NASL FC Edmonton

FCE Make It a Perfect Preseason

Published on July 7, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


TUKWILA, WA (July 6, 2014) - A Sunday drive found FC Edmonton in the heart of Seattle Sounders FC territory for the club's final match of the 2014 July preseason. Facing its toughest opponent yet in the Seattle Sounders, the Eddies showed no fear in the club's 2-0 victory at Starfire Athletic Sports Park in Tukwila, Washington.

Starting off the match, FCE head coach Colin Miller played John Smits in net, with a defensive back four of Eddie Edward, Mallan Roberts, Albert Watson and Kareem Moses. In midfield, trialist Chad Burt started on the right while fellow trialist Cristian Raudales played centre midfield along with Neil Hlavaty with Lance Laing on the left. Frank Jonke and Daryl Fordyce played up front for the Eddies.

For the first five minutes, the first time opponents tested each other's limits on the grass pitch. FCE's striker Fordyce was the first to have a chance on net at the five minute mark. Burt started off the play after collecting a deep cross from Laing, he sent the ball towards point-man Fordyce at the top of the box, but his final header was well defended.

The Eddies continued to press inside the first 20 minutes holding the majority of possession. The team's persistence was rewarded with a goal in the 25th minute off the foot of Raudales, with his strike being just what the team needed to take the lead into halftime.

For the second half, the only change to FC Edmonton's line-up came in-between the posts where Lance Parker replaced Smits.

Seattle started off on the front foot after being awarded a free kick in a dangerous area at the top of the box 49 minutes in, but Parker made no mistake with his save to keep the Eddies in the lead.

The Sounders continued to press as the Eddies were happy to defend their lead in the near 30 degree Celsius weather.

In the 67th minute, FC Edmonton brought on some fresh legs substituting all but the back four players and bringing on Hanson Boakai, Edem Mortotsi, Milton Blanco, Massimo Mirabelli, Sadi Jalali and Horace James.

FCE doubled their lead 85 minutes in when James rushed in on the Sounders goal and side-stepped the "˜keeper to cooly pass it into the back of the net.

This victory gives the Eddies a perfect 3-0 record for their 2014 July preseason friendly series which also saw them score nine goals and have only one scored against them. FC Edmonton won 5-1 over a Kamloops All-Star team and also 2-0 over Victoria Highlanders FC.

"I am really happy with the overall performance of the team," said head coach Miller after the match. "We had two terrific goals in very difficult conditions, but now it's time to look forward to Ottawa and our Fall home opener on July 13."

FC Edmonton kick off their 2014 Fall Season campaign on July 13 against Ottawa Fury FC. The match, presented by West Edmonton Mall, kicks off a 4:00 p.m. MT. Tickets start at just $10 in the YMCA Family Fun Zone and can be purchased at all participating Edmonton YMCA locations. All other tickets can be purchased at www.fcedmonton.com or by calling 780.700.2600.

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 7, 2014


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