MLS has altered its playoff format, introducing series for the first round similar to those seen in other American sports.
Like the NFL, the NBA, MLB and the NHL, MLS has always used a postseason format to decide its annual champions.
But from the coming season, which kicks off this weekend, it will follow in the footsteps of basketball, baseball and hockey with a further tweak.
For the first round of the playoffs – after the wild card matches – teams will play best-of-three series.
These will involve eight teams from each conference, including the winners of the wild card matches between the eighth and ninth seeds.
Again following the lead of the NBA, MLB and the NHL, every game in the series must have a winner, with penalties required if the scoreline is level at full-time.
Rather than using aggregate scores, teams must simply win two games to advance.
The postseason tournament will then return to a more standard format with single-elimination matches for the conference semifinals, conference finals and MLS Cup final.
Joshua Da Silva and Jason Holder struck half-centuries on day one of a three-day tour match against a South Africa Invitational XI at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Tuesday.
The tourists ended the day 283-9 from 89 overs after the South Africa Invitational XI won the toss and chose to field.
Holder led the way with a swift 62-ball 57 including nine fours and a six while Da Silva ended the day unbeaten on 54 alongside Shannon Gabriel, who is not out on two. The Trinidadian wicket-keeper/batsman has, so far, faced 129 balls and hit six boundaries.
Roston Chase also showed solid form with 35 against two wickets apiece from Corbin Bosch, Irvin Modimokoane and Smangaliso Nhlebela.
The first Test against South Africa bowls off on February 28.
Scores: West Indies 283-9 off 89 overs (Jason Holder 57, Joshua Da Silva 54*, Roston Chase 35, Raymon Reifer 30, Corbin Bosch 2-17, Irvin Modimokoane 2-39, Smangaliso Nhlebela 2-71).
Bahamian 400m superstar Steven Gardiner ran a season’s best to win the 300m at the Radd Collegiate Last Chance meet in Gainesville on Thursday.
The 27-year-old ran 32.58, the fifth fastest time in the world this year, to win the event ahead of Jamaica’s Mario Heslop (33.67) and Fabian Hewitt (34.42). Gardiner holds the World Record for the event with a 31.56 clocking in January 2022.
Gardiner, who finished top of the podium at the 2019 World Championships and 2021 Olympics, opened his season with a 33.03 effort to win his section of the 300m at the South Carolina Invitational on February 3.
The 2017 World Championship silver medallist is working his way back from a heel injury that forced him out of action for seven months, meaning he was unable to defend his World title in Eugene in July.
His last race before the layoff was on the 24th of June at the Bahamas Championships in Nassau where he won in 45.22.
Elsewhere, Guyanese Olympian Aliyah Abrams won the women’s 400m in 52.09 ahead of Jessica Gbai (53.64) and Alexis Williams (55.39).
The University at Albany Women’s team had a great weekend at the America East Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Track at New Balance this past weekend.
The team finished second with 196 points, just half-a-point behind University of Massachusetts Lowell. Fifty of Albany’s points came from the team’s sweep of both 60m and 200m dashes led by sophomore Dominique Clarke.
The former Papine High School athlete won the 60m dash in 7.45, breaking her own record of 7.55 set last year. Her teammates – Adaliz Hunt (7.60) and Rori Lowe (7.64) - completed the sweep for UAlbany.
It was the same in the 200m that Clarke won in a championship record of 23.69. Teammates Jazmen Newberry (23.85) which was also under the previous record of 24.04 with Lowe finishing third equaling the previous standard.
“She and her teammates did something not many teams have done in conference companionships across the US, swept both 60m and 200m,” said Coach Junior Burnett.
“First time in UAlbany track and field history.”
Burnett explained that Clarke is still learning the technical aspects, which makes her performance all that more impressive.
“She did very well yesterday. She won both 60m and 200m, great effort and performance under the situation that she is learning both indoor events,” he said.
“But she stepped up and delivered two big wins for us toward team championship. She’s our silent leader. She’s a very talented athlete but more of an outdoor athlete.
“She is willing do everything for our team. She was confident going in and performed well, defended her 60m title from last year and captured the 200m title.”
Coach Burnett said he expects a lot from her once the season moves outdoors in the spring.
