MD Inter held on to first place over Steel Pulse on goal differential.
Two 2nd Baltimore metro matches were held on Sunday. In the morning game, Argyle FC crushed Meade United F.C. 6-1 at Hammond High School in Columbia, Maryland. And, in the afternoon game at Hammond High School, JA Raiders FC blanked Classic Crew F.C. 4-0. Yaacov Rubin scored a brace for the Raiders while Dwayne Williams and Damion Jackson each scored one. There’s a logjam at the top of the 2nd Baltimore standings with the top four teams all tied with six points.
The traditional 2nd Capital Beltway Sunday quadruple-header was held at John R. Lewis High School in Springfield, Virginia. In the morning match, Maryland United FC defeated NPC Futbol 2-1 on goals by Alexander Goycochea and Rutilio Morales. In the two afternoon matches, Dream Team FC blanked Colombia F.C. 4-0, and Frederick City United edged Colombia District FC 3-2. In the early evening match, DMV Rangers came from behind with three goals in the second half to beat Motorik FC 3-2.
The only Sunday 2nd Capital Beltway match not in Springfield was held at Hammond High School. Limitless FC easily handled Frederick Spires FC 7-1. Vladimir Guardado scored the hat trick for Limitless with Carlos Guevara, Omar Argueta, Luis Aquino, and Victor Aquino scoring the others. Dream Team and Fredericksburg top the 2nd Capital Beltway standings.
Here’s the schedule for week five (subject to change):
