NASL Miami FC

MATCH PREVIEW | the Miami FC Hosts Rowdies in Key Playoff Battle

Published on October 13, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Miami FC News Release


MIAMI- The Miami FC ends a two-match homestand, Friday, against Coastal Cup rival the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff from FIU Stadium is set for 8 p.m.

Phantom Limb

The Orange and Blue are coming off a tough, 1-0, loss to Rayo OKC. A questionable handball call doomed the Miami FC, making the playoff race even tighter.

The service of Hunter Freeman and stellar keeping of Daniel Vega were the highlights of a strong first half.

15 minutes into the match, OKC worked a golden opportunity but Vega stood strong and kept Rayo off the board. Midway through the first, Freeman whipped in an excellent corner, nearly sneaking the ball into the upper 90. A few minutes later, Freeman sent in a great cross that found Rhett Bernstein. Unfortunately the header would narrowly miss the far post. Vega came up huge again to close the half with a save on a dangerous free kick.

The second half saw the Miami FC continue to dominate possession but could not find the back of the net. The 70th minute would see a tough handball be called on Bernstein after the ball bounced off his chest and grazed his arm. The following penalty shot was converted to give OKC a 1-0 advantage.

The Miami FC would create multiple chances the rest of the match but could not find an equalizer, thanks to some strong goalkeeping.

#InIt2WinIt 3.0

There are only four matches remaining in the 2016 season, every point is crucial in the Miami FC's final playoff push.

This week is massive for the Orange and Blue as the club needs to collect points to stay in the playoff hunt.

The top four teams in the Combined Standings make the playoffs and the Miami FC is only two points out of the final spot.

A win against the Rowdies would give the Orange and Blue 39 points, jumping Minnesota by a point and all but ending Tampa Bay's playoff aspirations.

The Miami FC and the Rowdies are set for a massive fixture this week that could decide each club's playoff hopes. The Orange and Blue then hit the road for a two-match road trip before returning to FIU Stadium to close out the 2016 season against FC Edmonton.

As it stands today, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, the Carolina RailHawks and Rayo OKC are still in serious contention for the final playoff spot.

It has been nearly a month since Minnesota United last won a match, opening the playoff race for multiple clubs. The future MLS club is facing an uphill battle to hold on to fourth place in the Combined Standings. They still have matchups with FC Edmonton, the New York Cosmos and a hungry RailHawks squad.

The Rowdies will be cramming four matches in the next two weeks, with clashes against the Miami FC and Indy Eleven still on the schedule. Tampa does play its final two matches at home, making for a favorable final push for the final playoff spot.

A RailHawks win last weekend put the North Carolina club right in the mix for fourth place in the Combined Standings. With three home matches still to play, Carolina's high-powered offense could fire the club into the playoffs.

Players to Watch

Daniel Vega is the backbone of the Miami FC and one of the NASL's best keepers. He currently leads the league in saves with 96 in 2016.

His consistently stellar play between the pipes has helped the Orange and Blue become a playoff contender as the squad can take more risks in attack.

Six shutouts in the fall have seen the Miami FC fly up this season and in the Combined Standings. In those matches Vega made 23 saves, including a six-save performance against MLS-bound Minnesota United.

As the Miami FC continues to push for a spot in the playoffs, Vega will be instrumental in this sprint to the finish line.

Hunter Freeman has been a fantastic addition for the Orange and Blue, on offense and defense.

The versatile defender has become the Miami FC's resident free kick and corner specialist, adding a great weapon to the squad's arsenal. In the last three matches, Freeman has created six scoring chances and whipped in 15 crosses.

Freeman has seen action in 28 matches this season. On defense, he has tallied 51 clearances, 41 interceptions and won 80 duels. In the attack, he has sent in 63 crosses, completed 835 passes and registered two assists.

Watch:

- ESPN 3 Webstream, click here to watch.

- Gol TV (National)

Follow:

- Live Play-By-Play on Twitter at @TheMiamiFC

- Live Stats HERE

Check out the Miami FC Statistics

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 13, 2016


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