Travis Williams said his record run to win the 200m at the America East Indoor Track and Field Championships on Sunday came as a bit of a surprise but he knew the 60m record would go.
His coach, meanwhile, is pleased with the progress the young sprinter has been showing this season.
The 19-year-old sophomore at the University at Albany in New York established a new conference record, championship and school record of 6.64 while storming to victory in the 60m dash. The time was just off his lifetime of 6.59 set at the Millrose Games on February 11.
Later in the day, he clocked 20.89, also a championship and conference record to win the 200m and take the sprint double at the championships, capping a fantastic weekend for the emerging sprinter, whose previous indoor best was 21.71.
“It felt great! The 60m record was always up for grabs it was just me that had to go do what was needed to be done,” he told Sportsmax.TV.
“The 200m record was what really shocked me because I always knew I was going to run something fast but I never knew it was going to be anywhere near 20.89. I guess I underestimated my abilities to pull off a 20-point indoor.”
The performances, he said, have been a fillip as he prepares for the NCAA Division 1 nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico in three weeks.
“It was a huge confidence booster because I know it’s only going to translate over more to my 60m over the next three weeks and hopefully pull off a win. I know I have the capabilities to do something great it’s just up to me to do what needs to be done.”
Assistant Coach for Sprints at Albany Junior Burnett revealed that he was impressed by Williams’ showing on the weekend and indicated that he has been making progress in training.
“It was a great weekend for Travis and the short sprinters. I feel very happy for his success on the track, performances, victories, and records. After a great week of training, it was fabulous to see these records go down,” Coach Burnett said.
“Travis executed his races very well. He remained focused on the details for success. He didn’t perform to his competition level, but out-performed them.
“His level of confidence going in was high and that propelled him to these victories and records. Just running with Christian Coleman and beating him to 20m is big for him.”
The coach said Travis has been making good progress this season and continues to do so as he prepares for nationals.
“I am pleased with his progress at this point in time. He is doing must things asked of him,” Coach Burnett said.
“He has the NCAA D1 national meet in three weeks in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Preparation will be geared towards that. So he has to remain locked in to detail for the next 15 days in order to achieve the goals set.
“He is grasping the things asked of him in each training session - Correct blocks clearance, acceleration angles and transition phase and relax max velocity.”
Travis’ performance at Millrose and again at the America East Championships have put him in the spotlight, Coach Burnett believes, and it has been deserved because of the work the young sprinter has been putting in to get where he is now.
“Travis breaking two conference records opened many eyes across US East and West Coast. People are looking at what he’s doing in Albany, New York,” the proud coach said.
“These records are testament of his hard work, confidence in training and system of training. We have a great training and practice environment at Albany with the likes of Shakur Williams and others create winning atmosphere.”
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel, on Monday, announced the One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) squads for the upcoming series against South Africa.
The West Indies will play three ODIs on March 16, 18 and 21, followed by three T20Is on March 25, 26 and 28.
In the ODIs, Shai Hope will have his first series as captain with allrounder Rovman Powell appointed as the new vice-captain. In the T20Is, captain Rovman Powell will be supported by a new vice-captain in batting allrounder Kyle Mayers.
Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has earned a recall to the ODI squad on the back of his performances during the CG United Super50 Cup last November.
He was the joint leading wicket-taker spearheading the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force bowling attack, taking 15 wickets in seven matches at an average of 14.2. He last played ODIs for the West Indies at the ICC Cricket World Cup in July 2019.
Left-arm pacer Obed McCoy has been named in the T20I squad subject to medical clearance. Fast bowler Jayden Seales remains unavailable for selection following a knee injury and subsequent surgery, while another fast bowler Anderson Phillip has returned to training but is not yet match-fit.
Lead Selector the Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes said: “We have had some injuries to our fast-bowling pool so therefore we see Gabriel as an ideal fit heading into South Africa, and the surfaces we expect to play on. It is felt that we need someone to get those early wickets and he is the kind of bowler that can do that. Judging from his performances in the CG United Super50 Cup, he is potentially a wicket-taking option up front.”
Haynes added: “For the T20Is, we have an experienced squad. What we are looking for is to form a cohesive unit and look at the players who we believe can form the nucleus as we build towards doing very well and challenging when we host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June 2024.”
