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NASL #FightForFirst to be Decided in Week 9 Action

May 31, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


NEW YORK, NY - The North American Soccer League Spring Championship will be decided in the final week of the Spring Season following wins from Minnesota United FC, San Antonio Scorpions and New York Cosmos leaving the clubs the last three standing in the race for the Spring Title and vying for the first spot in 'The Championship'.

For Minnesota United the scenario next week has multiple routes: a win or tie and they are the Spring Champion; they can also be champions if they lose AND Cosmos tie/lose AND Scorpions tie/lose or win and can not make up their 3-goal deficit in goal differential.

The Cosmos path is the clearest: a win combined with the Loons losing makes them Spring Champions.

San Antonio has to hope for a lose/tie by Cosmos AND a loss by Minnesota AND a victory over Fort Lauderdale Strikers that makes up their three-goal deficit in goal differential to Minnesota.

As a reminder, the NASL uses the following five tiebreakers: 1.) Goal difference 2.) Goals scored 3.) Head-to-head 4.) Away goal difference 5.) Away goals scored.

OTTvFCE

A capacity crowd of 3,207 filled Keith Harris Stadium in Canada's capital to watch the NASL's two Canadian teams renew pleasantries, as Fury FC entertained FC Edmonton.

Ottawa finally broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 90th minute when Tom Heinemann deflected a Richie Ryan free kick perfectly past Eddies 'keeper John Smits, blowing the proverbial roof off of Keith Harris Stadium and giving Fury FC the 1-0 victory.

"It's unfortunate that on a night like tonight, with both teams playing excellet football; the Fury played well, we played well...that the game had to be decided by the officiating, it really was," said a clearly flustered Eddies manager Colin Miller post-game.

"You can talk all you want about the officiating, the this, the that, but at the end of today's game, everyone can see that the Ottawa Fury created more offense, created more chances and deserved to win this game. You can talk about refs in any game, but today we deserved the three points," said Fury FC manager Marc Dos Santos.

ATLvMNU

Minnesota United FC kept control of their own destiny with an exciting 2-1 decision over Atlanta Silverbacks in front of 5,000 fans at Atlanta Silverbacks Park on Saturday night.

Loon Midfielder Greg Jordan scored in the 52nd minute on an assist from forward Christian Ramirez. In the 74th minute, Ramirez netted his league-leading 5th goal of the Spring and that turned out to be the game winner, holding off a late Silverbacks comeback.

In the 85th minute. Substitute midfielder Alex Harlley found the feet of Poku, who buried a shot past a diving Hildebrandt to make it 2-1. Midfielder Junior Sandoval nearly equalized two minutes later, but his half-volley flew just over the crossbar, much to the dismay of the loud home supporters.

"I was really proud how we got the ball in the corner for some good crosses and good finishes," said Loons coach Manny Lagos. "It was a battle tonight I thought both teams really put it in and Atlanta came at us and again its not easy to play on the road in this league. To get three points at this pivotal period is key."

CARvTBR

Carolina RailHawks hosted Tampa Bay Rowdies before a record crowd of 7,856 fans at WakeMed Soccer Park. The home squad didn't disappoint the fans, topping the Rowdies 2-0 and extending their home-unbeaten streak to 21 matches.

Carolina took an early 1-0 lead, courtesy of forward Mike Grella in the 18th minute. Grella's goal, a clever finish after a perfect lob from Jun Marques Davidson, gave the RailHawks a lead, but the Rowdies arguably had the better chances of the half as they fought to negate their deficit.

RailHawks winger Tiyi Shipalane doubled Carolina's lead in the 72nd minute, finishing well after a pass from Cesar Elizondo to put his team up 2-0.

The Rowdies continued to put pressure on the RailHawks defense, including an 81st minute shot by Blake Wagner that was blocked before reaching goal, but were unable to find a goal.

FTLvNYC

A second half surge from the New York Cosmos propelled the club to a 3-0 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. With the defeat, the Strikers are mathematically eliminated from winning the Spring season title, while the Cosmos remain in contention just behind Minnesota United FC.

Mads Stokkelien earned and converted a penalty kick to open the scoring while late strikes from Joseph Nane and Danny Szetela ensured victory for New York.

The Cosmos opened the scoring in the 64th minute from the penalty spot. Oka Nikolov guessed correctly on the effort from Stokkelien, but the Norwegian's effort had too much pace on it.

Cosmos began to take control of the match and two quick goals from Nane and Szetela in the 83rd and the 85th increased the Cosmos' lead to 3-0, a scoreline they held until the conclusion of the match.

"The second half was different [from the first]," said New York Cosmos Coach Gio Savarese. "We were able to be solid, we were able to get plays. We got a break on the PK, which was good for a PK, and at the end we had a very good second half."

INDvSAS

In front of the fifth sellout in five games at Michael A. Carroll Stadium, hometown Indy Eleven welcomed San Antonio Scorpions. Breaking the hearts just moments before the final whistle, Scorpions won 2-1 and stretched their franchise record road-winning streak to four games with their second straight dramatic NASL victory and kept their Spring Season Championship hopes alive.

In the 52nd minute, Billy Forbes opened the scoring off a pass from Danny Barrera who deftly backheeled the ball onto a platter for the on rushing Forbes. The Turks and Caicos international struck the ball first time and it sailed straight into the back of the net to make the score 1-0.

Indy Eleven kept battling for their impressive home crowd of over 10,000 fans and their work paid off in the 74th minute when Blake Smith chased down a long early ball and hit a soft roller across goal from left to right that Scorpions keeper David Bingham unfortunately couldn't get to as he was following the play to his right.

Walter Restrepo's shot in the 94th minute found the twine for the game winner.

"Obviously we are very happy that we got the result," said Scorpions coach, Alen Marcina. "I thought we could have put them away a bit earlier. Hats off to Indy for putting us on our heals through their play. It was a well deserved victory."

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North American Soccer League Stories from May 31, 2014


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