The Northern Virginia Royals Super 20 League team earned the final wild card bid into the United Soccer Leagues Super 20 North American Finals to be held next weekend in Rockford, Illinois. A scoreless draw with Triangle FC gave the Royals squad the single point necessary to earn the spot in the championship tournament.
The Super 20 Royals finished the season 4-1-3, only losing to South Atlantic Division opponent Charlotte SC during their 2009 campaign. Alpharetta United (GA) won the South Atlantic title outright with a 6-1-1 record. Northern Virginia and Alpharetta met once this season with a staggering 4 – 4 draw that demonstrated both teams ability to score.
Group stage pairings for the four day tournament were fashioned by the USL Front Office. Factors in establishing the groups included winning percentage and the avoidance of repeat matchups between regular season opponents. An emphasis on strength of schedule/division was also part of the process.
Four-time Super-20 League Finals Qualifier, D.C. United (8-0-1) will face 2008 Super-20 Finalist the Toronto Lynx (3-2-0) at 10AM CT on opening day. Thursday, July 30 will also feature a Group B match between the defending Super-20 League Champion Chicago Fire (5-1-0) and 2009 Southeast Division Champion H.C. United (6-1-1).
The Royals face the Chivas USA U20 reserve team to open their quest for a continental title.
Second day matches include, among others, four-time Super-20 League Finals Qualifier, Red Bull New York (9-0-1) squaring off against 2009 South Atlantic Division Champion Alpharetta United (6-1-1). Also on Friday, the runner-up in the Mid Atlantic Division, the Reading Rage (6-1-2) will face the Southern California Group B Champion Poway Vaqueros (8-2-0).
New England Division Champion MPS (9-0-1) will get a shot at the Toronto Lynx on Saturday, August 1 when Parsippany SC (6-1-3) and D.C. United meet to close out Group A. Group B matches that day include Chivas USA (9-1-0) taking on the Chicago Fire and the Royals battling Tampa’s H.C. United.
