Fall Season Title, Fourth Postseason Berth Still up for Grabs On

Published on October 28, 2017 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


NEW YORK - The North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season will come to a close on Sunday but not before two exciting races reach their dramatic conclusion. Both the Fall Season title and the last remaining berth in The Championship, the league's four-team postseason tournament, have yet to be determined going into the final weekend of regular-season play.

Miami FC, which was crowned as the league's Spring Season Champion earlier in the year, sits in pole position in the Fall table with a chance to become the first club to raise both season trophies. Miami has a two-point lead over the San Francisco Deltas and can guarantee itself more silverware with a victory over FC Edmonton on Saturday night. A draw or loss opens the door for the Deltas to claim the Fall Season title with a victory over visiting Jacksonville Armada FC.

Speaking of Jacksonville, Mark Lowry's side is in the thick of the race for the final postseason berth, but a victory at Kezar Stadium, plus some help from around the league is the club's only path into The Championship. A win against Puerto Rico FC is the simplest way for the New York Cosmos to clinch a spot in the postseason, but a draw could also see the club playing in November with a superior goal differential to Jacksonville (+2 to -2).

North Carolina FC, which has already punched its ticket to the postseason, still needs to determine its seed in The Championship. With a superior goal differential (+9 to +2) over the Cosmos, a draw should be all the club needs to lock up the No. 3 seed when it heads to Carroll Stadium to take on Indy Eleven on Sunday.

Continue below for a preview of the Fall Season finales:

Puerto Rico FC vs. New York Cosmos

7 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 28

MCU Park | Brooklyn, N.Y.

Watch | beIN SPORTS en Español (National - U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National - U.S., Canada), MSG Networks (Regional - NY/NJ/CT/PA), MSG GO (Regional - NY/NJ/CT/PA)

Puerto Rico FC heads into the weekend after two straight wins. The club defeated Indy Eleven, 2-1, on Saturday before a 2-0 victory over FC Edmonton on Wednesday night. Puerto Rico will look to continue its positive finish to the season when the side faces the New York Cosmos with a chance to derail the postseason dreams of the defending champions.

New York knows a win will seal a trip to the postseason for a fifth consecutive year. The club's attack has been on fire, scoring eight goals in the past two games - a 4-1 win over Puerto Rico FC and a 4-4 draw with Jacksonville Armada FC. The Cosmos also enter the weekend on a five-game unbeaten run, which includes two victories over Puerto Rico. Forward Eugene Starikov has been in particularly strong form, with two goals and an assist to his name in the last week.

Miami FC vs. FC Edmonton

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 28

Riccardo Silva Stadium | Miami, Fla.

Watch |ESPN3 (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada; Globally except U.S.), CW South Florida (Local - Miami)

Miami FC has a chance to grab another trophy before the postseason begins, and Alessandro Nesta's side can do so in front of its home supporters. Miami faces off with FC Edmonton, which still hasn't managed to score a single goal against its Florida opponent in six prior meetings (all losses). The Orange and Blue defeated the Canadian side last weekend, 2-0, with goals coming from a pair of usual suspects, Stéfano Pinho and Dylan Mares.

The Eddies are aiming to end the year on a high note after a tough run of results over the past two months of the Fall Season. FC Edmonton's last victory came on September 17, and since then, the club has gone winless in seven games - a run that includes five losses. The Eddies were in action on Wednesday night and were held scoreless in a 2-0 loss to Puerto Rico FC.

San Francisco Deltas vs. Jacksonville Armada FC

8 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 28

Kezar Stadium | San Francisco, Calif.

Watch | Twitter (National - U.S., Canada), CW (Local - Jacksonville)

The San Francisco Deltas, who have been one of the most consistent teams in the NASL in 2017, now know that they will be hosting a semifinal game in The Championship after clinching the No. 2 seed last weekend. The club now aims to add a piece of silverware to its accomplishments. The Deltas are on a 10-game unbeaten run entering their clash with Jacksonville Armada FC at Kezar Stadium. The club needs a win and a Miami draw or loss to win the Fall Season.

Jacksonville is in the hunt for the postseason, but the club doesn't control its own destiny. Armada FC needs a victory over the Deltas as well as a Puerto Rico FC win over the Cosmos. The club will certainly be ruing its chances after letting a 3-1 lead slip away against New York last weekend. A victory would have pushed the club ahead of the defending champions in the Combined Standings. Jacksonville had to settle for a 4-4 draw, which has kept its postseason chances hanging by a thread.

Indy Eleven vs. North Carolina FC

5 p.m. ET | Sunday, October 29

Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

Watch | beIN SPORTS USA (National - U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National - U.S., Canada), WISH-TV (Local - Indianapolis)

Indy Eleven enters Sunday's clash against North Carolina FC with a chance to play the role of a spoiler. The club could potentially knock North Carolina from the No.3 to the No. 4 seed. More importantly, the Boys in Blue will want to give their fans one final chance to celebrate a victory at home. The club has lost its last three games and has a chance to give former Mexican national team captain Gerardo Torrado a proper send-off in his final professional game.

North Carolina has been in fine form down the stretch of the Fall Season and enters Sunday's tilt unbeaten in six games. Most recently, Colin Clarke's men played to a 1-1 draw with the San Francisco Deltas and the result ultimately clinched a postseason berth for the club. Austin da Luz was the North Carolina's goalscorer on the night. While the club defeated Indy, 5-0, in the last meeting between the sides, the story has been different when North Carolina travels to Carroll Stadium. The club has just one win in eight road games against the Boys in Blue.

ABOUT THE NASL

The North American Soccer League is a professional soccer league established in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. For more information about the league, visit www.NASL.com . Follow the NASL on Twitter and Instagram at @NASLOfficial and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NASLFanPage.

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 28, 2017


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