Plenty At Stake Going Into Four-Game Wednesday Night Slate

Photo credit: New York Cosmos

After a thrilling weekend of North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season action, league play picks back up quickly with four games on Wednesday night. Two of the league’s top four sides hit the road in key contests in both the Fall Season and Combined Standings. The New York Cosmos can bolster their lead at the top of both tables, but they will face a Carolina RailHawks side that is difficult to beat at home and playing for its postseason life. FC Edmonton, currently sitting in third place in both tables, heads down south to visit Jacksonville Armada FC with a chance to use the club’s game in hand to return to second place.

Miami FC, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and Ottawa Fury FC will also all take the field on Wednesday night with each having a chance to further thrust themselves into the thick of the race to The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament. Miami will host Ottawa, while the Strikers are on the road against Puerto Rico FC.  

Jacksonville Armada FC vs. FC Edmonton
7 p.m. ET | Wednesday, September 28
Community First Park | Jacksonville, Fla.
Watch | CBS Sports Network (National – U.S., Canada)

Jacksonville Armada FC (2W-6D-7L, 12 points Fall; 3-10-12, 19 Combined) is unbeaten in its last four games at home and is back at Community First Park against FC Edmonton after a 1-1 draw with Rayo OKC. Forward Charles Eloundou has been realizing the potential he showed during the club’s preseason and scored his team-leading fifth goal of the year in last Saturday’s draw. The Cameroonian international has now found the back of the net in three straight games.

FC Edmonton is hoping to shake off a loss from last weekend when the club lost to the Carolina RailHawks, 1-0. The Eddies have been held scoreless for the past four games and the recent loss dropped the Canadian side to third place in the Fall Season and Combined Standings. FC Edmonton (7-5-3, 26 Fall; 12-7-6, 43 Combined) is still within reach of a Fall Season title and needs to get back on track starting on Wednesday night. The side has had success in Jacksonville this year, securing a 1-0 result in the last matchup between the two teams. 

Carolina RailHawks vs. New York Cosmos
7:30 p.m. ET | Wednesday, September 28
WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.
Watch | ONE World Sports (National – U.S.), ONEWorldSports.com (National – U.S., Canada), TWC SportsChannel (Regional – North/South Carolina), WRAL2 (Local – Cary/Raleigh)

The Carolina RailHawks are coming off an important win over FC Edmonton, as Austin da Luz found the back of the net in the first half, to move the club within three points of fourth place in the Combined Standings and a potential postseason berth. The RailHawks (5-4-6, 19 Fall; 9-6-10, 33 Combined) enter Wednesday night’s contest riding a nine-game home unbeaten streak with the club winning three of the last four contests at WakeMed Soccer Park. Carolina has also held its opponent scoreless in the last three games in front of its home supporters.

The New York Cosmos, who still hold onto the top spot in the Fall Season and Combined Standings, were humbled against Indy Eleven last Saturday in a 3-0 loss. Winning games away from home has been an issue for the Cosmos in 2016, but the club should be confident going into its visit to Carolina. New York (9-4-3, 31 Fall; 15-4-7, 49 Combined) is unbeaten against the RailHawks in the last five meetings between the sides, and the Cosmos also handed Carolina a 6-1 loss back in New York at the end of August.

Puerto Rico FC vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
7:30 p.m. ET | Wednesday, September 28
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium | Bayamón, PR
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), WAPA 2 (National – Puerto Rico), This TV (Local – Fort Lauderdale), international outlets*

Puerto Rico FC is fresh from the first road victory in club history when a Miami own goal gave Adrian Whitbread’s men all three points. Puerto Rico(2-8-6, 14 Fall; 2-8-6, 14 Combined) is now unbeaten in the last four games – keeping three clean sheets. While Héctor Ramos led the side early in the Fall Season, Puerto Rican international Jackie Marrero has been the catalyst of late. He scored in the club’s recent 3-3 draw with Jacksonville Armada FC and then it was his free kick that was flicked on by Miami’s Pablo Campos into his own net for the only goal of the game last weekend.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers visit Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium after letting a key opportunity slip. The Strikers (4-5-6, 17 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) could have gained ground in the postseason chase, but were beaten by rival Tampa Bay, 4-1. The Strikers, though, are only four points behind fourth-place Minnesota United and use their game in hand on Wednesday night. No less than three points will do for the Strikers, who have been one of the better sides on the road and are tied for the most wins away from home in league play – Miami FC also has four.  

Miami FC vs. Ottawa Fury FC
8 p.m. ET | Wednesday, September 28
Ocean Bank Field | Miami, Fla.
Watch | beIN SPORTS en Español (National – U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National – U.S., Canada), Rogers TV (Local – Ottawa), *International outlets

Miami FC was surging in the Combined Standings, but the side has fizzled a bit in the last two games. Before its recent two-game losing streak, the club had kept three shutouts in a row and was unlucky to not pick up another against Puerto Rico, only conceding on an own goal when the ball skimmed off the head of Pablo Campos and past goalkeeper Daniel Vega. Miami (7-4-4, 25 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) will also need to refocus its attacking efforts after finding tough going last Saturday.

While Miami has stumbled of late, Ottawa Fury FC is flying. The club is coming off back-to-back wins against Minnesota United, scoring three goals apiece in each of the two games. Ottawa (5-5-6, 20 Fall; 7-8-11, 29 Combined) also enters the midweek game with an unbeaten run of seven games. The recent stretch has moved Ottawa to fifth place in the Fall Season Standings and seven points out of fourth place in the Combined Standings behind the Loons. While last year’s runner-up still has plenty of ground to cover, it can dent Miami’s postseason chances and improve its own with a positive result. The clubs played to a scoreless draw in their last meeting, at TD Place, in late August.

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