NASL Midweek Action: Puerto Rico and FC Edmonton Draw
After playing each other Saturday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the Islanders and FC Edmonton played again in a Tuesday night match. While FC Edmonton couldn’t quite avenge their Saturday loss, they did get a measure of satisfaction by leaving the island with a point after drawing 1-1 with the in-form Islanders.
Although the Islanders have been playing excellent soccer, it was FC Edmonton drew first blood. Following a scoreless first half, the Islanders’ Matt Bouraee had a break on goal before long-haired Edmonton defender Paul Hamilton flew back to break up the play. Edmonton worked the ball out, and a fine pass from Shaun Saiko to Michael Cox saw the forward score his second goal of the campaign.
Dominican Jonathan Fana equalized shortly thereafter. He took advantage of a misplayed header on a long ball into the Edmonton box for his ninth goal of the NASL season. The attacker was dangerous even when the Islanders were down a man, following the second yellow card given to Osei Telesford. Fana took advantage of opportunities and pushed the ball forward, making several dangerous runs in the second half that not only threatened but ate time off the clock for the 10-man Islanders.
The draw pushed Edmonton up the standings by one point over Minnesota, allowing them to stand alone at 4th place. The Canadian side now trail FC Tampa Bay by only 4 points and have a critical 6-point match up against Minnesota this weekend in Edmonton.
NASL News
FC Tampa Bay has added defender Daniel Scott for the remainder of the season. Scott, 25, last played for the PDL Kitsap Pumas, who are based in Bremerton, Washington. He also played for the Seattle Sounders reserves following his college career at Gonzaga University. The 6’1″ Scott is the younger brother of the Sounders’ Zach Scott.
The Atlanta Silverbacks have added goalkeeping depth by signing Eric Ati, 22, from their NPSL Silverbacks reserve team side. Ati was born in Cameroon, but has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of seven. He is the first Silverbacks reserve player to sign a contract with the senior club this season. Ati was a 2010 NAIA All-American at Southern Polytechnic State University.
In other Silverbacks news, the club announced the release of forward Emsad Zahirovic.
The Carolina RailHawks have deepened their roster for the playoffs with the addition of Wake Forest, North Carolina native Tyler Lassiter, 22, on loan from the NY Red Bulls. Lassiter is a defender who played at North Carolina State and for the PDL Cary Clarets. He was drafted by the Red Bulls in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft and made his first appearance for the Red Bulls in their 1-0 US Open Cup win over FC New York in June.
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Tough to stomach the fact that as a Strikers fan I have to be openly worrying about what other teams are doing at this point with regard to playoffs. Ugh. An Islanders win would have been the preferred result from our perspective, as I don’t think the #2 spot is attainable any longer, but a tie isn’t so bad either. With a desperately needed win on Saturday night, the Strikers can jump back over Edmonton in the standings now.
Ft Lauderdale, Minnesota and Edmonton all have to fear being caught by Montreal at this point.
It would be embarrassing for any of those three to not make the playoffs after coasting in a good spot for most of the season.
Point by point, Islanders are trying to catch up with Carolina. Railhawks supporters, like the message printed on my jalopy “the object might actually be closer than (it)appears in (rearview) mirror”…
Oh–and while it didn’t do my Maryland behind any good, personally–much respect to Islanders’ management for offering free admission to the Tuesday night match with Edmonton. A lot of people are struggling down in PR (they have taken an economic hit even bigger than almost any part of the States during the current economic slump); it was a very nice gesture…