By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com
USL Conference leaders Austin Aztex are the first USSF D-2 Pro League club to go past the 40-point mark following the latest round of action.
In what was a subdued week of play in North America's second division, Miami FC got back to winning ways, while Montreal Impact continue to struggle for consistency, the Quebec club face a battle to claim a playoff spot.
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The action started on Wednesday night, with Miami FC snapping an eight-match winless streak with a
1-0 victory
at NASL Conference rivals Crystal Palace Baltimore. Brian Shriver scored the winner for the Blues at the Maryland SoccerPlex. In Upstate New York, Rochester Rhinos claimed a second-straight win after a
1-0 home victory
over Portland Timbers. Former Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Kenold Versailles scored Rochester's winner in the first half at Marina Auto Stadium.
The lone game on Friday saw Whitecaps FC and NASL Conference rivals Athletic Club of St. Louis draw 0-0 at the Anheuser-Busch Center in Fenton, Missouri.
There were three games on Saturday, with Carolina RailHawks closing the gap on NASL Conference leaders Vancouver with an important
2-0 win
over Montreal. Goals by Josh Gardner and substitute Cory Elenio pulled the North Carolina-based outfit to within seven points of the Whitecaps, with four games in hand. Defeat for the Impact leaves them winless in their last three matches, with last year's United Soccer Leagues First Division champions currently on the outside looking in terms of the USSF D-2 playoff spots.
In the Caribbean, Puerto Rico Islanders followed on from securing their spot in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage by
drawing 1-1
at home to Miami FC. Jonathan Fana scored for Islanders, while Abe Thompson struck for the Blues at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.
Finally, in Texas, Austin made it three home wins from three with a
4-2 victory
over FC Tampa Bay Rowdies. Two goals by Jay Needham led the Aztex to another three points, with Lance Watson and Maxwell Griffin also getting on the scoresheet at House Park. Former Whitecaps midfielder Ricardo Sanchez scored from the penalty spot and assisted on Long Tan's first-half strike in a losing effort for the Rowdies. Austin are now undefeated in seven games, while Tampa Bay have only registered one win in their last 11 league contests.