NASL FC Edmonton

Inspired Effort Comes up Short as Eddies Bow out of Amway Canadian Championship

Published on May 18, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


FC Edmonton (0-0-2) put forth an inspired effort in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship (ACC) preliminary round, May 18 at TD Place Stadium, capturing a 2-0 victory over Ottawa Fury FC (2-0-0) but falling 3-2 on aggregate to put an early end to their run at the Voyageurs Cup.

Eddies Dustin Corea and Adam Eckersley scored in the opening half for the visitors, who were playing their third game in a week dating back to last Wednesday's ACC opening leg. It was a quiet night in net for Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, who earned the clean sheet win after being forced to make just a single save through 90 minutes of play.

Both teams exchanged chances from in close to open the match, with Ottawa's Carl Haworth looking dangerous with a left footed strike that would go wide. The Eddies responded at the other end with a Daryl Fordyce header that would also go just off target. Ottawa enjoyed an extended string of possession midway through the half, but were unable to break through a stingy Eddies back line.

The visitors took the 1-0 lead on 26 minutes, after midfielder Corea was able to bury a wicked left-footed strike past Ottawa 'keeper Marcel DeBellis from 20 yards following a feed from teammate Pablo Cruz.

With momentum shifting, the Eddies nearly cut Ottawa's overall lead further just minutes later. Eckersley was able to find teammate Tomi Ameobi in the box, but the Newcastle native's redirect toward goal was go just wide of the left post. Ottawa's best chance to score in the half would come on 39 minutes, as a Marcel De Jong-taken free kick from just inside 30 yards would go just high and over the crossbar.

Eckersley-a consistent threat throughout the match-notched the Eddies second goal just before the half time whistle, as his free kick from distance found its way to the bottom left corner net for the 2-0 lead. The goal was the left back's first with his new club.

The Eddies would head into the dressing room down just 3-2 on aggregate.

The Eddies nearly levelled the match in the 70th minute, as defender Eddie Edward looked poised to get a quality chance on net before Fury's Timbo came across to block the defender's shot.

Tactics switched shortly after the opportunity for head coach Colin Miller and his squad, with Pablo Cruz and Gustavo swapping out for forward Jake Keegan and midfielder Jason Plumhoff. Winger Johann Smith would join the fray shortly after in place of Corea as the Eddies continued to search for an equalizer.

Despite changes to the Eddies personnel and formation, Ottawa would hang on, capturing the preliminary round 3-2 on aggregate. The Fury will now face Major League Soccer's (MLS) Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the tournament semifinals.

"I think our players deserve an enormous amount of credit," Miller stated. "I cannot fault these players here. We were very positive...Our goalkeeper had one save to make in the entire game so that shows you the character of the squad."

FC Edmonton returns to North American Soccer League (NASL) action, 2:00 p.m., May 22 at Clarke Field to take on Carolina RailHawks in potential battle for first place in the league. For tickets and more information, please click HERE. For more information on FC Edmonton, please visit www.fcedmonton.com.

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