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FC Edmonton

Eddies Kick off 2014 with a Draw

April 12, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


ST PETERSBURG - FC Edmonton kicked off its first game of the 2014 North American Soccer League season in St Petersburg, Florida against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday evening to a familiar 1-1 draw.

With chances in the 10th, 18th and 30th minute of the game for the Eddies from a long distance Ritchie Jones shot, a header from Daryl Fordyce, and a 2-v-1 situation on Rowdies 'keeper Matt Pickens from Milton Blanco and Horace James, the Eddies were unable to find the back of the net early on.

It was the home side to score first in the 32nd minute. Off a free kick, midfielder Darel Russell was the last Rowdies player to take a touch on the ball before it was touched into the Eddies net by an FC Edmonton defender. 1-0 Rowdies.

"We started the half well," said FCE head coach Colin Miller after the halftime whistle. "But as the half went on, we panicked a little. We will need to calm the guys down and play a bit more football."

It did not take long after the restart for the Eddies to find that calm. Midfielder Neil Hlavaty found the back of the net early on, but the goal was disallowed. FC Edmonton were also awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute when striker Frank Jonke and Pickens collided over the ball. FC Edmonton's 2013 leading goal scorer Daryl Fordyce stepped up to the spot to take the kick but Pickens did well to guess the direction and make the save to keep the home side in the lead.

The Eddies were able to bounce back late in the second half thanks to second half substitute Tomi Ameobi. A long ball across the box from Jones found Ameobi at the far post who made no mistake finding his way passed Pickens in the 88th minute to bring the game level and earn the Eddies a 1-1 draw.

"The players were magnificent this half," said Miller after the match. "The absolute minimum we deserved this game was a draw and I'm so proud of the players and the character that they displayed this evening."

FC Edmonton now travel back to Edmonton to prepare for the 2014 Canadian Tire Home Opener against the New York Cosmos on Saturday, April 19 (7:00 p.m. MT KO).

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