Two clubs that traveled a long way to play for a league title won their respective honors in National Premier Soccer League and Premier Development League championship matches on Sunday.
[ MORE: Man City wins Community Shield ]
The host venues were a two-hour drive apart, but PDL champion Calgary Foothills FC and NPSL victors Miami FC are based more than 3,000 miles apart.
FC Motown’s impressive first season in the NPSL was not enough for a championship, as ex-NASL side Miami FC headed up north and made Paul Dalglish in unusual company: A manager whose won league titles in both the PDL and NPSL.
[ MORE: 2018-19 Premier League previews ]
Dalglish told ProSoccerTalk before the game that he wanted this one bad, and his men went out and worked hosts FC Motown to the tune of 3-1.
Dylan Mares was named Man of the Match, scoring Miami’s second goal with a terrific free kick. Also scoring were Jeff Michaud and Jonny Steele, who bagged this beauty.
Now THAT’S how you lock up the NPSL title ☄️
— COPA90 US (@Copa90US) August 5, 2018
Congrats to 2018 champions, @TheMiamiFC 2! 🙌
[🎥: @NPSLSoccer] #VamosMiami pic.twitter.com/5QXGkBKZcn
Meanwhile, Calgary Foothills FC paved their coach’s path to the Canadian Premier League with gold during and after a terrific extra time win over Reading United in Pennsylvania on Saturday in the PDL final.
Ali Musse scored twice, the second in extra time, and Dominick Zator equalized with five minutes to play as Calgary won 4-2. Nico Pasquotti also scored for Foothills.
Aaron Molloy and Kieran Roberts scored Reading’s goals, the former buttressing his reputation as the league’s top prospect with a free kick goal.
Congratulations to @FoothillsFCU23 on winning the first PDL Championship in club history!
— USL League Two (@USLLeagueTwo) August 5, 2018
Watch the full highlights ⬇️ and read the recap ➡️ https://t.co/XqKlioYFca#Path2Pro | #PDLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/5KXdsDGNZG