FULL SQUADS
One-Day Internationals
Shai Hope (Captain)
Rovman Powell (Vice Captain)
Shamarh Brooks
Yannic Cariah
Keacy Carty
Roston Chase
Shannon Gabriel
Jason Holder
Akeal Hosein
Alzarri Joseph
Brandon King
Kyle Mayers
Nicholas Pooran
Romario Shepherd
Odean Smith
T20 Internationals
Rovman Powell (Captain)
Kyle Mayers (Vice Captain)
Shamarh Brooks
Yannic Cariah
Johnson Charles
Sheldon Cottrell
Jason Holder
Akeal Hosein
Alzarri Joseph
Brandon King
Obed McCoy
Nicholas Pooran
Raymon Reifer
Romario Shepherd
Odean Smith
White ball schedule in South Africa
Thursday, 16 March: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)
Saturday, 18 March: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)
Tuesday, 21 March: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Saturday, 25 March: 1st T20Is at SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sunday, 26 March: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion
Tuesday, 28 March: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)
Trinidad & Tobago bowed out of the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship at the Round of 16 stage after suffering an agonizing 2-3 defeat to El Salvador at Estadio Pensativo in Guatemala on Sunday.
El Salvador had the best possible start to the encounter, taking the lead in the third minute as Bryan Vasquez slotted home a powerful shot from just outside the box after a failed clearance from T&T.
The young Soca Warriors levelled proceedings in the 33rd minute through Rio Cardines and the teams went into the half-time interval locked at 1-1.
Twenty minutes into the second half, El Salvador once again found themselves in the lead when Captain Walter Menjivar scored from close range.
The Trinidadians kept fighting, however, and their persistence was rewarded in the 79th minute when Malachi Webb latched on to a Derrel Garcia through pass before calmly finishing past El Salvador goalkeeper Alexander Aguilar to make it 2-2.
The teams would remain deadlocked after 90 minutes, meaning extra time was needed to determine who would advance to the quarter-finals.
Both teams got chances throughout the first half of extra time but the game-winning goal came in the 107th minute when Michael Ventura unleashed a vicious right-footed shot from 30 yards out that gave T&T goalkeeper Ailan Panton no chance.
El Salvador will play Mexico in the quarters on Tuesday.
Travis Williams backed up his 6.59s 60m dash at Millrose Games on February 11, by winning the sprint-double at the America East Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday.
On the back of their win against Ireland that broke a streak of 15 consecutive losses in T20 Internationals, the West Indies Women pulled off a thrilling three-run win against Pakistan Women at Paarl on Sunday.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the West Indies scored 116-6 from their 20 overs. Needing 117 for victory, Pakistan feel short scoring 113-5.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the West Indies Women got off to a solid start scoring 33 runs but lost their captain Hayley Matthews for 20 in the six over.
Rashada Williams and Shemaine Campbell added 40 for the second wicket but then Williams was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal for 30.
Chinelle Henry, who joined Campbell at the crease, scored a quick 10 from 11 balls but was soon dismissed, out leg before to Nida Dal with the score at 86.
Campbell was next to go for 22 and the West Indies Women had lost their way, scoring 26 from the final 26 balls with Shabika Gajnabi scoring 13 and Aaliyah Alleyne nine.
Having bowled Alleyne at the death, Dar finished with 2-13 with Iqbal taking 1-18.
Pakistan Women made hard work of the chase losing their first two wickets with only 15 runs on the board during the Powerplay.
Captain Bismah Maroof and Dar put on 44 for the third wicket but then Dar was dismissed by Afy Fletcher for 27. Maroof was next to go for 26 after she and Aliya Riaz had put on 30 for the fourth wicket.
Riaz threatened to take the game away from the West Indies in the final over with her team needing 17 for victory.
After Fatima Sana hit Shamilia Connell for four off the first ball, she took a single to leave Pakistan nine runs short of the target with three balls remaining.
She hit Connell for consecutive fours but then chopped the fifth onto her stumps to be out for 29.
Matthews, who the wickets of opener Muneeba Ali for five and Maroof ended with 2-14.
Karishma Ramharack took 1-18 while Connell returned figures of 1-31.
Jamaica’s U17 Reggae Boyz were eliminated from the CONCACAF U17 Championships on Saturday night, going down 2-1 in a hard-fought game against hosts Guatemala.
