Saturday’s Florida Derby Between Rowdies And Strikers Headlines Week 12

With six weeks remaining in the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season, all of the league’s teams are still in contention for a spot in The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament. There are nine teams looking to join NASL Spring Season winner Minnesota United FC in The Championship, and just three spots remain. The Florida Derby, a matchup between two contenders for spots in The Championship, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Tampa Bay Rowdies, headlines week 12 of the Fall Season. The clash will air as the NASL Match of the Week on ESPN3 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The Week 12 slate features four other matchups taking place in Atlanta, Indianapolis, Ottawa, and Edmonton, and all of them will be available for fans to watch live on NASLLive.com. Fans can purchase both Fall Season and monthly subscriptions at NASLLive.com now, allowing them to watch every single league matchup live.

Not only will the Strikers and Rowdies be competing for the Coastal Cup, their rivalry trophy – they will also be playing for three priceless points in the race to clinch one of the three remaining spots in The Championship. With six games to play, the Rowdies sit four points away from the final spot in The Championship, which is currently held by the Carolina RailHawks. The Strikers are in a slightly better position – just two points shy of the RailHawks’ total.

The Rowdies have won 10 of their 14 encounters against the Strikers since 2011, but the Strikers won the most recent meeting – a 1-0 victory at Lockhart Stadium on August 2. In addition to being available on ESPN3 and NASLLive.com, Saturday’s game at Al Lang Stadium can be see on local TV on WTTA Great 38 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“I'm really looking forward to hosting our normal rivalry game against Fort Lauderdale. The added importance from our perspective is that we need to get back to winning ways now because we are quickly running out of games which with to accrue a reasonable total of points,” said Rowdies Head Coach Ricky Hill.  “Every point is vital. More than anything, I would like to think we can get the right result for our fans to give them some excitement as we move to the closing part of the season."

Speaking of contenders for a place in The Championship, the San Antonio Scorpions looked to be somewhat of a lock a few weeks ago. Two successive losses later, the Scorpions are looking to get back on track against the Atlanta Silverbacks, who are trying to shake a three-game losing streak of their own.

Desipte their recent struggles, the Scorpions travel to Atlanta Silverbacks Park in a good position in the standings. San Antonio sits in second place in both the Fall and Combined Standings. The Scorpions enter Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff on the heels of a 2-0 loss to United, while the Silverbacks are trying to put last weekend’s 3-0 home loss to Ottawa Fury FC behind them.

The Scorpions hold a slight edge in the head-to-head series over the Silverbacks, however, Atlanta has won three of the last four meetings at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The last time both clubs faced off was in the Spring Season when the Scorpions posted a 2-1 home win at Toyota Field on August 23.

“Atlanta is a dynamic team with some great individual players and as The Championship nears, the intensity of each and every game gets amplified,” said Scorpions Head Coach Alen Marcina. “But our focus remains the same; we're determined and dedicated to continue refining and improving our style of play to achieve the long term goals that we have set out for ourselves this season. We’re eager to earn an important result on the road this weekend."

Rounding out the games on Saturday is a clash between the surging Carolina RailHawks and Indy Eleven. The RailHawks take to the road after posting two massive wins over a pair of top-three teams, the Scorpions and New York Cosmos. Carolina has scored eight goals in its last two games, but they have also conceded five in that same span. Saturday’s game, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET at IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium, will give Indy Eleven another opportunity to capture its first league win at home this year. The encounter will air live on MyINDY TV-23, as well as NASLLive.com.

The RailHawks, who currently occupy the final qualifying spot in The Championship, will be making their second visit to “The Mike” this year, with their last trip ending in a 1-1 draw on the opening weekend of the 2014 season. The previous clash between these two teams was on July 12 when Indy put an end to Carolina’s 18-game unbeaten at WakeMed Soccer Park with a 2-1 victory.

"We've had two pretty good performances and two pretty tight games against Carolina this year and we're looking forward to another one,” said Indy Eleven Head Coach Juergen Sommer. “We're quickly running out of chances to reward our fans with that home win they deserve. If we can feed off the energy they'll provide, manage the start of the match better, and play disciplined soccer for 90-plus minutes, I see no reason why that result can't come this weekend."

Week 12 of the Fall Season continues on Sunday with a pair of encounters north of the border. Fury FC hosts United at TD Place for the first time ever, while FC Edmonton welcomes the Cosmos to Clarke Stadium.

The 3 p.m. ET matchup in Ottawa, which will air locally on Rogers TV and TSN 1200 Radio, will be the third meeting between Fury FC and United this year. Minnesota took all six points from the first two matchups, coming away with a pair of 2-1 victories. 

“We will focus on all the details that will give us a chance to win this game,” said Fury FC Head Coach Marc Dos Santos.  “Minnesota is a strong opponent and that is why they are leading the NASL. But we also know our value and we also know what we are capable of. Ottawa Fury FC will definitely be ready for this challenge.”

United Head Coach Manny Lagos also commented on what will be his first trip to TD Place: “We know we’re coming into a game on Sunday against a team in good form. We’re excited to get up to their beautiful new stadium - this will be the first time for us playing there - so we’re certainly looking forward to the trip.”

Elsewhere in Canada, FC Edmonton, who is four points away from the final spot in The Championship, aims to extend its four-game home winning streak when it hosts the Cosmos at 2 pm MT (4 pm ET) on NASLLive.com and locally on City TV.

“FC Edmonton is a team that has been playing very well lately and this game will be a big challenge for our team, but it’s one that we’re looking forward to,” said Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese. “Our previous games with Edmonton have always been very tightly contested and I expect a similar type of game this Sunday.”

The Cosmos, who are third in the Combined Standings, have a slight edge in the head-to-head series against the Eddies, however, the Canadian club has held the defending league champions to draws in three of the last four encounters.  The last time both teams met was on August 6 at Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium, and the match ended in a scoreless draw.

“Anytime Gio [Savarese] brings his team to Edmonton, we’ve had real tough games and I expect the same on Sunday,” said FC Edmonton Head Coach Colin Miller. “We’re hoping that the crowd comes back this Sunday to get behind us and cheer us on. We have to be at our very best to get the result, but last Sunday, I was very pleased with the way we played and I hope that this form will continue.”

NASL Fall Season Week 12 Schedule

Saturday, September 27

Atlanta Silverbacks vs. San Antonio Scorpions

Atlanta Silverbacks Park; Atlanta, Ga.  7:30 pm ET

Indy Eleven vs. Carolina RailHawks

IUPUI’s Michael A. Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, Ind.  7:30 pm ET

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla. 7:30 pm ET

Sunday, September 28

Ottawa Fury FC vs. Minnesota United FC

TD Place; Ottawa, Ontario  3 pm ET

FC Edmonton vs. New York Cosmos

Clarke Stadium; Edmonton, Alberta  4 pm ET