NASL FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton, Rayo OKC Close out Season Series with 0-0 Draw

Published on September 15, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


EDMONTON, AB - FC Edmonton (12W-6D-5L) earned a point during a Wednesday night affair at Clarke Stadium after drawing Rayo OKC (7W-8D-9L) by a 0-0 score line in North American Soccer League (NASL) play.

FC Edmonton Head Coach Colin Miller made three changes to the side that fell to Miami FC on Sunday. Karsten Smith, Cristian Raudales and a healthy Daryl Fordyce replaced Pape Diakite, Nico Di Biase and Shamit Shome in the starting eleven.

The Eddies nearly opened the scoring in the opening two minutes of the match. Playing in his 100^th game for the club, Fordyce curled a free kick around the Rayo OKC wall, but the ball struck the post and bounced out for a goal kick.

Eddies midfielder Ben Fisk looked lively in the early stages of the match following an impressive performance versus Miami FC. Fisk came closest to opening the scoring in the half, cutting in from the left wing to fire a shot that hit the near post and bounced away from danger.

The Eddies continued to search for their opening goal on 28 minutes. Raudales fired a shot from range that was destined for the bottom corner, but Rayo goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes made a diving save to deny the midfielder. At the other end Rayo OKC's Billy Forbes fired a low cross across the face of VanOekel's goal, but the cross was inches away from finding an unmarked Georgios Samaras for the easy tap in at the back post.

A late save would send both sides into the break 0-0.

As the hour mark approached, possession for both teams was split down the middle, with the Eddies sending four shots on target in total, while OKC had two.

OKC's Fernandes continued to produce save after save as the match progressed. This time it was the pair of second half substitutes who linked up in the attacking third. Keegan found Dustin at the far post. Dustin played to teammate Tomi Ameobi, who rifled a shot at the near post only to have Fernandes came up with another huge save.

After a critical save by VanOekel, the match opened up as both teams pushed for the go-ahead goal. The action continued into the final ten minutes, with Eddies defender Shawn Nicklaw delivering a dangerous cross inside the box that was met by club captain Albert Watson but sent high over the net. In stoppage time another Eddies cross from Adam Eckersley found teammate Smith, but Smith's header that took a deflection and also went just over Fernandes' crossbar. The 0-0 score line would hold through 90 minutes of play.

"I can't fault the players, I thought they did very well," Miller stated following the match. "With a bit of luck we could have scored four or five, but their goalkeeper stood on his head. Some games you don't know how you won and some games you don't know how you didn't and that was the case tonight."

FC Edmonton travel to New York on Saturday, September 17 to take on the New York Cosmos at James M. Shuart Stadium. The match will be broadcast and streamed live on ONE World Sports in Canada and the United States. Kick-off is set for 5:00 pm MT.

For tickets and more information, please click HERE (https://tickets.fcedmonton.com/?mc_cidcb88dc3f90&mc_eid[UNIQID]), call 780.700.2600 visit www.fcedmonton.com (http://www.fcedmonton.com/?mc_cidcb88dc3f90&mc_eid[UNIQID]) .

Scoring FC Edmonton: None Rayo OKC: None

Cautions FC Edmonton: None Rayo OKC: Chavez (34'), Menjivar (60')

FC Edmonton VanOekel; Nicklaw, Watson, K. Smith, Eckersley; Nyassi (Dustin76'), Fordyce, Raudales (Shome 79'), Ledgerwood, Fisk (Keegan76'); Ameobi

Rayo OKC Fernandes; Hernandez (Van Schaik 80'), Ibeagha, Futty, Kimura; Boateng, Yuma, Menjivar; Samaras, Forbes, Chavez (Findley 60')

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 15, 2016


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