Reggae Boyz on target in US leagues
JAMAICAN internationals Nicholas Addlery, Omar Cummings and Khari Stephenson scored Saturday night in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and US Major League Soccer (MLS), respectively.
Thirty-year-old Addlery scored his third goal from four matches for leaders Puerto Rico Islanders to beat Carolina RailHawks 3-1. Addlery netted in the 57th minute after Islanders teammates David Foley (29th minute penalty) and Richard Martinez (32nd minute) had found the target. An own goal from Jay Needham in the 51st minute put the RailHawks on the scoresheet.
Addlery is the leading goalscorer in the 2012 NASL with three goals, along with Andy Herron of Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Reinaldo Navia of Atlanta Silverbacks.
The Islanders lead the table with 10 points, five ahead of Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Tampa Bay Rowdies, with Atlanta Silverbacks on three points.
Twenty-nine-year-old Cummings, meanwhile, scored his third goal from seven matches in Colorado Rapids’ 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Cummings booted home Rapids’ lone goal in the 63rd minute, after Marvell Wynne’s own goal in the 21st minute and Landon Donovan adding Galaxy’s second in the 39th minute.
Stephenson, 31, finally got on the scoresheet from six matches when he struck in time added in the first half for San Jose Earthquakes to thump Real Salt Lake 3-1.
Simon Dawkins and Chris Wondolowski also netted in time added at the end for Earthquakes to lead the Western Conference with 16 points from seven matches.
Kyle Beckerman scored in the 53rd minute for Real Salt Lake, who are in second place in the Western Conference with 15 points from eight matches.