Click here to search my site. Apparently, my words alone were not enough to stop Rochester and Minnesota from battling it out for the third straight year in the A-League Championship. Our Canadian friends will probably appreciate that I will not call the game, as the USL does, the A-League National Championship, as Canada is not yet the 51st state. However, despite having a second sequel to 1998's season finale, the league is trying to make it more exciting by promoting the event beyond the two cities who would obviously take the most interest.
Marketing is a long-term strategy.
Unlike many people, I will not make a prediction as to who will win the game. Instead I predict that it will be a close and exciting game, worthy of a championship, and I offer my humble view of the strengths of weaknesses of each team. As everyone said all year, on paper this team is hands down the best in the league, but coach Pat Ercoli had to play a juggling match with National Team players and large egos. It's taken some time, but the team has jelled, and found the best time to peak - just before playoffs, and it shows. The defense is solid, allowing 42 goals in for the season, and with Onadi Lowe and Dan Stebbins up front, it should be enough to scare the heck out of any defense.