NASL FC Edmonton

Eddies Return to Clarke Stadium to Host Indy Eleven in Key Fixture

Published on September 30, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


Eddies Return to Clarke Stadium to Host Indy Eleven in Key Fixture
Eddies Return to Clarke Stadium to Host Indy Eleven in Key Fixture
(FC Edmonton)

EDMONTON, AB - FC Edmonton (12W-8D-6L) return home to Clarke Stadium to host second-place Indy Eleven (12W-9D-5L), October 2 at 2:00 p.m. MT in North American Soccer League (NASL) action. The Canadian side look to end a scoreless drought of five games and put pressure on the league-leading New York Cosmos with a win.

The Eddies remain in a top-four position in the NASL standings with 44 points in 27 matches and could widen the gap on fifth place with a positive result this Sunday. The league's top-four teams qualify for The Championship, the league's four-team postseason tournament. While the team has gone quiet up front, the back line led by veterans Albert Watson and Adam Eckersley has continued to stifle opponents, allowing just 15 goals against through 26 matches. Between the woodwork, goalkeeper Matt VanOekel is on the verge of making history. The six-foot-four 'keeper tied an NASL shutout record with his 14th clean sheet of the season against Jacksonville Armada last Wednesday and could set a new record with another this weekend.

After two losses in three matches, Indy has strung together a pair of consecutive wins to leapfrog the Eddies into second place in the league's Combined Standings. Leading the team on offence is veteran striker Eamon Zayed, who has registered 13 goals and sits second behind Minnesota United FC's Christian Ramirez (15) for the league lead in scoring (the league's leading scorer). Zayed also leads his team in assists, collecting six during the 2016 campaign. 'Keeper Jon Busch has been solid in net for his side throughout the year, collecting 12 wins and entering Sunday's fixture with a 1.00 goals against average.

It's the third match of the year between the Eddies and Indy Eleven, with the first two meetings this season ending in a 1-1 draw on May 4, before Indy edged the Eddies in a 1-0 decision at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on July 23. Former Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Greg Janicki scored the lone goal in the team's most recent meeting to lead his side to the win. Indy have to deal with the Eddies' home turf of Clarke Stadium, which has frustrated a majority of its visitors in recent months. The Eddies have conceded just two losses at home in 2016.

"I think this will be one of the most exciting games this season," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. "I think Indy has had a fantastic season. They are just an honest, hardworking group of players and they deserve the credit that they are getting. We will have to be at our best. We can go above them in the league standings on Sunday with a win and that's our incentive."

FC Edmonton takes on Indy Eleven, 2:00 p.m. MT at Clarke Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on CityTV in Edmonton and streamed live on NASL.com in Canada and the United States.

For FC Edmonton tickets, please call 780.700.2600 or visit www.fcedmonton.com.

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Eddies Return to Clarke Stadium to Host Indy Eleven in Key Fixture
Eddies Return to Clarke Stadium to Host Indy Eleven in Key Fixture
   



North American Soccer League Stories from September 30, 2016


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