NASL FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton Start off Well in Preseason Campaign

March 20, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


LANGLEY, BC (March 19, 2014) - In a match that both players and staff were looking forward to, FC Edmonton competed in a 3-0 win over the Trinity Western Spartans on Wednesday night at Rogers Field in their first preseason match-up in 2014.

The first half saw a starting eleven of John Smits in net, Eddie Edward, Albert Watson, Kareem Moses and Lance Laing in defence, Neil Hlavaty, Ritchie Jones, Milton Blanco and Mike Banner in midfield, with Frank Jonke and trialist Tomi Ameobi up front.

It did not take long for the Eddies to get on the score board. In the 5th minute, Banner sent in a cross that Watson, already up from the previous corner kick, directed towards goal. Jonke got a final flick to claim FC Edmonton's first goal in preseason.

The visiting team saw a few more chances before the half time whistle, the best coming from a penalty kick in the 35th minute after a handball was called in the box. Hlavaty stepped up to the spot, but his shot to the lower right corner was well saved by the Spartans keeper to keep the game at 1-0.

As promised, the second half saw a completed different Eddies squad. Tyson Farago was between the posts, Michael Nonni, Marko Aleksic, Jose Lopez and Massmio Mirabelli made up the back four, Horace James, Edem Mortotsi, Carlos Patino and Hanson Boakai played in the middle of the pitch with Thomas Shores coming in half way through to replace Patino and Daryl Fordyce and Sadi Jalali as strikers.

Once again, the Eddies were off to a great start and it was in the 50th minute where James doubled FC Edmonton's lead after Patino found him open at the top far corner of the box. Shortly after, Fordyce added his name to the score sheet after a perfectly placed through ball from Mortotsi.

The Eddies finished off the match 3-0 in the first 90 minute game since November 2013.

"I'm very pleased with the 90 minutes," said head coach Colin Miller. "The first half group had a fantastic attitude and credit to the first half Trinity Western keeper on making a number of great saves. This is a fantastic base and we're looking forward to the next games already. Also, a big thank you to Pat Rohla and the Spartans for providing great opposition to us on our first game."

The Eddies take on Simon Fraser University next on Saturday, March 22 in Burnaby BC at Terry Fox Field on the Simon Fraser campus. Kick off is a 6:00 p.m. PT.

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