BEFORE THE WHISTLE | Omar Bravo Set For League Debut With Carolina

The Carolina RailHawks hope to continue their winning streak when Miami FC visits WakeMed Soccer Park. It will be a special night in Cary, N.C. as Mexican international Omar Bravo is set for his debut.

Here are some of the key storylines to watch for

Carolina Hopes For Winning Encore As Bravo Debuts: Mexican star Omar Bravo could not have arrived at a better time for the RailHawks. After a seven-game winless streak, Carolina has put together two straight wins and the attack is only getting stronger. Bravo, a veteran with 65 appearances for Mexico’s national team and a long-time fixture at Chivas Guadalajara in Liga MX, is ready to step on the field at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C, to face Miami FC on Friday night.

Cosmos Deal With Road Woes: The New York Cosmos and Tampa Bay Rowdies is a firece rivalry dating back to the league's Legendary Era. New York has struggled on the road, losing three out of its last four, while Tampa Bay is on a three-game unbeaten run. The Cosmos, who remain in first place in the Fall Season Standings, have a 2W-0D-5L record away from Shuart Stadium this year, with both wins coming at Miami FC. New York was blanked, 3-0, at Rayo OKC last week. Meanwhile, the Rowdies were sparked by Joe Cole and his Play of the Week bicycle kick. The Cosmos could receive a boost from the return to fitness of Bolivian international Yasmani Duk, who sustained a broken nose that required surgery playing in last month’s Copa América.

In The Nik Of Time: FC Edmonton has not shipped many goals this year (only eight in the Spring and Fall Season combined) and Nik Ledgerwood has contributed to the play of that stingy defense. His goalscoring prowess, though, is not what he's know for. In 15 years as a professional, mostly in Germany, he has scored 11 times, which includes a “breakout” season with the Swedish club Hammarby IF in 2012-13 when he scored four. Last week Ledgerwood’s 82nd-minute goal gave the Eddies a 1-0 win against Ottawa Fury FC. It was his first goal since he played for Energie Cottbus in 2014-15.

Back To Bayamón: Rayo OKC coach Alen Marcina is no stranger to Puerto Rico, where he played for the Islanders in 2006 and 2007. Marcina, the NASL’s youngest coach at 36, was an all-star in the USL First Division when he scored 13 goals in 27 games for the Islanders before decamping for New Zealand. He returned to the Caribbean island for eight games in 2007. Now, he takes his team, which is unbeaten in its last six matches, to Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium.

Right Foot Meet Left Foot: The majority of goals scored in the league this year have been by players using their right foot (54 percent to 26 percent; 18 percent have been scored on headers). But not surprisingly, Rayo OKC has scored 67 percent (12) of its goals on left-footed shots, no doubt because its left-footed midfielder Michel has scored eight of the club’s 18 goals. New York (16 of 23; 70 percent) and Minnesota (13 of 23; 57 percent), the two highest-scoring teams, lean distinctly to the right.