With the winner to earn a place in the quarter-finals, Guatemala assumed the early advantage when Selvin Sagastume put them 1-0 up in the 32nd minute, a lead that would last until the half-time break.
Jamaica would pull level in the 54th minute when Ronaldo Barrett scored from a free kick.
However, as has been the case in all their previous matches, Jamaica conceded a late goal. That problem cost them three points against Guadeloupe and two points against Costa Rica.
On Saturday night, Gabino Vasquez’s 77th minute strike cost them a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, the USA drubbed the Dominican Republic 7-0 in their encounter in Antigua.
Christopher Aquino scored in the 22nd and 30th minutes to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Keyrol Figueroa then scored just before the break to give the US a 3-0 lead. Figueroa added his second and the USA’s fourth in the 57th before Micah Burton added a fifth in the 62nd.
Ezekiel Soto scored the third brace of the day for the U.S., with goals in the 83’ and 90’ to round out the 7-0 scoreline.
In the nightcap in Antigua, Canada ended Haiti’s hopes of a quarter-final spot by handing them a 3-0 defeat.
Antoine Sedar N Diaye opened the scoring in the fourth-minute of play and Lucas Ozimec netted in the 16th as Canada took a 2-0 lead within the first 20-minutes.
Erik Pop scored in the 88th to complete the victory.
Brianna Lyston and Rikkoi Brathwaite secured second place finishes in their respective 60m races at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Twilight at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse on Friday.
Lyston, the 18-year-old Jamaican LSU freshman and 2022 World Under-20 200m Champion, followed up her personal best 7.29 performance at the Tyson Invitational on February 10 with a 7.30 effort for second.
The race was won by Lyston’s LSU teammate and Nigerian Commonwealth Games 200m silver medallist Favor Ofili who ran 7.18 while Symone Mason of Tiger Olympians was third in 7.39.
The British Virgin Islands’ Brathwaite, formerly of Indiana University and now representing the Garden State Track Club, ran 6.63 in the men’s equivalent. The race was won by LSU’s Godson Oghenebrume in 6.58 while his LSU teammate Da’Marcus Fleming was third in 6.70.
Brathwaite, 23, was a finalist at the NACAC Championships in Freeport last year, running 10.20 for fifth.
In the field, Bahamian Northwestern State sophomore Carnitra Mackey threw a personal best 14.06m to win the women’s shot out ahead of teammate Deanmonique Granville (13.15m) and McNeese State’s Jaslyn Russell (13.04m).
Brathwaite’s countryman, Northwestern State junior Djimon Gumbs, was second in the men’s equivalent with a best throw of 17.93m. LSU’s Chilean Olympian Claudio Romero threw 18.06m for the win while McNeese State’s Marcus Francis was well behind in third with 15.02m.
The Caribbean was well represented at Friday’s University of South Carolina Indoor Open in Columbia, South Carolina.
Guyana's Lloyd McCurdy and Jamaican Sadiki Marsh were among the winners on the men’s side.
The 23-year-old McCurdy, competing unattached, jumped a personal best 16.04m to take the win ahead of Jamaicans Shemar Miller, who did 15.27m, and Rajaun Ricketts who did 14.99m. Both Miller and Ricketts attend Benedict College.
Marsh, also a student at Benedict College, won the 800m in 1:55.86 ahead of the Wingate University pair of Ben Aris (1:57.53) and Jakob Rettschlag (1:57.80).
Trinidadian Limestone College senior Che’ Lara ran a personal best 47.68 for second in the 400m behind South Carolina’s William Spencer Jr who ran 47.38 for the win. South Carolina’s Edward Richardson was third in 48.37 while Jamaican St. Augustine’s sophomore Sean Kalawan was fifth 48.96.
Lara’s Limestone College teammate, Grenadian Kurt Modeste, ran 21.33 for third in the 200m behind South Carolina’s Evan Miller (20.95) and Lenoir-Rhyne’s Trent Davis (21.23).
On the women’s side, Haiti’s Mulern Jean sped to 8.27 to win the 60m hurdles. Barbados’ Tia-Adana Belle was second in 8.40 while Jamaican Charleston Southern senior Chaneal Harris was third in 8.55.
