Belated congratulations to the Premier Development League champion Ventura County Fusion, who beat the Chicago Fire Premier 2-1 on Alfonso Motagalvan's scrappy, late goal on Aug. 8 to win its first North American title.

I wouldn't have missed it for anything but my wedding.

Star teammate Rhiannon Potkey covered the final fantastically, as this preview, this game story and this wrapup featuring Fusion midfielder Bedel Guei attest.

Fusion coach Graham Smith on the Fusion's shockingly comprehensive 6-1 win over the Bradenton Academics Saturday night in Laredo, Tex.

"I want them to enjoy the occasion because they deserve it," said Smith of his players. "Their attitude has been exemplary.

"It's been one of quiet confidence. I didn't see any frightened eyes out there. When that happens, you get a good feeling.

"They've come together as a group and we're extremely proud of them, regardless of what happens next."

Team news: Less than 20 minutes before kickoff. The players are on the field warming up. The Fusion are wearing its home blue shirts. "The atmosphere is great and the guys are fired up," texts team translator Greg Asatourian from Laredo, Tex.

Fusion starting lineup: Bryan Hill, Dylan Riley, Dillon Barna, Ivan Becerra, Armondo Guerrero, Bryan Byrne, Manny Guzman, Alfonso Motagalvan, Danny Barrera, Rodrigo Lopez, Anthony Hamilton.
Game-time conditions: 104 degrees, hot, humid and windy.
Kickoff
1st minute -- Hamilton floats in a good cross to start, but no one is there to attack it. Bradenton earns a corner on the count.
2nd minute -- Hill makes a huge save on the free kick, knocking it high and over. The corner is delt with by Byrne.
3rd minute -- Guzman plays it forward to Barrera, who is fouled and earns a free kick 25 yards out. Barrera takes the set piece and the goalkeeper palms it over for a corner.
4th minute -- Lopez nearly finds Becerra with the corner, but Bradenton attacker Stephen Morris gets forward past a few Fusion players. He breaks free 1 on 1 with Hill and just misses wide.
6th minute -- Barna heads away a Bradenton corner kick with ease.
7th minute -- Lopez gets back to handle a Bradenton corner and fouls midfielder Jose Roberto Ramos. But the free kick is turned over needlessly. Hamilton threatens on the counter attack but Motagalvan finishes over the bar.
8th minute -- Morris misses wide with a good chance on a Bradenton counter.
Asatourian adds "So far it has been a great up and down fast paced game.

9th minute -- Lopez finds Motagalvan who finds Byrne, whose cross is deflected over by Bradenton defender Guilherme Reis.
Asatourian adds "Morris looks dangerous and Bradenton is maintaining good possession."
13th minute -- Riley and Hamilton nearly pull off a give and go, but the shot is dragged wide.
Asatourian adds "Bradenton is having trouble containing Byrne."
14th minute -- Hamilton is played through by the shot is saved.
18th minute -- The Fusion has a penalty shout as Becerra may have been fouled in the box, but the ref doesn't give it. Lopez found Becerra with a great give and go and Ivan beat his defender.
20th minute -- A second Fusion shout comes to nothing as a potential Bradenton back pass is handled by the keeper, but it is missed by the referees.
Ranbir Shergill adds "should have had two penalties."
Asatourian adds "Everyone on our bench has been warned for protesting. Two stone cold penalties not awarded. Both teams are attacking furiously."
23rd minute -- Byrne drags a shot wide.
24th minute -- Lopez's cross to Riley creates a great chance by the free header from 6 yards goes just wide.
27th minute -- The Fusion bench explodes after Riley is given a yellow card after a disputed foul.
33rd minute -- Hamilton explodes down the wing, but the cross goes high. Byrne follows with a strong shot that is blocked down by a Bradenton defender.
36th minute -- Bradenton 1, Fusion 0: Bradenton scrambles home the opening goal off a ball that Hill couldn't catch.
38th minute -- Fusion 1, Bradenton 1: The Fusion immediatley equalize. Lopez explodes into the penalty area with a great dribble and finishes with a low shot.
40th minute -- Fusion 2, Bradenton 1: Lopez's cross is deflected and Becerra arrives to head the ball past the Bradenton keeper for a fantastic Fusion response.
Asatourian adds "This has been an amazing fast paced game full of chances with the Fusion having the most possession.."
43rd minute -- Bradenton earns a free kick but Cameron Hepple's free kick is driven wide.
44th minute -- Lopez's corner kick is driven in but Becerra's header is deflected.
45th minute -- Fusion 3, Bradenton 1: Barrera nods down into the box for Hamilton, who spins in the and finishes expertly for a mammoth two-goal halftime lead.

