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FC Edmonton

Eddies Open Road Trip with First Clean Sheet and Away Point of Season

May 29, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


EDMONTON, AB (May 29, 2015) - FC Edmonton (2W-3D-3L) and Ottawa (2W-3D-3L) met for the first time in North American Soccer League (NASL) competition, May 29 at TD Place in Ottawa, playing to a 0-0 draw. The Eddies first clean sheet of the match also earned them their first point on the road in the regular season.

The Eddies were unable to muster a goal through ninety minutes of play despite a pair of first half opportunities from Edmonton leading scorer Ritchie Jones as well as an in-close chance for attacking midfielder Daryl Fordyce.

Twenty-five fouls contributed to a chippy match between the two sides, with chances far and few between. Jones registering the closest opportunity for either side to score from inside the six-yard-box in the third minute. The midfielder was unable to get proper contact with his foot to open the scoring in the match.

Twenty-five fouls contributed to a chippy match between the two sides, with chances far and few between. Jones registering the closest opportunity for either side to score from inside the six-yard-box in the third. The midfielder was unable to get proper contact with his foot to open the scoring in the match.

Brandon Poltronieri was the most dangerous looking player for Ottawa through the opening 45, when his shot from inside the box sailed well high on 39 minutes. Both teams would enter the break tied 0-0.

Ottawa came out pressing to open the second half, with Smits making the save-of-the game off of Ottawa's Carl Haworth in the 53rd minute, when the forward's strike sent Smits diving to his left to get a hand on the ball and push it wide of the net. A second strike from Haworth on 79 minutes was also denied by the Edmonton 'keeper.

Edmonton's best opportunity in the second half came off the head of captain Albert Watson, who redirected a Lance Laing free kick inside the box on 66 minutes. The ball would go just wide left of the Ottawa net.

"I have to be pleased with point on road and the clean sheet," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller explained following the match. "The guys looked very tired there tonight...which is to be expected given the amount of football we've had. I'm very proud of them, they showed a lot of character. We've got to make sure we don't lose sight that tonight is a positive."

FC Edmonton faces Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second match of their three-game road trip, June 6 at Al Lang Stadium at 5:30 p.m. MT. The game will be streamed live on TSN GO in Canada. For more information, please visit www.fcedmonton.com. For tickets to the Eddies' Fall Season, call 780.700.2600.

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