USL News Release
Monday, June 19, 2006
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced Monday its USL First and Second Division Teams of the Week for the ninth week of the season, honoring Romario of Miami and Charlotte’s Dustin Swinehart as the USL First and Second Division Players of the Week, respectively.
Romario came into the week tied with two other players for the league lead in goals with five on the campaign and his club sitting outside the playoff zone at seventh. At the close of play Sunday, Miami had moved to sixth, just three points out from first, and he was three clear at the top of the goals table.
The 1994 Brazilian World Cup MVP scored the opening goal eight minutes in against Toronto Thursday as Miami built a 2-0 lead that eventually gave way for a 2-2 draw and a single point. The goal gave him sole possession of the league lead in scoring.
On Sunday, however, Romario proved too much for a valiant 10-man Sounders squad. Tied at 1-1 courtesy of a short-handed Cam Weaver strike that pulled the rookie level with Romario on the goals table, the Sounders were controlling play despite being a man down. Romario was taken down in the box just before the break to set up a penalty he calmly converted to retake the scoring lead.
The Sounders equalized again courtesy of Steve Keel in the 49th only to see Romario strike again in the 66th for another lead. Two minutes later, a penalty the other way knotted the score for a third time. Headed toward a draw, Romario scored the game-winner in the 88th minute of the 5-3 victory as Oscar Gil put it away in stoppage time.
The defending champion Charlotte Eagles continue to hover near the top of the USL Second Division table despite the lack of scoring from two-time League MVP Jacob Coggins, who has two goals and an assist in seven games. This week, his strike partner and USL veteran Dustin Swinehart stepped into the mix to lead the Eagles to a point on the road.
Aaron Faro found Swinehart 15 minutes in for the opening tally in Cincinnati, his second of the season. The Kings would pull level five minutes before the break only to see Swinehart notch his third assist of the campaign by setting up Adam Ruud for a 2-1 lead as the Eagles went on to a 3-3 draw on the road.
