NASL FC Edmonton

FCE Continue to Play Positive in Preseason

Published on July 2, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


VICTORIA, BC - A sunny evening in Victoria, BC saw FC Edmonton extend the club's preseason record to two wins after a 2-0 victory at Centennial Stadium on the University of Victoria campus on Wednesday against Victoria Highlanders FC.

With the evening's starting lineup shaping up similar to the team that started against Kamloops in midweek, the only major difference was the addition of the two new trialists Cristian Raudales and Chad Burt in midfield. John Smits started off the match net and Kareem Moses, Albert Watson, Mallan Roberts and Eddie Edward finished up the Eddies backline. In midfield, Lance Laing started down the left with Raudales and Neil Hlavaty in the centre of the pitch and Burt on the right. Frank Jonke and Daryl Fordyce began as the club's two strikers.

The FC Edmonton goalkeepers Smits, Tyson Farago split the match with Smits playing 30 minutes and Farago playing the remaining 60.

Continuing with a recent tradition of the Eddies, the visiting team started off the match on the attack. Only four minutes in, Moses flicked a header just over the crossbar off of Hlavaty's free kick. Moments later, an own goal almost started off the scoring when a Highlander's clearance went wrong.

With FC Edmonton finding open spaces in the attacking third, it was a passing game with plenty of opportunities. Jonke should have given the Eddies the lead 22 minutes in after beating the offside trap, but his final effort was just wide of the near post.

It took the Highlanders almost 30 minutes before they were able to settle into the match, and it took a good save from Smits to prevent the home side from taking the lead after a cross eluded the entire FC Edmonton back four.

After a scoreless first half, the Eddies only made one change to start the second with Michael Nonni coming in for Burt along the right wing.

Jonke started off the chances for the visiting team in the second half when his run to the far post rewarded him with an opportunity to poke the ball in near the post, but the Highlander's "˜keeper did well to get across the net and make the save.

FC Edmonton made their substitutions in the 60th minute bringing Allan Zebie in to fill out the defence while Moses slid into the centre back position with Watson and Laing shifting into his usual left fullback spot. Edem Mortotsi, Massimo Mirabelli and Milton Blanco came into the midfield while Horace James and Sadi Jalai played up front. About 20 minutes later, Hanson Boakai made his way into the match.

The substitutions made the difference and Jalai was the one with the breakthrough goal in the 71st minute. Winger Mirabelli danced around his defenders right before a cross to an open Jalai to rifle it passed the "˜keeper.

Just as the score clock hit 90 minutes, FC Edmonton doubled their lead thanks to Boakai. His ran down the near side and tight angle finish was the final opportunity of the match.

FC Edmonton now travels back to the mainland to train in Langley, BC before their final match of the club's July preseason against the Seattle Sounders down in Washington on Sunday, July 6 (3pm PT KO).

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 2, 2014


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