Belle also enjoyed a top-three finish in the 200m, finishing third in 24.38 behind 17-year-old American sensation Shawnti Jackson (22.91) and Charleston Southern’s Lauryn James (24.16).
Dominica’s Mariah Toussaint was also a winner on the day, jumping 6.20m to comfortably win the long jump ahead of the University of West Georgia’s Pashience Collier (5.71m) and William Carey’s Zaniyah Wilson (5.68m).
The SKNFA Premier League rolls into East Basseterre on Saturday, in a community that has enjoyed much success top flight football in St. Kits and Nevis.
Hosts S-Krave Newtown United take on newly promoted Jones Group Sandy Point FC at 6 pm.
Newtown are at the top of the table after a resounding 5-1 opening weekend win over Bath United. They are coached by Anthony ‘Nets’ Isaac, who had previous successful stints with the club before moving to St. Peters FC for the past two seasons.
He is back home and is looking forward to leading the new look Newtown United to former glory.
Sandy Point, on the other hand, are hoping to rebound from their loss to Garden Hotspurs at home last week Friday.
If they shake off the premier league nerves, they are expected to do better this week.
“I know we can do better. We saw it at the end of the game where we started pressing high and we started to get into the opponent and we actually got our goal,” said Elzito Warner, a member of the Sandy Point FC technical staff.
“So, I think if we start in games earlier and pressing higher, we could do much better."
The other match up on Saturday is set to be the match of the weekend.
SL Horfords St. Paul’s United goes up against H.E. Garden Hotspurs at 8:15pm.
St. Paul’s stumbled in their first match of the season with a 0-0 draw to Old Road in Verchilds. They would want to get something from this match to get their season up and running. As for Spurs, they started the season with a win and hope to build on that going forward.
The West Indies Women finally ended their 15-game losing streak with a six-wicket win over Ireland Women in their Group 2 encounter at Newlands on Friday.
Ireland posted 137-9 from their 20 overs, their highest total in T20 World Cups, after winning the toss and batting first.
Orla Prendergast and Gabby Lewis had a 91-run second wicket partnership to set the foundation for the Irish total.
Prendergast top-scored with 61 off 47 balls including six fours and a six while Lewis hit six fours during her 34-ball 38.
After Lewis fell in the 16th over, the West Indies bowlers did well to restrict their opponents, taking seven wickets for just 22 runs to close out the innings.
Shamilia Connell took 3-24 off her four overs while Karishma Ramharack and Afy Fletcher took two wickets each for the Windies.
The West Indies reply got off to a decent start as openers Hayley Matthews and Rashada Williams put on 28 off 5.4 overs before Williams was run out for 17.
Shemaine Campbelle then joined Matthews and reached just eight off 10 balls before she was dismissed with the score on 46 in the ninth over, bringing Chinelle Henry to the crease to join her captain.
Matthews brought up her half-century, her seventh in T20Is, off 42 balls in the 15th over to leave the Windies needing 40 off 31 balls for victory.
The West Indies were cruising before the 16th over, bowled by Leah Paul, went for just six runs leaving the 2016 Champions needing 34 off the last four overs for victory.
Matthews and Henry put on 74 before the latter fell for a crucial 34 in the 18th over to leave the Windies 120-3 needing 18 runs off 13 balls. Henry’s knock came off 28 balls and included four fours.
Eventually, with Matthews and Shabika Gajnabi in the middle, the scenario came down to six runs needed off the last over.
The first two balls in the final over resulted in singles before Gajnabi was run out for 13 going for two off the third delivery, leaving the West Indies needing three runs from the last three balls.
Aaliyah Alleyne joined Matthews at the crease and immediately got to the other end, getting Matthews back on strike with two needed from two balls.
Matthews struck a boundary to seal the win with a ball to spare. She finished 66 not out off 53 balls including eight fours and a six.
The West Indies will need a big win against Pakistan on Sunday if they are to stand any chance of advancing.
Scores: Ireland 137-9 off 20 overs (Orla Prendergast 61, Gabby Lewis 38, Shamilia Connell 3-24, Karishma Ramharack 2-18, Afy Fletcher 2-21) West Indies 140-4 off 19.5 overs (Hayley Matthews 66*, Chinelle Henry 34).
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