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New York Brings Potent Attack to South Florida as Week 10 Continues

September 2, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


NEW YORK - The New York Cosmos took hold of the top spot in the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season and Combined Standings after a commanding 3-0 win over Indy Eleven on Wednesday night to jumpstart Week 10 of the Fall Season. The Cosmos' next opponent, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, also featured in midweek action in a scoreless draw with Minnesota United.

FC Edmonton, currently in second place, heads to Ottawa to take on Fury FC in the Canadian Derby on Friday night with the goal of keeping pace with New York. The Eddies' stout defense has been the catalyst for the club's place in the standings. Indy, which has fallen slightly behind in recent weeks, is back at home where the club has been outstanding in 2016 to host the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Minnesota United and Miami FC are both trying to nudge further into the Fall Season title race. Miami, in particular, has had a rapid rise in the Fall Season and visits Puerto Rico FC looking to bring their red-hot form to the Caribbean island. Minnesota, on the other hand, is at NSC Stadium against visiting Rayo OKC, which is looking to get its first win under new coach Gerard Nus.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Matt Fondy leads the Carolina RailHawks against his former club, Jacksonville Armada FC. Jacksonville has been a renewed side under interim coach Mark Lowry, but will face a Carolina group that has shown a devastating attack, at times, at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Ottawa Fury FC vs. FC Edmonton

7 p.m. ET | Friday, September 2

TD Place | Ottawa, Ontario

FC Edmonton is hoping to keep pace with the New York Cosmos at the top of the Fall Season and Combined Standings - currently trailing by three and four points, with a game in hand - and enters Friday night's clash against Canadian rival Ottawa Fury FC on a six-game unbeaten streak. The Eddies' success has been similar to the route Ottawa took to The Championship Final last year: relying on a strong back line and goalkeeping performance. FC Edmonton shot-stopper Matt VanOekel is currently on track to set several goalkeeping records in 2016, while the club has conceded just 10 goals in 20 games. After a slew of 1-0 games before a 0-0 draw last Sunday against Puerto Rico FC, FC Edmonton (7W-2D-1L, 23 points) will want to ratchet up its attacking play against Ottawa.

Fury FC is coming off two consecutive home games - most recently a 1-1 draw with Indy Eleven - which has certainly boosted the club's morale despite being an injury-hit side. Ottawa has recently gone to young goalkeeper Marcel DeBellis in the past two games with Fury FC (3-2-6, 11) putting in two strong defensive performances in those contests. Ottawa will hope the recent momentum can continue in the Canadian Derby in an effort to start an ascent up the standings.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. New York Cosmos

7 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 3

Central Broward Stadium | Lauderhill, Fla.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are on a four-game unbeaten streak after Wednesday night's scoreless draw with Minnesota United FC and the club now faces the league leaders this Saturday. Fort Lauderdale (3W-3D-5L, 12 points) should carry plenty of confidence into the matchup with the New York Cosmos, having picked up a 2-1 victory in South Florida in the Spring Season.

The Cosmos, though, boast a high-flying attack that has scored nine goals in its past two games. New York (8-2-2, 26) recently defeated Indy Eleven, 3-0, on Wednesday, and increased its lead at the top of the Fall Season and Combined Standings. Venezuelan star Juan Arango has put himself into the Golden Boot conversation, scoring four goals in the past two games, and increasing his total for the year to 11. New York, which has had its stumbles on the road, earned a 2-1 comeback victory against Puerto Rico FC in its last away contest on August 20. While the Cosmos leave the comforts of Shuart Stadium, where the club has a 15-game unbeaten streak, New York enters the game against the Strikers on a six-game overall unbeaten run.

Carolina RailHawks vs. Jacksonville Armada FC

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 3

WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.

The Carolina RailHawks were picking up momentum, but suffered a 6-1 loss to the New York Cosmos last Saturday. One player that hasn't cooled down has been Matt Fondy. He scored his sixth goal in nine games for Carolina in the Fall Season during the club's road loss last week, and for the RailHawks, 10 of the last 11 goals for the side have come from either Fondy or Mexican star Omar Bravo. Carolina (3W-3D-4L, 12 points) now returns to WakeMed Soccer Park, where the club has a six-game unbeaten run.

Carolina's next opponent is Jacksonville Armada FC, which has yet to lose since Mark Lowry took over and is on a four-game unbeaten streak. The club should be well rested since the Armada FC most recently played to a 0-0 draw with Minnesota United two weekends ago. Jacksonville (2-4-5, 10) earned a 0-0 draw in its last visit to WakeMed Soccer Park in the Spring Season and grabbed a point in a 2-2 draw against the RailHawks in the beginning of August.

Indy Eleven vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 3

Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

Indy Eleven returns to Carroll Stadium after a three-game winless streak on the road. At home, though, the club has been incredibly tough to take points from and the Boys in Blue have won eight in a row and are unbeaten in 13 straight games. The Eleven (6W-2D-4L, 20 points) was in action on Wednesday night, but slipped in the Fall Season title race with a 3-0 loss to the New York Cosmos. The team's leading scorer, Eamon Zayed, who has 12 goals in 2016, has been particularly dangerous at home, scoring 10 goals at The Mike.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies (3-2-6, 11) head to Indianapolis after picking up a 2-0 win over Rayo OKC last Saturday on two goals from English star Joe Cole, who now has the team lead with seven. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the club and the connection between Cole and Georgi Hristov served as the catalyst. The Bulgarian forward had the assist and then the shot that rebounded for Cole's goals. After getting back into the win column, the Rowdies will now look to end a five-game road losing streak.

Puerto Rico FC vs. Miami FC

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 3

Juan RamÃ"n Loubriel Stadium | BayamÃ"n, PR

Puerto Rico FC has been in several close games recently, but the side has been unable to pull out a win since July 23 in a 1-0 victory over Rayo OKC. Forward Héctor Ramos has shouldered the goalscoring load with seven in the Fall Season, while Puerto Rico's defense has been tough to break down in recent games. Puerto Rico (1W-5D-5L, 8 points) ended FC Edmonton's home winning streak last Sunday in a 0-0 draw and now the club will have to slow down a surging Miami FC team that has lost just once in eight games.

Miami's last two games, though, have ended in draws, including a 1-1 result against Minnesota United last Saturday, but the club has been accruing pivotal points. Miami (4-4-2, 16) currently sits in fifth place in the Fall Season Standings, even on points with Minnesota. Recent signing Vincenzo Rennella was a spark off the bench in his debut against the Loons and will only add more firepower to an attacking group led by Dario Cvitanich (six goals), Ariel Martinez (five), and Kwadwo Poku (four).

Minnesota United vs. Rayo OKC

8 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 3

NSC Stadium | Blaine, Minn.

Minnesota United and Rayo OKC enter Saturday's contest in a similar situation. Both sides have been unable to find victories in recent games and enough goals. The Loons (4-5-3, 17) were in action on Wednesday night and were held to a scoreless draw with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The midweek game marked the end of Minnesota's three-game road swing with the club earning three draws, but was shut out in two of them. The Loons' last game against Rayo OKC ended even at 2-2 at Miller Stadium, where both sides traded stoppage-time goals to earn a point.

Rayo OKC (3-4-4, 13) visits NSC Stadium for the first time on Saturday and is seeking a first win under Gerard Nus' guidance. The side has dropped three games in a row, but heads into Minnesota knowing it has had success against the Loons this year (1-1-0). Picking up three points would give Rayo OKC a boost in the Fall Season and Combined Standings, depending on other results in Week 10.

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North American Soccer League Stories from September 2, 2016


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