Home-Field Advantage Is by Default : Soccer: Salsa plays host to Colorado in APSL title game today because of scheduling conflict on Foxes’ field.
Go ahead, mock the NHL for qualifying 16 of its 26 teams for the playoffs.
Criticize the NBA for allowing 16 of its 27 teams into its postseason.
Here’s one for you: The Salsa of the American Professional Soccer League lost eight of its final nine regular-season games, won one playoff game and is now playing host to the league’s championship.
Even Delta Tau Chi in “Animal House” was more selective.
But here the Salsa is, playing the Colorado Foxes at Titan Stadium at 5 today, and you have to wonder what the APSL would offer as a reward had the Salsa (13-12) lost even more games to end the season.
Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs?
“They said a fourth-place team would never host the APSL championship,” said Phillip Gyau, who was purchased from Colorado by the Salsa at midseason. “Everyone was surprised.”
But because of the league’s television contract with SportsChannel America, the game had to be played at 5 p.m. today, and Colorado (16-9) had a scheduling conflict with its field.
Not that Salsa players are complaining. The way they see it, they are worthy hosts.
“We lost eight out of nine but (four) were shootouts,” Gyau said. “We were unlucky at times.”
Said Coach Rildo Menezes: “Hey, I know it’s difficult (to believe), but my team is a new team. Everything starts right now. I believe in my team and now we’re in the final. I trust my players.”
The Salsa had some injury problems down the stretch--goalkeeper Ian Feuer missed the last few weeks when he had to undergo knee surgery. The team also had some other losses--Paul Wright, for example, missed a game when he collected too many penalty cards.
After a 6-2 start, these things added up. And that’s what the players are telling themselves heading into tonight’s game.
“We’ve had some good games in the past,” said Wright, who led the APSL in scoring much of the year and was named to the Soccer Digest APSL All-Star team, along with teammate Paulinho, on Wednesday. “We’re really ready. Everybody is 100% and ready to go.
“We knew once we got into the playoffs, it would be back to normal.”
The Salsa, although an expansion team, has championship experience. Wright won four championships while playing in the indoor Major Soccer League. Gyau will be playing in his third APSL championship--he was part of a winner with Maryland in 1990 and part of a loser with Colorado last season.
“The first one was very nice and the second one you want to win,” Gyau said. “If you’re lucky enough to get in a third one, you’ve got to win it.”
Said Wright: “This is just as big (as the indoor championship games). It is really important to me and to the rest of the guys to win an outdoor championship. I’ve won a few indoors. I want one outdoors really bad.”
The Foxes, who finished second this summer, will be without Robin Fraser, possibly the league’s best defender. Fraser has been out with a knee injury.
Salsa Notes
A crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000 is expected. . . . The Salsa defeated Vancouver in a shootout, 3-2, in the playoff semifinals. Colorado defeated Tampa Bay, 1-0. . . . The Salsa and Colorado split four games during the regular season.
