Dynamo to face FC London next Saturday night at Macpherson Stadium
TAMPA, Fla. – The PDL announced tonight the 2012 PDL Championship presented by Umbro will be hosted by the Carolina Dynamo at Macpherson Stadium next Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET. The Eastern Conference Champion Dynamo will host the Central Conference Champion FC London in the championship match after each side won its respective National Semifinal on Saturday night.
The Dynamo had to battle back to earn a 2-1 victory against Orlando City U23 at Macpherson Stadium on Saturday night. The Lions took the lead as Nicolas Russo was able to turn home a deflected cross in the 25th minute, but Carolina hit back 10 minutes later through Donnie Smith before taking the lead in the 43rd minute through Shawn Sloan. The Dynamo were then able to hold on throughout a scoreless second half to earn their first trip to the PDL Championship Game, and their first trip to a USL championship contest since 1997.
London also fought back from a deficit at German Club Stadium, defeating the Sounders FC U23 3-2 after trailing by a pair of goals at the halftime break. The Sounders gained the upper hand in the 21st minute as Sean Morris was able to finish from close range. Dennis Sanchez then doubled their advantage in the 34th minute on a shot from 25 yards out.
But Carl Haworth pulled a goal back for London a minute into the second half, and then Bryan Da Cruz tied the game five minutes later, giving the home side momentum. Local product Alex Lewis then capped the victory with seven minutes to go, earning his side its first trip to the PDL Championship in just its fourth season of competition.
2012 PDL CHAMPIONSHIP
Presented by Umbro
Saturday, August 4
FC London at Carolina Dynamo, 7 p.m. ET
At Macpherson Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.
NATIONAL SEMIFINALS RESULTS
Saturday, July 28
Carolina Dynamo 2, Orlando City U23 1
FC London 3, Sounders FC U23 2
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Eastern Conference Championships
Conference Semifinals
Saturday, July 21
Ottawa Fury 1, Ocean City Nor’easters 0
Carolina Dynamo 1, Reading United 1, AET
Carolina wins 8-7 in a penalty shootout
Conference Championship
Sunday, July 22
Carolina Dynamo 1, Ottawa Fury 0
Central Conference Championships
Conference Semifinals
Saturday, July 21
Michigan Bucks 1, Real Colorado Foxes 0
Forest City London 1, Thunder Bay Chill 0
Conference Championship
Sunday, July 22
Forest City London 2, Michigan Bucks 1
Southern Conference Championships
Conference Semifinals
Friday, July 20
Orlando City U23 2, Laredo Heat 1
Austin Aztex 3, Ocala Stampede 2
Conference Championship
Sunday, July 22
Orlando City U23 4, Austin Aztex 2
Western Conference Championships
Conference Semifinals
Saturday, July 21
Ventura County Fusion 1, Portland Timbers U-23s 0, AET
Sounders FC U23 2, FC Tucson 1
Conference Championship
Sunday, July 22
Sounders FC U23 2, Ventura County Fusion 0
PDL
The top developmental men’s league in North American, the PDL features 73 teams within four conferences across the United States and Canada. The PDL season consists of 16 regular season matches for each team, eight home and eight away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions. The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world.
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