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NASL FC Edmonton

Match Preview vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (April 16, 2016)

April 15, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


FC Edmonton (0W-1D-1L) heads back on the road for their third match of the North American Soccer League (NASL) season against Tampa Bay Rowdies (0W-2D-0L) at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fl. Kick-off in the match is set for 5:30 p.m. (MT).

The Rowdies sit a point up on the Eddies in the young NASL Spring Season, after playing to consecutive draws against Indy Eleven and Miami FC. The team's season opener against Indy finished scoreless for the Rowdies, while last week's match versus Miami FC saw each team registering a goal in a 1-1 draw. Third-year Rowdie Georgie Hristov stepped up late last weekend to salvage a point for the Florida side, converting from the penalty spot in the 85th minute.

Despite generating multiple scoring opportunities in the attacking third against both Rayo OKC and Minnesota United FC, the Eddies find themselves without a goal to open up the 2016 campaign. The team put forth a strong defensive effort versus Rayo OKC in a 0-0 draw before dropping a 2-0 decision versus Minnesota United FC on April 10. Perhaps the most encouraging sign to date for the Eddies has been the play of veteran 'keeper Matt VanOekel. The 29-year-old's performance in Week 1 of the Spring Season earned him a Team of the Week selection, while key saves versus Minnesota at Clarke Field kept his team within striking distance for the entirety of the match.

Both the Rowdies and Eddies have made significant roster moves since the two sides last met, with Tampa Bay bringing in the likes of striker Tommy Heinemann as well as winger Kalif Alhassan. Heinemann was a key player with Ottawa Fury FC during the team's run to the NASL Championship final last season, while Alhassan posted a productive year on offence with Minnesota. The Eddies also added several new faces for 2016 to compliment a strong returning core of players, including former Galway United striker Jake Keegan, Canadian international Nik Ledgerwood and centre back Papé Diakité.

"It will be another tough game, it's always the same down there in Tampa Bay," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller stated. "We've played well when we've gone down there recently and we've managed to get a couple of results of late. It's a beautiful playing surface down there and there will be a good crowd."

The Eddies return to NASL action, April 16 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium. Kick off in the match is set for 5:30 p.m. (MT). The match will be streamed live on www.nasl.com for viewers in Canada and broadcast on ESPN3 in the United States. There are no current options to view the match internationally.

The Eddies then return to Clarke Field, April 24 to face Canadian rival and 2015 NASL runner-up Ottawa Fury FC at 2:00 p.m. (MT). Tickets and more information are available by clicking HERE or by visiting www.fcedmonton.com.

Match Details

Teams: FC Edmonton @ Tampa Bay Rowdies

Kick-off: April 16, 5:30 p.m. (MT)

Location: Al Lang Stadium (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Broadcast: www.fcedmonton.com (Canada), www.NASL.com (Canada), ESPN3 (United States)

Check out the FC Edmonton Statistics



North American Soccer League Stories from April 15, 2016


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