Halftime
46th minute -- The second half has kicked off without a substitution.
49th minute -- Bradenton forward Ederson Lopes gets into a good position, but Lopez wins it back for the Fusion and finds a streaking Guerrero. But the move comes to nothing.
51st minute -- Fusion 4, Bradenton 1: The Fusion have one foot in the final now. Barrera, the Westlake High product, takes the ball off a Bradenton defender, walks into the penalty area calmly and sends a curving shot home for a three-goal Fusion lead.
54th minute -- Fusion 5, Bradenton 1: The Fusion score its fifth unanswered goal. Bradenton was pushing forward looking to create some chances and the Hamilton punished it on the counter attack. Barrera picks up the assist.
55th minute -- Barrera, who has had a goal and an assist in the second half, yields for Agoura High graduate Sam Myerson. Barrera would have been suspended for the final with a yellow card.
59th minute -- Hagop Chirishian on for an injured Manny Guzman, right before Hill makes a great save. Bradenton wastes the resulting corner.
69th minute -- Ramos dribbles through the Fusion defense and slips a pass to Lopes to fire high.
74th minute -- Adam Smarte, who didn't start because of an elbow injury, comes on to replace Motagalvan.
75th minute -- Chirishian sets up a chance for Myerson, but the save is made.
77th minute -- Arthur Aghasyan comes on for Hamilton.
80th minute -- Avesyan is getting ready to replace Byrne.
NEWS UPDATE -- The PDL just cleared Ranbir Shergill to announce that, if the result stands, the Fusion will host the PDL final next Saturday night at Buena High.
90th minute - Fusion 6, Bradenton 1: Aghasyan makes it six with a header from Lopez in the final minute.

The score is final. The Fusion will host either the Chicago Fire or Cary Clarets Aug. 8 at Buena High for the PDL national title.

Last I heard, Chicago led Cary, 2-1.

Burnley F.C. of the English Premier League must be pretty pleased this morning, as the two Premier Development League teams with which it has worked have moved on to the PDL Final Four.

The Cary Clarets, who took Burnley's nickname after striking a partnership with the Lancashire club, clipped the host Des Moines Menace Friday night. That result came while the Ventura County Fusion, who served host to Burnley this month and may partner with the club in the future, were in the process of beating the Kitsap Pumas.

Both teams play today for the right to play next week in the PDL final.

Here's my story on the Ventura County Fusion's 2-1 win over the Kitsap Pumas in the Western Conference final Friday in Laredo, Tex.

Apparently the Kitsap Pumas were unhappy with the officiating after the 2-1 loss to the Ventura County Fusion Friday evening in Laredo, Tex.

"(Defender Jesse Wheelock) barely touched him, (Lopez) does this flop and the referee calls a foul. It was not a foul," said Kitsap defender Kyle Johnson.

Several Fusion players had a different perspective earlier in the day.

"I hit a corner kick, which a defender cleared out by the sideline," said Fusion midfielder Rodrigo Lopez. "I got it back, took on a player and he fouled me.

"The guy (Wheelock) dove in and fouled him," said Fusion midfielder Danny Barrera. "It was clearly a foul."

The Bradenton Academics scored twice in the final five minutes of extra time to knock out the host Laredo Heat, 3-1, and win the Southern Conference title.

Bradenton will meet the Ventura County Fusion in the PDL Final Four Saturday at 6:15 p.m. PT in Laredo.

The winner will play in the PDL final Aug. 8 at a site to be determined.

At Laredo, Tex.
Ventura County Fusion 2, Kitsap Pumas 1
Bradenton Academics 3, Laredo Heat 1 (ET)

At Des Moines, Iowa
Chicago Fire Premier 3, Ocean City Barons 0
Cary Clarets 1, Des Moines Menace 0

Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill on the Fusion's 2-1 win in the Western Conference title game Friday in Laredo, Tex.

