NASL North Carolina FC

Gutsy 2-1 Home Win over Edmonton Pulls RailHawks Within Three Points of Postseason Spot

Published on October 15, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, NC (October 14, 2015) - The RailHawks pulled within three points of a playoff spot with an enormous 2-1 win against FC Edmonton Wednesday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

"We sat down before the game, said we got a few games to go and we've got to win all of them," said RailHawks Head Coach Colin Clarke. "The first half we were just a little bit off, we could've been a little bit better, but played great soccer in the second half. We hung in there and got moving. This is the result we needed."

Looking to gain valuable points in the standings, the RailHawks opened the match ready to strike first. Less than one minute into the game midfielder Neil Hlavaty was provided with a near chance when he found Austin da Luz's cross and barely missed the back of the net with his header.

Shortly after, midfielder and Raleigh native Nazmi Albadawi broke open the scoring with his sixth goal of the season when he worked his way inside the box and fired a shot past Edmonton's goalkeeper, Matt VanOekel in the 10th minute. Da Luz, another local product, picked up the assist; his second of the season.

The RailHawks nearly escaped the first half on top with a score of 1-0. However, in the 45th minute FC Edmonton forward Daryl Fordyce tied the game off a penalty kick, after referee Marcos Deoliveira called a foul on Thiago de Freitas inside the box.

After exchanged opportunities between the RailHawks and Eddies in the beginning of the second half, the game turned in the 62nd minute when Edmonton's captain Albert Watson was sent off with a double yellow card resulting in a red card; thus limiting the Eddies to ten men and providing the RailHawks with more room to maneuver.

Forward Nacho Novo took the kick but his blast was blocked and Alex Perez's rebound sailed over the net. It was not the first opportunity for Pérez, as the midfielder consistently battled defensively and offensively, creating multiple chances throughout the game. After only two games with the RailHawks, the Spaniard has shown the steadiness Colin Clarke was looking for in a defensive midfielder.

Keeping up the momentum, the RailHawks were just inches away from scoring again when Nacho Novo and Steven Miller were provided two heart wrenchingly close opportunities. In the 77th minute Novo's shot tipped off the crossbar and just moments later Miller's attempt to finish the play passed inches from the right post.

Rewarded for their persistence, the RailHawks added a goal in the 82nd minute when Novo finally found the back of the net from inside the box for his tenth goal of the season. Austin da Luz earned his second assist of the night after brilliantly passing the ball ahead of two Edmonton defenders before Novo calmly put the ball pass VanOekel. The RailHawks ultimately picked up a much needed win in front of their fans.

The RailHawks will continue their Championship push on Saturday, October 17th at 7:30 pm ET against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium. The match will be broadcast live locally in North Carolina at WRAL2 and nationally on ESPN3.

The RailHawks return home for the final regular season match on Friday, October 30th, when they host Indy Eleven.

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 15, 2015


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