NASL FC Edmonton

Eddies Close out Scotland Preseason Trip with 1-0 Win over Queen's Park FC

Published on March 22, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


GLASGOW, SCT - FC Edmonton (3-1-0) closed out their 2016 Scotland preseason trip with a 1-0 win over Scottish Professional Football League's (SPFL) Queen's Park FC. The Eddies scored a late second half winner, Mar. 22 at Lesser Hampden to register a sweep against all three SPFL clubs faced on the two-week trip abroad.

Eddies forward Tomi Ameobi scored the lone goal of the match in the 80th minute, while goalkeepers Matt VanOekel and Nathan Ingham split duties in the clean sheet victory. Queen's Park FC goalkeeper Andy Murphy came up big for his club on several occasions to keep the match scoreless leading up to the Eddies tally.

It was a chippy first half of play between the two sides, as the Eddies looked to get their legs under them as they participated in their fourth match in just over a week. The visitors began to gain possession as the first half wore on, moving into the attacking third of play where they were able to generate three consecutive corner kick opportunities. A pair of free kicks from just outside the box followed, with header attempts going just wide of goal.

Queen's Park received their first corner kick on 30 minutes, developing into a precarious situation to the right of VanOekel's net. The veteran 'keeper was quick to smother the ball, ending any further complications for his side. It was the first of two big plays in the first half for VanOekel, who came off his line to successfully stifle a crossing attempt just a few minutes later.

The two teams would head into the half scoreless.

Eddie Jason Plumhoff opened the second half of play with a golden opportunity to give his side a 1-0 advantage, breaking in close on 'keeper Murphy who made a diving save to prevent a sure goal. Five minutes later, Murphy was once again up to the task, shutting down a tic-tac-toe play from the combination of Sadi Jalali, Cristian Raudales and Tomi Ameobi.

After watching his second attempt of the match get cleared off the line ten minutes prior, Ameobi converted in the 80th to put the Eddies up 1-0. A long ball from defender Pape Diakite landed at the Newcastle native's feet, where he outmuscled his defender before sending a half volley to the back of the net.

"It was nice to finish with a victory tonight," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller stated. "I thought our players deserved it. They worked very hard against a good Queen's Park team. They made us work very hard tonight, they sat back a bit deeper and posed a different headache for us with the way they played."

The Eddies would wind down the remaining ten minutes of play to collect the third win of their preseason, leaving Scotland undefeated after wins over Partick Thistle FC, Airdrieonians FC and a draw versus Newcastle United FC U-21.

Following their trip to Scotland, the Eddies return to Edmonton for just over a week, before opening up their North American Soccer League (NASL) season on April 2 versus Rayo OKC. The team faces Minnesota United FC, April 10 in their Canadian Tire Home Opener, 2:00 p.m. MT at Clarke Field. For tickets and more information, please call 780.700.2600, visit www.fcedmonton.com.

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North American Soccer League Stories from March 22, 2016


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