"Two trophies on the mantelpiece. All that's left is the big one now."

Fusion coach Graham Smith of the Fusion's postseason run:

"It's infectious. All the lads have contributed in brutal conditions.

"You should be very proud of the Western Conference champions."

Rodrigo Lopez's free kick in second half stoppage time pushed the Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team to the Premier Development League Final Four with a 2-1 win over the Kitsap Pumas Friday night in Laredo, Tex.

The Fusion is the Western Conference champion. It will face either the host Laredo Heat or the Bradenton Academics in the PDL semifinals Saturday.

Midfielder Rodrigo Lopez begins his first Premier Development League game of the season on the bench as the Fusion open the Western Conference final. Updates from Greg Asatourian in Laredo, Tex.

4th minute -- Early on, the Fusion look strong with a lot of better touches. Kitsap seems more physical. They have struggled early to maintain possession.
8th minute -- Kitsap puts a strong shot just over the Fusion goal. Becerra sends a shot wide from long range.
11th minute -- Kitsap sends another chance over the net.
14th minute -- Smarte sends a strong shot over the net.
17th minute -- Kitsap sends a free kick high.
23rd minute -- Kitsap midfield Kyle Johnson rattles the Fusion crossbar from 30 yards.
26th minute -- Fusion 1, Kitsap 0: Anthony Hamilton dribbled into the Kitsap half and sends a 30-yard drive crashing into the Pumas net! It's the second goal in three postseason games for the former Chivas USA player. Hamilton leads the team with nine goals on the season.
38th minute -- Fusion substition: Hakop Avesyan on for Bryan Byrne.
45th+1 minute -- Fusion 1, Kitsap 1: Kitsap equalize in first half stoppage time. Defender Matt Lipset got forward on a long throw in and headed home his second goal of the season.
45th+2 minute -- Fusion substitution: Fusion defensive midfielder Manny Guzman limps off and is replace by creative midfielder Rodrigo Lopez, who had three goals and four assists in 12 matches for the Fusion in 2008. It is the former Santa Barbara High star's season debut.

Halftime

46th minute -- Avesyan ends a nice run with a ball through the Kitsap penalty area.
51st minute -- Kitsap defender Stephen Mohn is cautioned for delay of game.
64th minute -- The Laredo Heat twitter feed says both teams look exhausted.
70th minute -- Fusion have had the better of the possession in the second half, behind the substitute combination of Avesyan and Lopez, but have yet to find the break through.
77th minute -- Fusion coach Graham Smith ready to make a few aggressive changes. Artur Aghasayan comes on for the goalscorer, Hamilton, and Hagop Chrisian is also warming up. Sam Myerson, the Agoura High striker who scored the game-winner against Hollywood, is also on.
80th minute -- Lopez and Avesyan set up a chance for Myerson, but the final ball is too strong.
81st minute -- Aghasayan has a 1 on 1 with the Kitsap keeper but the ball is deflected wide. Aghasayan also blasts high from the corner kick.
90th+1 minute -- Fusion 2, Kitsap 1: Lopez shows by the Fusion wanted him so bad, even this late in the season, by smashing in a free kick to score the potential game-winning goal in second half injury time.
90th+4 minute -- Fusion win 2-1 to go through to the PDL Final Four!

The Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team are set to kick off the Western Conference final against the Kitsap Pumas in Laredo, Tex.

The Fusion starting lineup is Bryan Hill, Dillon Barna, Ivan Becerra, Manny Guzman, Adam Smarte, Dylan Riley, Bedel Guei, Alfonso Motagalvan, Bryan Byrne, Danny Barrera, and Anthony Hamilton.

Highlights from the Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team's 5-0 international friendly loss to Burnley F.C. of the English Premier League on July 21.

Here's one letter of the editor we received over the weekend after quite a week in Ventura County Fusion history.

Way to go Fusion!

What a week to be a soccer fan in Ventura County! In the last week our very own Ventura County Fusion hosted a game with a team from the British Premier League, and won two playoff games against teams from Los Angeles to win our division. They now have a chance to play in the regional finals in Texas on August 1st. My family and I appreciate the sponsors, coaches and players for bringing quality soccer to our town. I would also like to thank the Ventura County Star for covering these exciting professional-quality games. I encourage more families to join us in supporting our team and sponsors next season! Thank you Fusion and good luck in Texas!!

