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The Miami FC Opens Key Homestand against Rayo OKC

October 7, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Miami FC News Release


MIAMI, Fla. - The Miami FC's playoff push continues, Saturday, Oct. 8 when it hosts Rayo OKC.

No Nails Left to Bite

The Miami FC was in St. Petersburg last week to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In a crucial playoff fixture, both sides battled hard with the match ending a 1-1 draw.

Tampa came out fast in the match, putting pressure on the back line early on. The Orange and Blue handled the pressure well, making key blocks and tackles to keep the Rowdies off the board. In the 31st minute, the Miami FC was caught on the break and saw Tampa's Eric Avila score from just outside the box.

Keeper Daniel Vega closed out the first half with a great save to keep the Miami FC's deficit at just one.

The Miami FC turned things around in the second half, dominating possession throughout.

Enzo Rennella was great in the second half. His constant movement and willingness to shoot made him a constant threat, opening up the field for his teammates.

The Orange and Blue's best opportunity came in the 55th minute. A thundering run by Poku ended in a foul at the edge of Tampa's box. Hunter Freeman stepped up and whipped in a curling free kick that skimmed the crossbar.

The Miami FC's attack was unrelenting in the second half, finally breaking through in the 71st minute. A corner kick caused chaos in the Rowdies box, with Rhett Bernstein breaking through the mess to poke home the equalizer.

#InIt2WinIt 2.0

With five 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 can take sole possession of the final playoff spot.

The top four teams in the Combined Standings make the playoffs and the Miami FC is only one point out of the final spot. Last week saw the Club in a three-way tie for fourth place with Minnesota United and Tampa Bay. The Rowdies and Minnesota battled it out, Wednesday, with the match ending in a draw, putting them only a point ahead of the Miami FC.

A win against Rayo OKC would give the Orange and Blue 39 points, two points clear of Tampa Bay and Minnesota.

The Miami FC and the Rowdies are set for a massive fixture next 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.

As it stands today, Minnesota, Tampa Bay and the Carolina RailHawks 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. Matchups with FC Edmonton, the New York Cosmos, a hungry RailHawks squad and in-form Puerto Rico will make earning points very difficult.

The Rowdies will be cramming five matches in the next two weeks, with matches against FC Edmonton 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 this weekend would 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

Rhett Bernstein has been one of the top center backs all season, with his full set of skills earning a Team of the Week nod.

In defense, Bernstein won both his tackles, six duels, collected five interceptions and two clearances. As a passer, he was able to complete 46 of 53 passes and created a scoring opportunity. Bernstein's prowess in the air has made him a dangerous weapon on set pieces.

Against the Rowdies he registered two shots, with one of those finding the back of the net and preserving the Miami FC's playoff hopes.

Bernstein ranks fifth in the NASL with 107 clearances and is top 10 in passing with 1,146.

Enzo Rennella is a multifaceted forward that makes an impact on and off the ball. His performance on and off the ball against Tampa landed him in the NASL Team of the Week.

He was a constant threat for the Rowdies backline with his smart runs and great hold-up play. Rennella was able to connect on 12 of his 18 passes last Saturday, including a successful cross. When unhindered by the offside flag, Rennella was dangerous in front of goal, putting both his shots on frame.

He has scored three goals in just seven starts for the Miami FC and has done so efficiently. He fired off a dizzying 21 shots this season, putting 13 of them on target.

Watch:

- ESPN 3 Webstream, click here to watch.

- Gol TV (National)

Follow:

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

- Live Stats HERE

For tickets to the match, please visit MiamiFC.com/Tickets

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 7, 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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