Fort Lauderdale Could Claim Final Postseason Spot as Early as this Weekend

October 23, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


NEW YORK (Oct. 23, 2015) -- Both the No. 4 seed in The Championship and the top overall seed could be all but sealed after this weekend's matches.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers visit Indy Eleven and a win coupled with a Tampa Bay Rowdies loss would have the club return to the postseason - both games will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (all times are Eastern). Fall Season Champion Ottawa Fury FC is idle, but will root for another red and black color scheme this weekend. Should the San Antonio Scorpions knock off the New York Cosmos (or earn a draw), the Canadian side would have home-field advantage throughout The Championship.

A preview of all the contests in Week 17 follows:

Indy Eleven vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

7:30 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 24

Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada), WISH-TV (Local - Indianapolis), SFL-TV (Local - Fort Lauderdale)

The Strikers are eying a return to The Championship, the NASL's four-team postseason tournament, and could move closer to that goal with three points at Indy. Fort Lauderdale (7W-6D-5L, 27 points Fall; 10-8-10, 38 Combined) is coming off a scoreless midweek draw with the San Antonio Scorpions, but boast one of the league's most dynamic attacks with leading scorer Stefano Pinho (16 goals). Indy (4-5-9, 17 Fall; 7-9-12, 30 Combined), despite being out of postseason contention, will not be pushovers. The Eleven defeated Minnesota United, 3-1, a weekend ago to end the Loons' bid for a Fall Season title. The Boys in Blue can once again have an impact on the postseason race.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Carolina RailHawks

7:30 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 24

Al Lang Stadium | St. Petersburg, Fla.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada), Great 38 (Local - Tampa Bay) WRAL2 (Local - Cary/Raleigh)

The Rowdies are facing as close to a must-win situation as it gets this weekend. A loss or draw coupled with a Fort Lauderdale win would end Tampa Bay's push for a berth in The Championship. Tampa Bay (4-5-9, 17 Fall; 9-9-10, 36 Combined) will need its attack firing on all cylinders after a 0-0 draw against the Atlanta Silverbacks last week. Carolina (5-3-10, 18 Fall; 8-8-12, 32 Combined) has flickering hopes for the postseason, but a win, depending on Fort Lauderdale's result, could keep them in the conversation heading into the final weekend. The RailHawks must brush aside a recent 4-0 loss to the Strikers and rekindle the form that brought a two-game winning streak to push Colin Clarke's men back into the postseason race.

Minnesota United vs. Atlanta Silverbacks

8 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 24

NSC Stadium | Blaine, Minn.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada), KSTC45-TV (Local - Twin Cities)

The Loons' plans to claim a Fall Season title were dashed after a loss to Indy last weekend, and two subsequent wins by Ottawa Fury FC. Minnesota (10-5-3, 35 Fall; 13-10-5, 49 Combined) will be the No. 3 seed in the postseason, but will want to build momentum over its final games to take into November. The Loons have gotten the better of the Silverbacks, with a pair of one-goal wins earlier in the year. Atlanta (6-6-6, 24 Fall, 7-11-10, 32 Combined) has a slim chance for the postseason, needing plenty of help to reach The Championship. Regardless, the Silverbacks will want to finish the season strong as they head north to Minnesota.

San Antonio Scorpions vs. New York Cosmos

2 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 25

Toyota Field | San Antonio, Tex.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), ONE World Sports (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada)

The Cosmos visit, for the first time this year, the place where their season ended in The Championship Semifinals a year ago. The player that helped create the game-winning goal for San Antonio, Walter Restrepo, now wears Cosmos colors. New York (8-6-4, 30 Fall; 13-11-4, 50 Combined) is still fighting for the top seed in The Championship and needs a win to have any chance of catching Ottawa. Andrés Flores has been instrumental in the Cosmos midfield, and the Salvadoran international could be once again in Texas. It also could be the final road match, depending on where the Cosmos finish (and a win in the semifinal), for Raúl and Marcos Senna who will retire at season's end. The Scorpions (4-6-8, 18 Fall, 7-9-12, 30 Combined) cannot defend their title after the 0-0 midweek draw knocked them out of postseason contention. San Antonio, though, can be the thorn in the Cosmos' side once more if it wins this weekend.

FC Edmonton vs. Jacksonville Armada FC

4 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 25

Clarke Field | Edmonton, Alberta

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), City TV (Local - Edmonton), CW17 (Local - Jacksonville)

The Eddies will wrap up their season on Sunday hoping to put on one final strong performance in front of the home support in 2015. Edmonton (7-4-8, 25 Fall; 9-7-13, 34 Combined) will not be playing into November, but this weekend's match still has meaning for the Eddies. Losing twice to the Armada FC in Florida, Edmonton will look to turn the tables in Canada. Jacksonville (5-3-10, 18 Fall; 8-6-14, 30 Combined) has yet to win on the road in its inaugural season, and three points in the final try of the season would be a welcome reward for the expansion side. The Armada FC will be on shorter rest after its midweek loss to another Canadian side, Ottawa Fury FC, who won the Fall Season title on Wednesday. Jacksonville's attack has troubled the Eddies' back line this season, scoring six goals over the two previous matches.



North American Soccer League Stories from October 23, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central