Mark Urwick
Ventura, CA

Here's the press release on this weekend's Premier Development League quarterfinals.

Here's the matchups:

Laredo, Tex. regional
Western Conference final: Ventura County Fusion vs. Kitsap Pumas, 3:30 p.m. PT.
Southern Conference final: Bradenton Academics at Laredo Heat, 6:30 p.m. PT.

Des Moines, Iowa regional
Eastern Conference final: Ocean City Barons vs. Chicago Fire, 3 p.m. PT.
Central Conference final: Cary Clarets at Des Moines Menace, 6 p.m. PT.

Here's my story from the Ventura County Fusion's dramatic 3-1 extra time win over the Hollywood United Hitmen in the Southwestern Division final Saturday afternoon in Pacific Palisades.

Hollywood United's quality press man, Jonathan Broxton, wrote this account for the HUFC website.

After beating the Hollywood United Hitmen 3-1 after extra time at Palisades High Saturday afternoon, the Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team is bound for Lareda, Tex., Kitsap, Wash., or Bradenton, Fla., depending on the results of tonight division championship games around the country.

The Western Conference final against either Kitsap or Seattle will take place this weekend, at the regional site to be determined.

Team news: Fusion manager Graham Smith names an unchanged team from the divisional semifinal win over Los Angeles, besides an injury to Hagop Chirisian. Brennan Tennelle takes his place.Westlake High product Danny Barrera starts his second straight playoff game for the Fusion. Hollywood is without his older brother, former Fusion midfielder Diego Barrera, who has moved on to play in Croatia. The Hitmen are also without Los Angeles Galaxy loanees Tristan Bowen and Kyle Patterson.

Fusion lineup: Bryan Hill, Dylan Riley, Dillon Barna, Brenna Tennelle, Adam Smarte, Manny Guzman, Bedel Guei, Alfonso Motaglavan, Danny Barrera, Bryan Byrne, Anthony Hamilton.
Hitmen lilneup: Jose Miranda,Earl Alexander, Carlos Morales, Willie Sims, Rene Corona, Peter Hazdovac, Jaime Chaves, Jose Munoz, Amir Shafi, Nick Kohlschreiber, Nick Blanco.

4th minute -- An early Hollywood corner is cleared out by Bedel Guei.
6th minute -- Ball forward for Byrne along the right wing becomes a goalkick after the Irishman drills it far and wide.
10th minute -- Tenelle jockeys Hollywood striker Jaime Chaves off the ball in the Fusion penalty area.
12nd minute -- Rene Corona drives a low 35-yard to the left of Bryan Hill's goal.
17th minute -- The Fusion scramble away a Hollywood chance.
20th minute -- Byrne heads away a Hollywood cross.
21st minute -- Hill makes a strong save from a low Hollywood shot from close range.
25th minute -- Fusion goal disallowed: Danny Barrera's attacking free kick is is headed home by Dillon Barna. By the goal is shockingly disallowed by the referee's assistant. The Hollywood United PA announcer, perhaps even more shockingly, announced that "it looked like a fair goal from up here."
26th minute -- Hollywood United 1, Fusion 0: The Hitmen hit right back. Earl Alexander's corner kick is headed home from close range by Peter Hazdovac.
29th minute -- The Hitmen defense charge down a couple of Fusion changes and Jose Miranda makes a big save on Guei.
32nd minute -- Alexander's corner kick flies dangerously through the 6-yard box without a Hitmen head to direct it home.
34th minute -- Hill beats Chaves to a loose ball forward and then Willie Sims rattles the crossbar from 30 yards. Close shave.
36th minute -- Fusion 1, Hollywood United 1: Danny Barrera's corner kick is headed around the Hitmen area by five Fusion players until Byrne nods it home from 6 yards.
39th minute -- Byrne runs down the right side and cuts inside, but the Hitmen charge down his 12-yard shot.
44th minute -- From a free kick 40 yards out, Corona test Hill by going for goal with a winding free kick. Hill taps the chance over and the resulting corner amounts to nothing.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time
45+1-th minute -- Byrne's low cross from the corner finds an onrushing Motagalvan in the Hollywood area but the finish goes over. What a chance for the Fusion to take a lead into halftime.

