Pre-Season News

As La Liga winds down and the MLS, NASL and USL-PRO leagues prepare to gear up for the upcoming season, its time to visit our favorite domestic teams to see how they are shaping up.

DC United scored its first points of the new season this past weekend, by posting a 0-0 draw against the talented Vancouver Whitecaps.  With one point now in the league standings, it's too early to judge how effective this United side might really be, but we're glad to see the black and red back on the pitch once again.

In NASL action, our beloved Fort Lauderdale Strikers scored a 7-2 pre-season thumping of Barry University this weekend, showing the kind of form that brought the Strikers to the NASL championship game last season.  With off-season moves that strengthen the defense, we expect the Strikers to be as good or even better than they were last season.  The Strikers open their season on March 31 against in-state rival Tampa Bay Rowdies in the latest rendition of the Florida Derby.

Speaking of Tampa Bay... we are happy to note that the franchise has finally resolved its trademark dispute with the previous owners of the Rowdies trademark and logo, and as of December 2011 the franchise is once again known as the Tampa Bay Rowdies.  This move at last fully restores the colors and traditions of the old NASL teams that built the Florida Derby back in the 1970's and 80's. 

Finally, in USL-Pro League action, Jedi Soccer's favorite USL team, the Charleston Battery, dropped a 2-0 pre-season match against the Wilmington Hammerheads.  The Battery's home opener is on Saturday April 14.

As the European season overlaps with the US domestic season, this is a rich time of the year for Jedi Soccer, as we track and write about our favorite Jedi Soccer sides:  FC Barcelona, DC United, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Charleston Battery.