RECAP | Eddies 2, United 2
FC Edmonton’s match against Minnesota United FC presented by Flaman Fitness ended in a 2-2 draw on Sunday, May 3. Minnesota’s midfielders Miguel Ibarra and Jamie Watson scored for the visiting team while Eddies’ Tomi Ameobi and Lance Laing posted goals for the home side in front of 2,986 fans at Clarke Field in the North American Soccer League (NASL) match.
FC Edmonton once again let their concentration lapse early, as the visiting team was able to get on the scoreboard in the second minute off the foot of Miguel Ibarra. Ibarra pounced on a rebound before sending in a right-footed strike past goalkeeper Matt VanOekel for the early 1-0 lead.
FC Edmonton came close to equalizing in the 16th minute. Laing whipped in a beautiful cross from the left wing that Daryl Fordyce met in the air with a header, but Minnesota’s Mitch Hildebrandt came up with a save to preserve their one-goal lead.
The Eddies carried their first-half momentum into the second, when they earned a free kick from 22 yards out in the 51st minute. Laing stepped up and curled a shot into the top right-hand corner of the net to level the game at 1-1.
The Eddies took the lead in the 71st minute when midfielder Cristian Raudales picked out Laing with a beautiful through ball. Laing beat his defender and sent the ball to the back post where Ameobi came sliding in to score to make it 2-1.
Minnesota earned a late penalty kick after second-half substitute Michael Nonni brought down his player inside the box. Jamie Watson kept his composure from the spot and tucked the ball into the bottom left corner to level the game at 2-2. FC Edmonton’s Daryl Fordyce was sent off with a straight red card for dissent after the penalty call.
“It was an excellent performance from start to finish against the best team in the league last season,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. “There are so many positives it’s just really disappointing to drop two points today. I thought Matt [VanOekel] had his best performance of the season today.”
