Melvin Tarley
Encyclopedia
Duncan "Melvin" Tarley is a Liberia
n footballer.
's run to the semi finals of the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
. Tarley scored six goals in the competition - including four against Real Salt Lake
- to tie as the tournament's top goalscorer.
Tarley's first appearance in Major League Soccer came with Real Salt Lake
in 2005. The Colorado Rapids
acquired Tarley’s rights from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft
on August 15, 2006, but he was waived by the Rapids at the end of the 2006 season
having appeared in just three games. He returned to the Minnesota Thunder
of the USL-1
for one season, prior to joining the Puerto Rico Islanders
in 2007, and later moving on to Miami FC
, also in 2007.
Tarley re-joined Minnesota Thunder
in 2008. On March 22, 2010 he signed with NSC Minnesota Stars
.
, while his current favorite player is Thierry Henry
.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n footballer.
Professional
Tarley first came to prominence in 2005, during Minnesota ThunderMinnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
's run to the semi finals of the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-Qualifying round:Teams from USASA and PDL start.-----First round:Teams from USASA, PDL, and USL-2.----...
. Tarley scored six goals in the competition - including four against Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
- to tie as the tournament's top goalscorer.
Tarley's first appearance in Major League Soccer came with Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in 2005. The Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
acquired Tarley’s rights from Real Salt Lake in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft
2007 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft was held on January 18, 2007, following the SuperDraft , as teams fill out their developmental rosters.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-References:*...
on August 15, 2006, but he was waived by the Rapids at the end of the 2006 season
Major League Soccer 2006 season
The 2006 Major League Soccer season was the 11th season in league history. It began on April 1, 2006 and ended with MLS Cup 2006 on November 12, 2006 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas for the second consecutive year in a row.-Changes from 2005 Season:...
having appeared in just three games. He returned to the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
of the USL-1
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
for one season, prior to joining the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in 2007, and later moving on to Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, also in 2007.
Tarley re-joined Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
in 2008. On March 22, 2010 he signed with NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
International
At the time of Tarley's selection for the Liberian U-21 national team in 1998, he was the youngest player in team history, only 14 years old. He played his first game for the senior national team in 2004.Personal
Tarley's football hero during his youth in Liberia was George WeahGeorge Weah
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian humanitarian and politician, and an ex-footballer. He ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2005 election, losing to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the second round of voting...
, while his current favorite player is Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
.