LEAGUE PREVIEW | Home Openers In New York And Ottawa Headline NASL Week 3 Matchups
North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season action rolls on this weekend with five matchups in Ottawa, New York, Carolina, San Antonio, and Edmonton. Headlining the list of Week 3 fixtures is a classic rivalry match at Shuart Stadium, where the New York Cosmos will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies in their home opener on Saturday.
Ottawa Fury FC will also be playing in its home opener, welcoming a tough Minnesota United FC side to TD Place. Midfielder Miguel Ibarra is back with the Loons after helping the U.S. to a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Wednesday.
Here is a look at all five Week 3 matchups:
Ottawa Fury FC vs. Minnesota United FC
3 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 18
TD Place | Ottawa, Ontario
Watch | ESPN3 (National-U.S.), OttawaFuryFC.com (National-U.S./Canada), Rogers TV (Local-Ottawa), KSTC-45TV (Local-Minnesota)
After kicking off the year with two road matches, Fury FC hosts United in its 2015 home opener at TD Place. While Ottawa has lost all three of its previous meetings against the Loons, each of those contests could have gone either way. Last year's NASL Golden Boot winner Christian Ramirez scored game-winning goals in all three of the clashes - two of which came in the 88th minute or later.
The Loons were held scoreless in their season-opening draw with the Tampa Bay Rowdies last weekend, while Fury FC earned a road draw of their own against the Atlanta Silverbacks thanks to strong goalkeeping play from Romuald Peiser. Fury FC will get a big boost on Saturday, as Canadian international Julian de Guzman returns to the fold after serving a one-game suspension.
New York Cosmos vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 18
Shuart Stadium | Hempstead, N.Y.
Watch | ONE World Sports (National-U.S.)
When the Cosmos and Rowdies kick off on Saturday, it will mark another chapter in what is the longest-standing and possibly fiercest rivalry in NASL history. Both sides have looked solid out of the gate in 2015, taking four points from their first two matches. For New York, Saturday's match will be serve as the club's home opener, and it will also be forward Raúl's first time playing in front of the home fans at Shuart Stadium.
Midfielder Walter Restrepo has already tallied two assists for the Cosmos this season, looking every bit of the player that was named to the 2014 NASL Best XI. The Rowdies will once again be tasked with slowing down a formidable attack when they visit New York for the third time in the NASL Modern Era (0W-1D-1L). Defender Stefan Antonijevic has played well for the Rowdies, earning consecutive Team of the Week honors to open the season. The visitors will need much of the same from the towering center back against the Cosmos this weekend.
Carolina RailHawks vs. Atlanta Silverbacks
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 18
WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.
Watch | ESPN3 (National-U.S.)
After picking up a point in tough conditions in Edmonton, the RailHawks find themselves atop the NASL Spring Season standings. Colin Clarke's side looked good in its first home match against Fury FC, and they will try to do the same on Saturday against the Silverbacks, who have won just once in their last eight tries at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Forward Nacho Novo has opened up the season in fine form, scoring twice in as many matches, for the RailHawks. If the Silverbacks can slow down the former Rangers FC star, as well as his dynamic teammates Nazmi Albadawi, Mark Anderson, and Tiyi Shipalane, they will put themselves in a good position to get a result. Defenders Simon Mensing and Paul Black, as well as midfielder Jon Okafor, have been standout performers thus far for the Silverbacks, and with a healthy Hans Denissen, Atlanta should put this tough Carolina side to the test.
San Antonio Scorpions vs. Indy Eleven
8:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, April 18
Toyota Field | San Antonio, Texas
Watch | ESPN3 (National-U.S.), KSAT 12.2 MeTV (San Antonio-Local)
After a humbling defeat in their home opener, the Scorpions had to wait a week to finally step back on the pitch. The defending champions host Indy Eleven, who they defeated, 2-0, in the last meeting between the two sides at Toyota Field. Better organization will be key for the Scorpions after conceding three times, uncharacteristically, against the Rowdies to start the season.
With plenty of attacking options in Billy Forbes, Rafael Castillo, and Cesar Elizondo, among several others, Indy's back line will have a real challenge on its hands this weekend. The Boys in Blue, however, have an attacking punch of their own, with Jamaican international Brian Brown and on-loan forward Charlie Rugg combining well in their first start together against the Cosmos last Saturday.
FC Edmonton vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
4 p.m. ET | Sunday, April 19
Clarke Field | Edmonton, Alberta
Watch | ESPN3 (National-U.S.) City TV Edmonton (Local-Edmonton)
While Edmonton has been a treacherous road trip for many NASL sides, it has not hampered the Strikers dating back to 2011 (3W-4D-1L). Serving as one suggestion that the trend may continue on Sunday is Fort Lauderdale's new Brazilian duo of Léo Moura and Victor "PC" Giro, who have both been outstanding thus far in 2015.
The Eddies will look to avoid another slow start on Sunday, as Colin Miller's side has struggled in the opening stages of its first two matches this year. One key area to watch will be up and down the left wing, where the speedy Lance Laing will clash with converted right back Shawn Chin. Laing continues to be a dominant figure in the Eddies' midfield, and he certainly has the ability to cause problems for Chin, who is still learning his role in the back line. FC Edmonton has taken just one point from two matches so far, and they desperately need to recapture the form that made them a dangerous team at the tail end of the 2014 Fall Season.
