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Late Push Spurs FC Edmonton to 2-1 Comeback Win over Cosmos

July 27, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


EDMONTON, AB - FC Edmonton (8W-3D-4L) extended their winning streak at Clarke Field to seven matches in a row following a 2-1 victory over New York Cosmos (9W-1D-6L) in North American Soccer League (NASL) play on Wednesday, July 27.

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Juan Arango opened the scoring with an early goal in the first half for the Cosmos, while Nik Ledgerwood and Daryl Fordyce secured all three points for the Eddies in the second half with a goal apiece. Between the woodwork, Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel justified his NASL Team of the Week selection with yet another standout performance.

FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller made two changes to the Edmonton side that faced Indy Eleven. Centre backs Albert Watson and Pape Diakite made their way back into the starting lineup while Sainey Nyassi started on the right-wing.

The Eddies started off on the front foot and earned the first chance of the match moments after kick-off. Fordyce picked up the ball after a loose ball and the strikers shot from outside the box went just wide of Jimmy Maurer's net.

The Cosmos would get the go ahead go in the 5th minute when Yohandry Orozco found his teammate Juan Arango unmarked inside the box. Arango took a touch before firing a shot that beat goalkeeper Matt VanOekel.

The visitors had two stellar chances to double their lead before the halftime break, but Sebastian Guenzatti was denied by VanOekel on both occasions. The midfielders' first chance came on 37 minutes, when he controlled the ball before shooting on goal, but VanOekel made a finger-tip save to his left. Minutes later, Guenzatti was in on goal again, but his shot that was destined for the corner was well saved by the six-foot-four shot-stopper again.

VanOekel's first half performance allowed the Eddies to head into the half down just 1-0.

The Eddies were a seemingly different team when the the second half resumed. The home side forced Maurer into making a sharp save on 55 minutes when substitute Tomi Ameobi found Shome with a pass. The Edmonton native fired a left-footed shot on target, but Maurer matched the shot with a strong save.

The Eddies looked to have equalized the match on 63 minutes when defender Shawn Nicklaw picked out Shome with a cross. Shome found the back of the net with a header only for the goal to be disallowed due to an offside call.

With ten minutes remaining in the match the Cosmos had a chance to double their lead. Yasmani Duk found himself clear on goal, but VanOekel came out to stuff the forwards' attempt.

VanOekel's save proved to be vital, as moments later Dustin Corea found Ameobi inside the box with a cross that the Newcastle native controlled, before firing a shot off the post. Edmonton midfielder Nik Ledgerwood was alert to tap in the rebound to equalize the match 1-1 with just ten minutes remaining.

New York nearly jumped ahead shortly after the equalizer. Second half substitute Lucky Mkosana brought a ball down inside the box and fired a shot past VanOekel, but the goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Nicklaw to preserve the 1-1 score line.

Edmonton's second-half persistence going forward paid off deep into stoppage time. Ameobi made a streaking run down the right wing before firing a shot on goal. Maurer could only get one hand to his strike before Fordyce capitalized on the rebound to secure all three points for the Eddies.

"The amount of character we showed today was tremendous and we are going to be in the mix until the end come November," Miller stated post-match. "The support we had from the fans was absolutely incredible and if we can continue to grow that then we will have a great product here in Edmonton."

FC Edmonton will look to push their home winning streak to eight matches when they return to action, July 31 against Carolina RailHawks. Kick off at Clarke Field is set for 2:00 p.m.

Tickets to the match are available (https://tickets.fcedmonton.com/?mc_cid2671023233&mc_eid[UNIQID]), calling 780.700.2600 or visiting www.fcedmonton.com.

Scoring FC Edmonton: Ledgerwood (79'), (90') New York Cosmos: Arango (5')

Cautions FC Edmonton: None New York Cosmos: Ayoze (21'), Freeman (45'), Diosa (77')

FC Edmonton VanOekel; Nicklaw, Diakite, Watson, Eckersley; Nyassi (Ameobi 36'), Shome (Galvao 76'), Ledgerwood, Corea, Keegan (Gustavo 74'); Fordyce

New York Cosmos Maurer; Freeman, Mendes, Perez; Guenzatti, Szetela, Bover, Arango (Moffat 87'), Orozco (Diosa 64'), Mulligan; Duk (Mkosana 80')

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 27, 2016


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.

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