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NASL FC Edmonton

Eddies Fall 3-1 to Minnesota United FC

October 15, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


Eddies Fall 3-1 to Minnesota United FC
Eddies Fall 3-1 to Minnesota United FC
(FC Edmonton)

FC Edmonton (14W-8D-8L) closed out their two-game road trip with a 3-1 defeat to Minnesota United FC (11W-8D-11L), October 15 at NSC Stadium. The 'Loons win put an end to the Eddies' quest for the Fall Season title with two games remaining in the regular season.

Minnesota's Christian Ramirez' brace was the difference in the match, while teammate Stéfano Pinho register the team's third goal of the evening. For the visiting Eddies, captain Albert Watson recorded his second goal of the season to open scoring in the match.

Minnesota started the match on the front foot, and put a dangerous looking effort on goalkeeper Tyson Farago in the 13th minute. Justin Dais fed teammate JC Banks, who sent a long right-footed blast that skipped towards goal before being wrapped up by the young 'keeper, who was making his second-straight start between the woodwork.

Cutting in from the left wing on 15 minutes, defender Adam Eckersley was taken down, resulting in an Eddies free-kick from just outside the penalty area. The ensuing kick-taken by Daryl Fordyce-was hard, low and on target, forcing a rebound from 'keeper Ndjock. Watson was there to pounce on the rebound and send it to the back of the net for the early lead on 16 minutes.

Minnesota answered back eight minutes later, with league-leading scorer Ramirez notching his 17th goal of the year. Flicked on by teammate Banks, Ramirez worked just inside the box before sending a strike past Farago to level the match at 1-1.

Minnesota held the edge in possession in the first half, with Kevin Venenges nearly orchestrating a second 'Loons goal after sending a ball to teammate Ramirez on 37 minutes. Ramirez neatly back heeled a ball towards Farago from just outside of six yards, forcing Farago to make a quick-reaction save. Skipping across goal, the loose ball would be cleared from danger by Watson.

Minnesota continued to press but was unable to break down the Eddies defence, who made eight clearances in the defensive area as both teams headed to the break tied 1-1.

The 'Loons pulled ahead early in the second. Venenges sent a long diagonal to Ibson in the box, who squared a ball across goal to a sliding Ramirez. Ramirez tapped in his second of the match to take the 2-1 lead on 53 minutes.

The Eddies pushed down the field on 67 minutes, with a dangerous ball nearly connecting with striker Tomi Ameobi and forcing an Eddies corner that would fail to materialize into a goal.

Second-half substitute Shamit Shome provided the Eddies with arguably their most dangerous chance of the half to tie, orchestrating some quick ball movement from just outside the area that would also come up short of a quality look on net.

Pinho put the match away for the home side in the 84th minute, sending a perfectly redirected header to the back of the net for the 3-1 lead. Minnesota would maintain that lead through the remaining minutes of the match to collect their 11th win of the season.

"We will have to regroup," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller stated post-match. "Hopefully within the next few games we will be back up and running again but we can't defend as poorly as we did tonight and expect to come here and get a result...It's been a very tough road trip, three games in a week takes some doing, but we will regroup next week."

FC Edmonton returns home to Clarke Stadium, October 23 to host Jacksonville Armada FC at 2:00 p.m. in their NASL regular season finale. For tickets and more information, please click HERE, call 780.700.2600 or visit www.fcedmonton.com.

Scoring

Minnesota United FC: Ramirez (23', 53'), Pinho (84')

FC Edmonton: Watson (16')

Cautions

Minnesota United FC: None

FC Edmonton: Diakité (51'), Fordyce (58')

Minnesota United FC

Ndjock; Davis, Low, Venegas, Kallman, Banks (Klute, 90+2'); Speas, Cruz (Pinho, 80'), Brovsky, Isbon (Juliano, 76'), Ramirez

FC Edmonton

Fargo; Diakite, Nicklaw, Watson, Diakite, Eckersley; Fisk (Galvao, 45'), Fordyce, Raudales, Ledgerwood (Shome, 83'), Keegan (Nyassi, 66'); Ameobi rences

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Eddies Fall 3-1 to Minnesota United FC
Eddies Fall 3-1 to Minnesota United FC
   



North American Soccer League Stories from October 15, 2016


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