USSF D-II: Miami coach Pastora fired

Posted Jul 19, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 19, 2010 at 12:35 PM

After a winless streak that reached six games on Saturday, and only two wins in 17 games this season, Miami fired manager Victor Pastora on Sunday afternoon.

“This was not easy, because Victor is a friend,” Miami FC Director of Soccer Fernando Clavijo told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. “We never felt he was losing the team, but the results were not there. It’s about results and we haven’t been getting them.”

Pastora will be replaced by Daryl Shore, who was an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire from 2000-09 including under current U.S. Men’s National team coach Bob Bradley. He inherits a side that has a 2-6-9 record, and is five points out of the playoffs in 11th place in the USSF Division II. Miami FC has not made the playoffs in the past three seasons, but Shore was optimistic the team could find a way to get into the playoff hunt.

“I don’t think we’re that far off from turning things around,” Shore told the Sun-Sentinel on Sunday. “The fact that they tied nine games showed that they’re very competitive and close to winning these games.”

Pastora is the second manager to be sacked this season, following Claude Anelka who lasted just 10 games as coach of AC St. Louis. Miami travels this weekend to face the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies, the first of four straight road games for the side.

SUNDAY’S RESULT

BALTIMORE 2, MONTREAL 1: Crystal Palace Baltimore rallied for victory, and got itself back in contention for the playoffs as goals by Gary Brooks and Andrew Marshall gave the Eagles victory at the Stade Saputo.

Looking for a second straight win, Montreal took the lead in the third minute as Leonardo Di Lorenzo blasted home a shot. Brooks tied the game just before halftime for the Eagles on a strike from 25 yards out. Marshall then gave his side the lead in the 65th minute, deflecting a shot by Andrew Pejic into the net.

That would prove to be enough for Baltimore, which had goalkeeper Evan Bush make eight saves as the Impact outshot the Eagles 16-11.