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Two Points Separate Five Clubs in NASL Spring Season Championship Race

The Cosmos and Loons look to stay hot at home, while the Eddies and Eleven take to the road
NASL Staff | May 27, 2016

Photo credit: New York Cosmos

The New York Cosmos start Week 9 atop the North American Soccer League NASL Spring Season Standings, but the tightly packed title race could flip at any moment. The top spot exchanged hands three times last weekend, and a mere two points separates the top five clubs.

The Cosmos are at home as expansion side Rayo OKC makes its first trip to New York. Minnesota United, like the Cosmos, has an unblemished home record and the Loons will put that to the test against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. FC Edmonton, currently in second place, heads south to take on a well-rested Miami FC side. Indy Eleven is also on the road, traveling to face the Jacksonville Armada FC, with another chance to remain the league’s sole unbeaten team. All four games will kick off on Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Week 9 features one Friday night contest with an in-form Fort Lauderdale Strikers side heading to Ottawa to match up with Fury FC.

Here is a full preview of each Week 9 matchup:

Ottawa Fury FC vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
7 p,m. ET | Friday, May 27
TD Place | Ottawa, Ontario
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), Rogers TV (Local – Ottawa), SFL-TV (Local – Fort Lauderdale)

Two sides gaining momentum meet at TD Place with the hope of making up some ground in the Spring Season title race. Ottawa Fury FC is unbeaten at home in the Spring Season, while the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are unbeaten in their last three.

Fury FC (2W-2D-3L, 8 points) was able to pull out a 1-0 victory in its last match and Canadian international Marcel de Jong starred, breaking up Jacksonville Armada FC attacks and scoring the game-winning goal. De Jong has scored twice in three games in the 88th minute or later. For the Strikers (2-3-2, 9), Honduran international Ramón Núñez put on a virtuoso performance with a stunning game-winner in a 2-1 win over Rayo OKC. Núñez, who hit the crossbar on two other occasions, has been the catalyst for Fort Lauderdale and his growing form has coincided with Fort Lauderdale's improved results.

Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Indy Eleven
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, May 28
Community First Park | Jacksonville, Fla.
Watch | | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), CW17 (Local – Jacksonville)

Indy Eleven (3-4-0, 13) showcased their resiliency once again in their 4-2 win over Minnesota United, remaining once again as the sole unbeaten side in the Spring Season. Riding their strong back line and the play of goalkeeper Jon Busch through most the year, it was the Eleven's attacking players who shined in the four-goal outburst. The combination of Justin Braun, Eamon Zayed - the team's leading scorer - and Jamaican international Omar Gordon formed a three-headed monster that provided the attacking threat against Minnesota.

Jacksonville Armada FC is hoping to get back on track after a tough stretch that has seen the club lose its last four contests. The club fell just short of earning a draw against Ottawa Fury FC last weekend until Marcel de Jong's late tally. While the club didn't score, the Armada FC (1-1-5, 4) created plenty of chances, which Tony Meola's side can build off of back at home after a two-game road swing.

New York Cosmos vs. Rayo OKC
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, May 28
Shuart Stadium | Hempstead, N.Y.
Watch | ONE World Sports (National – U.S.), ONEWorldSports.com (National – U.S., Canada), Cox Channel 703 (Local – Oklahoma City)

Two of the NASL's top scorers square off as expansion side Rayo OKC pays a to visit the New York Cosmos for the first time. Brazilian Michel leads the league with five goals, while Juan Arango has netted three of his own.

The Cosmos (5-0-3, 15) have had a rollercoaster ride of a Spring Season, but they find themselves atop the standings once again after defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-1, in Week 8. Arango's creativity has led the way, tallying two assists in the recent victory, but the depth of the defending champions was on display. Ruben Bover and Danny Szetela have both shaken off injuries and will be key contributors as the Cosmos aim to repeat as Spring Season Champions.

Rayo OKC has shown flashes of strong play, with Michel at the forefront, but it hasn't produced as many positive results as the club would have liked. But the expansion side has certainly acquitted itself well heading into a matchup with the league's top team. Rayo OKC (2-2-3, 8) has performed particularly strongly on the road (2-1-0) and Alen Marcina's side will look to rebound after its 2-1 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers last weekend.

Miami FC vs. FC Edmonton
8 p.m. ET | Saturday May 28
Ocean Bank Field | Miami, Fla.
Watch | beIN SPORTS (National – U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National – U.S., Canada), *International outlets

FC Edmonton had a brief taste of what it felt like to be atop the league standings, but the New York Cosmos overtook the top spot later a few hours later last Sunday. The Eddies (4-2,2, 14) despite having a gauntlet of games, which included two Amway Canadian Championship fixtures, have emerged from their busy stretch in good shape. FC Edmonton is unbeaten in five matches, winning four of them. The strong defensive pairing of Albert Watson and league newcomer Papé Diakité has been a key to the club's success throughout the Spring Season.

Miami FC (0-3-4, 3) is coming off its bye week and should be well rested ahead of its matchup with the Eddies. The club has bolstered its midfield in recent weeks with the additions of 2015 NASL Best XI midfielder Richie Ryan and Sierra Leone international Michael Lahoud, as the side is still seeking its first league win. A more assured performance against the Carolina RailHawks in a 0-0 draw in the club's last game will be the platform the side will try to build on with the streaking Eddies in town.

Minnesota United vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
8 p.m. ET | Saturday, May 28
NSC Stadium | Blaine, Minn.
Watch | ESPN 3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), MY29 (Local – Twin Cities)

Minnesota United is coming off a tough loss against Indy Eleven, but the club returns to where it has been dominant in 2016: NSC Stadium. The Loons (4-1-2, 13) have won all three of their home games without conceding a single goal. Christian Ramirez has found the back of the net four times this season, as last year's Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner, Stefano Pinho, is starting to hit top stride with goals in back-to-back-games. Defender Kevin Venegas has continued his strong play in both attacking and defensive situations, but his fellow outside back, Justin Davis, will miss out on Saturday after picking up two yellow cards last game.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies (2-3-2, 9) are coming off a tough loss to the New York Cosmos, but they have certainly been buoyed by the addition of Joe Cole. The English veteran has jumped right into the fray and has put in two active performances. Midfielder Kalif Alhassan, who scored four goals in 28 appearances for the Loons, returns to Minnesota for the first time since swapping teams in the offseason.

*Fort Lauderdale and Miami has international TV partners in various countries. Visit strikers.com and miamifc.com for more information.

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