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Top Four Teams Collide in Pair of Key Week 12 Clashes

September 18, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


Minnesota United vs. New York Cosmos
Minnesota United vs. New York Cosmos
(New York Cosmos)

NEW YORK (September 18, 2015) - Two midweek matches began Week 12 action, with Minnesota United FC defeating the Atlanta Silverbacks on Tuesday and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers earning a shutout victory over Jacksonville Armada FC on Wednesday. Looking ahead to the weekend, all five clashes will take place on Saturday. Four matches will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET, while a marquee matchup between the top two teams in the North American Soccer League (NASL) Combined Standings, New York and Minnesota, will round out the schedule at 8 p.m. ET.

The other two teams currently sitting in a postseason spot are set to battle this weekend, with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers hosting Ottawa Fury FC. Elsewhere, the Silverbacks remain at home after Tuesday's loss to face the Carolina RailHawks, Indy Eleven welcomes FC Edmonton to Carroll Stadium, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies play host to the San Antonio Scorpions.

A full preview of each matchup is below:

Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Carolina RailHawks

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Sept. 19

Atlanta Silverbacks Park | Atlanta, Ga.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada), WRAL2 (Local - Cary/Raleigh)

The Silverbacks (5W-3D-5L, 18 points Fall; 6-8-9, 26 Combined) are coming off a tough midweek loss, where they played 86 minutes a man down, against Minnesota United. The 2-1 loss ended Atlanta's five-game unbeaten run at home, but the Silverbacks will have a chance start a new streak, against the Carolina RailHawks. Pedro Mendes and Junior Burgos were both dynamic in the loss, connecting for the Silverbacks' lone tally on Tuesday night. Atlanta, however, will be without key defender Rauwshan McKenzie, who had played every minute of every match up until his sending off against the Loons.

The RailHawks (3-3-7, 12 Fall; 6-8-9, 26 Combined) have fallen on tough times recently. The club has won just once in its last seven games, but the bigger worry is the Carolina defense. Despite goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald's best efforts, Carolina has conceded three goals a game in six of its last seven contests. After letting a lead slip in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota last weekend, Carolina will need to rebound in Atlanta, where they have had past success, posting a 5-1-1 record since 2011.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Ottawa Fury FC

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Sept. 19

Lockhart Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), OttawaFuryFC.com (National - Canada), SFL-TV (Local - Fort Lauderdale), Rogers TV (Local - Ottawa)

The Strikers (5-5-2, 20 Fall; 8-7-7, 31 Combined) are unbeaten in their last six games, in large part because of its Brazilian core contributing plenty of attacking flair. The one team, however, that did slow down the Fort Lauderdale attack was Ottawa in last weekend's 0-0 draw. Stefano Pinho, who has a league-leading 12 goals, is always dangerous, and helped his compatriot Marlon Freitas score the opening goal in a 2-0 win on Wednesday night against intrastate rivals Jacksonville Armada FC.

In the draw against the Strikers last weekend, goalkeeper Romuald Peiser made several key saves for Fury FC (7-4-1, 25 Fall; 9-9-4, 36 Combined). Ottawa's grasp on first place in the Fall Season, though, has been slipping with Minnesota currently tied on points. Fury FC's defense will need to continue its strong run, boosted by Peiser's league-leading 11 clean sheets, in Fort Lauderdale. Beginning a tough, three-game road trip, Fury FC will want to start it off on the right foot.

Indy Eleven vs. FC Edmonton

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Sept. 19

Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), FCEdmonton.com (National - Canada), WISH-TV (Local - Indianapolis)

Indy (3-3-7, 12 Fall; 6-7-10, 25 Combined) sits just outside a postseason berth, six points behind the Strikers for the fourth and final spot. The Boys in Blue are coming off a recent 2-0 loss at the San Antonio Scorpions, but will be buoyed by returning home to play in front of its boisterous home fans against FC Edmonton. Indy could potentially welcome a new face to the lineup at some point with U.S. youth international Daniel Cuevas recently signing with Tim Regan's squad.

The Eddies (5-4-4, 19 Fall; 7-7-9, 28 Combined) picked up a vital three points last weekend with a 1-0 win over the Rowdies to move to three points off the pace for The Championship after Fort Lauderdale's win on Wednesday. After a resilient 1-1 draw against Minnesota and the win against Tampa Bay, Edmonton is building momentum as it heads on the road to Indy. Albert Watson scored the lone goal last weekend, but it's been his and his back-line mates' performance recently in the defensive third that could see the Eddies pick up more crucial points against the Eleven.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. San Antonio Scorpions

7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, Sept. 19

Al Lang Stadium | St. Petersburg, Fla.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada), Great 38 (Local - St.Pete/Tampa Bay), KSAT 12.2 MeTV (Local - San Antonio)

The Rowdies (3-2-7, 11 Fall; 8-6-8, 30 Combined) can move back into the fourth seed for The Championship with a win on Saturday. While Tampa Bay has improved of late, the side hit a road bump in Edmonton last weekend. But being back at home, where they recently dispatched the Cosmos, could help the Rowdies return to top form against San Antonio.

The Scorpions (3-4-5, 13 Fall; 6-7-9, 25) on the other hand could be hitting their stride at the right time. The defending champions moved off the bottom of the Fall Season and Combined Standings recently after a wild 3-3 draw with Carolina and a 2-0 win over Indy Eleven. Marvin Chávez and Rafael Castillo both led the way last week and will look to have a similar impact against the Rowdies. Billy Forbes returned from injury and had an impact as a substitute, registering an assist. One worrying sign for the Scorpions is that leading goalscorer Omar Cummings has yet to get out of his scoring drought that has lasted more than a month. San Antonio will be without another forward, Cesar Elizondo, after he picked up a late red card against Indy.

Minnesota United vs. New York Cosmos

8 p.m. ET | Saturday, Sept. 19

NSC Stadium | Blaine, Minn.

Watch | ESPN3 (National - U.S.), ONE World Sports (National - U.S.), NASL.com (National - Canada), KSTC-45TV (Local - Twin Cities)

The Loons (7-4-2, 25 Fall; 10-9-4, 39 Combined) continue to pick up points and are unbeaten in their last seven matches. It has moved Minnesota into a tie for first place in the Fall Season with Ottawa, and just a stone's throw from New York in the Combined Standings. With a win, the Loons would equal the Cosmos on overall points. For Minnesota, its defense has become its best attack. Both fullbacks, Justin Davis and Kevin Venegas, have been shutting down opposing offenses and either scoring or creating goals at the other end.

New York (6-4-2, 22 points Fall; 11-9-2, 42 Combined) defeated Jacksonville, 1-0, in its last match thanks to a classy, top-shelf finish from Spanish star Raúl. He is no stranger to scoring dramatic goals for the Cosmos, doing so the last time the teams met at the NSC Stadium with a 90th-minute equalizer. New York's defense, though, will need to be at its best to slow down a Minnesota attack that has scored in 21 straight games, led by Christian Ramirez's nine tallies on the season.




Images from this story

Minnesota United vs. New York Cosmos
Minnesota United vs. New York Cosmos
   



North American Soccer League Stories from September 18, 2015


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