FC Edmonton Blanks RailHawks To Round Out Fall Season Week 14 Results
FC Edmonton desperately needed three points to even keep themselves in the conversation for one of the remaining spots in The Championship, the North American Soccer League’s (NASL) four-team postseason tournament. The Canadian side got exactly what it needed on Sunday afternoon, topping the visiting Carolina RailHawks, 3-0, at Clarke Stadium.
With the win, the Eddies now only trail the RailHawks by two points and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers by four points. With three games to play, FC Edmonton still has a chance to catch the Strikers, who currently occupy that final spot in The Championship.
In other Week 14 action, Indy Eleven earned its long-awaited first home victory, the San Antonio Scorpions found the net seven times against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the New York Cosmos scored a game-winner in stoppage time, and the Strikers stumbled to a disappointing draw against struggling Atlanta.
FC Edmonton 3, Carolina RailHawks 0
It didn’t take FC Edmonton long to show that they meant business on Sunday afternoon. Defender Mallan Roberts finished from eight yards out inside the opening four minutes, and midfielder Ritchie Jones struck 13 minutes later to give the Eddies a quick 2-0 lead. Forward Tomi Ameobi added to the lead early in the second half, putting home a rebound that followed a shot from midfielder Horace James. The game could have perhaps been very different had RailHawks midfielder Enzo Martinez converted his first-half penalty kick, but the Uruguayan skied it over the crossbar.
Indy Eleven 2, Minnesota United FC 0
With the league’s top two teams, United and the Scorpions, coming to town each of the next two weeks, Indy Eleven fans were beginning to wonder whether they would see their team get its first ever league win at home. The wait is now over after the hosts dropped the Loons, 2-0, thanks to goals from midfielder Victor Pineda and forward Jhulliam on each side of halftime.
“This is a win that has been a long time coming, and perhaps it was a little overdue in coming this late in the year,” said Indy Eleven Head Coach Juergen Sommer. “I thought there were some games we should have won that didn’t go our way, but this win was fully deserved by our guys. I couldn’t be prouder of the way they fought and stuck together and really put together a full 90 minutes.”
San Antonio Scorpions 7, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
The Rowdies headed to San Antonio knowing that three points was a must if they were to stay in the hunt for a spot in The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament. The Scorpions were much too tough on Saturday night, entering the locker room at halftime with a 2-0 leads thanks to goals from midfielders Rafael Castillo and Walter Restrepo.
After Rowdies defender Tamika Mkandawire was sent off for a deliberate handball, Castillo fired home his second from the penalty spot to make it 3-0. Midfielder Cesar Elizondo and forward Eric Hassli each found the net twice more to bring the score to 7-0, which represented the largest margin of victory for any team this year.
“It was obviously a great victory, and I’m really proud of the guys,” said Scorpions Head Coach Alen Marcina. “All week long, we worked on executing that final pass and finishing chances, and fortunately for us we were able to get seven goals tonight.”
New York Cosmos 2, Ottawa Fury FC 1
A stoppage-time winner from midfielder Hagop Chirishian saved the day for the New York Cosmos, who were hosting a surging Ottawa Fury FC side. Forward Diomar Diaz opened the scoring for the Cosmos just before halftime, but forward Tom Heinemann pulled one back for Fury FC in the second half. The game looked destined for a draw until Chirishian found the net just before the final whistle to earn the Cosmos three big points.
“It was a game where we had to fight a lot, and I thought it was very difficult,” said Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese. “Hagop [Chirishian] finding a goal in the last second of the game was tremendous for us. It was a game that was a must-win at home and we got the three points that we needed.”
Atlanta Silverbacks 2, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers headed to Atlanta as one of the league’s hottest teams. Fresh off a 3-2 comeback win over their in-state rivals, the Rowdies, the team looked ready to take care of business against the struggling Atlanta Silverbacks. Strikers forward Aly Hassan had his early tally cancelled out by an impressive strike from Silverbacks midfielder Junior Sandoval. Strikers forward Fafa Picault then scored his third goal of the week to put his team up 2-1, but in the final moments of the game, an own goal from Strikers defender Rafael Alves gave the Silverbacks a last-gasp equalizer.
"I'm not happy with the result, but our players fought until the end,” said Silverbacks Head Coach Alejandro Pombo. “We need to keep working and improving our finishing, and if we do that, then we are going to score more goals."
NASL Fall Season Week 14 Scores
Indy Eleven 2, Minnesota United FC 0
San Antonio Scorpions 7, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
New York Cosmos 2, Ottawa Fury FC 1
Atlanta Silverbacks 2, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2
FC Edmonton 3, Carolina RailHawks 0
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3, Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 (Wed.)
