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 The Milwaukee Bavarians will play West Division champion Hollywood United in the National Premier Soccer League national semifinals Thursday night in Madison, Ala. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
The Bavarians (8-2-2), who won their first Midwest Division title, are seeded third among the four teams. Seeding was done based on points per game, with the Northeast Division champion Erie Admirals (11-1-1) claiming the top spot.
Hollywood United (13-2-1), a former USL Premier Development League team in its first NPSL season, is seeded second with a 2.43 average, followed by the Bavarians at 2.17 and Southeast Division winner Jacksonville United (6-4-0) at 1.8.
The Hitmen won the Northwest Conference and outscored opponents by a stunning 54-14 margin in the regular season, with its losses to FC Hasental 2-1 and the Southwest Conference champion San Diego Flash 5-1. Hollywood United also lost to the Flash 3-1, but the San Diego side forfeited that victory due to the use of an ineligible player.
Hollywood United was formed in the late 1980s by several English musicians living in the Los Angeles area, including Paul Cook and Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Billy Duffy and Ian Astbury of The Cult and Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard. Over the years, the club has included actors Anthony LaPaglia and Jason Statham, Premier League player turned actor Vinnie Jones and former internationals such as Frank Leboeuf, Eric Wynalda and Alexi Lalas.
The NPSL team includes several former pro players, most notably former Chivas USA winger Brent Whitfield, in addition to some young players from the Los Angeles area. The Hitmen played in the PDL in 2009 and '10.
Erie, which advanced to the 2009 NPSL final at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, claimed the final spot in the Final Four by beating the Brooklyn Italians 1-0 in the Northeast final Saturday night. Billy Colton converted a penalty kick in the 72nd minute for the Admirals.
NPSL FINAL FOUR
At City High School, Madison, Ala.
Thursday's semifinals
Hollywood United (13-2-1) vs. Milwaukee Bavarians (8-2-2), 5:30 p.m.
Erie Admirals (11-1-1) vs. Jacksonville United (6-4-0), 8 p.m.
Friday's matches
Third place: Semifinal losers, 5:30 p.m.
NPSL All-Stars vs. Rocket City United, 8 p.m.
Saturday's championship
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
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