PREVIEW | Eddies vs. RailHawks

Following a 3-1 season-opening debut in Jacksonville, FL., FC Edmonton returns home for the Canadian Tire Home Opener against the Carolina RailHawks, Sunday, April 12, 4:00 p.m. ET at Clarke Field. The Eddies will try to secure their first victory of the 2015 North American Soccer League (NASL) season.

Last week’s season opener did not go the way head coach Colin Miller and his squad had planned, with Jacksonville’s Jemal Johnson scoring in the first 12 seconds of play, an NASL Modern Era record for fastest goal. After surrendering two late goals in the opening half, Edmonton rebounded with a strong second half of play, where Manchester United product Ritchie Jones collected his first goal of the season for the Eddies in a losing effort.

Edmonton will want to combine Saturday’s positive second half with Clarke Field’s unwelcoming atmosphere against the RailHawks, as they're seeking to collect their first three points of the year on home turf.

“I’m looking for a real positive reaction from the disappointment of the first-half performance last week,” Miller explained. “Being at home, in front of the home fans, I’m looking forward to some of the guys having real life about them, some real enthusiasm for putting on a good show.”

Coming off a 3-1 victory over Ottawa Fury FC on April 4, Carolina will be in search of another three points to start off their 2015 campaign. Nacho Novo collected his first goal of the season against Fury FC and will be one of several players to watch on the visiting RailHawks.

“Carolina has a number of good players,” Miller added. “They’ve got quality, which every team in the league has. We won’t approach this any differently than any other team. We’re here at home, we’ve got to be on the front foot, and we’ve got to go for the jugular here.”  

The match will be broadcast locally on City TV for Edmonton fans as well as ESPN3 for fans in the United States.