Halftime
46th minute: Armando Ochoa on for Kohlschreiber up front for the Hitmen.
53rd minute -- Barrera puts a free kick into a dangerous spot, but Hamilton is whistled for a hand ball.
57th minute -- Chaves muscles Barna off the ball and flashes a chance across the face of goal.
58th minute -- Hollywood's Federico Bianci on for Alexander.
59th minute -- Sims, the former New England Revolution player, lets the ball run and dummies his player. His cross from the byline bounces twice on the Fusion crossbar.
65th minute -- The Fusion waste an attacking free kick.
66th minute -- Fusion sub: Ivan Becerra comes on for Manny Guzman, who looks to have sustained a lower body injury.
68th minute -- Hamilton breaks but without any support.
69th minute -- Hollywood's Estuardo Sanchez comes on for Sanchez
69th minute -- Motagalvan's backheel nearly opens up the Hollywood defense.
70th minute -- Dylan Riley makes a huge tackle on a Hollywood break, to get back to tackle Willie Sims.
75th minute -- Rene Corona twice saves Hollywood from conceding, heading away a goal-bound shot by Barrera.
78th minute -- Becerra's amazing crunching tackle sets the Fusion forward. Sims keeps Becerra from scoring
79th minute -- Ferguson Agwu on for an injured Ochoa.
80th minute -- Bedel Guei breaks up a good Hollywood chance.
81st minute -- Agwu rattles Hill's crossbar from an angle.
82nd minute -- Fusion sub: Hakop Avessian on for Tennelle.
84th minute -- Fusion sub: The Fusion goalscorer, Byrne, comes off for Agoura High product Sam Myerson.
85th minute -- Blanco's work down the right hand side carves out a huge chance for Jose Munoz, who sprays just wide incredibly!
86th minute -- Smarte and Avessian open up a chance for Motagalvan, who skys a chance from the angle.
89th minute -- Fusion sub: Artur Aghasayan on for Hamilton. Not many teams have the ability to break their regular season co-leading goalscorer on fresh for extra time.
91st minute -- Eric Robert on for Hollywood defender Carlos Morales.
92nd minute -- Myerson nearly sends Aghasyan through on goal.

Tied 1-1... on to extra time.... two 15 minute extra periods to come
92nd minute -- What a double save by Hollywood's Jose Miranda, who stops a nice low shot from Aghasayan and then denies Myerson's point blank rebound effort.
95th minute -- A touchline dustup results in a Barrera yellow card after the PA announcer says "Danny Barrera gets away again."
96th minute -- Sanchez's header sets Sims free but the former Revolution attacker slashes the half volley wide.
97th minute -- Ryan Hernandez coming on for Blanco.
99th minute -- Hitmen turn it over after a spell of sustained possession.
100th minute -- Munoz struggling with an injury and the Hitmen have already used all six substitutions.
101st minute -- Hollywood earns a free kick and wasted it, touching meekly to Hill's right.
104th minute -- Aghasayan earns a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. Motagalvan wastes it over the crossbar. Huge chance missed for the Fusion.
105th minute -- Fusion 2, Hollywood United 1: Is Sam Myerson is the hero? The 18-year-old from Agoura High cuts inside left and drives the ball through Jose Mirada.

End of the first period of extra time.

106th minute -- Fusion subs: Sam Nicholson on for the Fusion, and another defender, Armondo Guerrero, appears set to come on as the final Fusion sub. Barrera is one Fusion player who has been taken off.
110th minute -- Sims hacked down from behind by Becerra. Hollywood free kick in a dangerous area 22 yards out.
113th minutes -- Hills comes to collect a Hollywood cross.
115th minute -- Fusion corner kick is punched away.
117th minute -- Fusion 3, Hollywood United 1: Myerson is the hero! Another goal for the Agoura High product, who cuts inside to drill another shot through Miranda.

Final: Fusion 3, Hitmen 1

The Fusion move on to the Western Conference finals against either Kitsap or Seattle.

The Ventura County Fusion starting lineup for the Southwest Division division final against the Hollywood United Hitmen.

Hill, Riley, Barna, Tennelle, Smarte, Guzman, Guei, Motaglavan, Barrera, Byrne, Hamilton.