NASL FC Edmonton

Eddies Settle for Share of Points in Tampa Bay

Published on October 4, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


EDMONTON, AB - With the North American Soccer League (NASL) season winding down, FC Edmonton and Tampa Bay Rowdies played in yet another crucial match in St Petersburg on Saturday, October 4 for a very important three points towards postseason positions. However, both teams would have to settle for a share of the points and a 1-1 draw.

Six points back of the final postseason spot before kick off, the Eddies gain some ground on the Carolina RailHawks, their closest opponent. Earning only one point out of a possible three will not allow the Eddies to slack off for the remaining four matches of the season.

Changing their formation, the Rowdies started off the match with a 4-3-3 and for the first time this season kicked off with three strikers, one of which was former Eddie Corey Hertzog. FC Edmonton started the same line-up as last weekend's draw against New York Cosmos with Tomi Ameobi at the top of the formation.

The Rowdies started off strong and were able to pin the Eddies inside their half for the first 10 minutes of the match. Managing to hold off the home-side, FC Edmonton had chances of their own, mostly off the boot of Ameobi. In the 17th minute, the striker was able to get on to the end of Beto Navarro's cross and was in on goal, but Rowdies "˜keeper Matt Pickens was able to get a glove in to throw Ameobi off and make the save.

FC Edmonton broke the 0-0 deadlock just before the half-time whistle. After scramble in the box where Ameobi and midfielder Neil Hlavaty both had chances on net, the ball fell to the feet of St. Pete's native Chad Burt. He made no mistake a fired a shot passed Pickens to give the Eddies a 1-0 lead heading into the half.

Tampa Bay Rowdies earned one back in the second half when a foul was called against the Eddies inside their penalty box off of a free kick. Georgi Hristov stepped up to the spot and sent Lance Parker the other direction to bring the match level at 1-1 and tallied his seventh goal of the season.

An early yellow card to defender-turned-midfielder Eddie Edward would come back to haunt the Eddies in the first minute of stoppage time when the defensive-midfielder earned a second yellow and was sent off for the remainder of the match forcing the Eddies to play with 10 men.

Even with a player down, the Eddies continued to push for the three points bringing on Hanson Boakai and striker Daryl Fordyce. However, it was not enough and both teams had to settle for a share of the points.

"We dug in deep in the second half," said FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller. "Our players gave it everything tonight and I thought it was a cracking game of football. I feel that both team's played very well."

FC Edmonton will now head back to Alberta for a match against the Carolina RailHawks on Sunday, October 12 (2:00 p.m. MT KO). Come celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with the Eddies and remember to bring non-perishable food donations in support of the Edmonton Food Bank.

Tickets start at just $10 in the YMCA Family Fun Zone and can be purchased at any Edmonton YMCA location. For all other tickets, head to fcedmonton.com or call 780.700.2600 for more information.

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 4, 2014


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