NASL Announces Scheduling Details For The Championship Semifinals
Indy Eleven clinched the 2016 North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season title with a dramatic victory over the Carolina RailHawks in June, and with the silverware came the right to host a game in The Championship Semifinals in November.
Now, with the Fall Season title race hitting the final stretch, the club that will host the other semifinal match is close to being determined. The New York Cosmos, FC Edmonton, and Miami FC are all in the running as the league heads into the final three weeks of the season, and although a winner has yet to emerge from the race, the potential dates and times for the semifinals were announced on Wednesday.
Indy Eleven’s semifinal match is the only one set in stone at this time. The Boys in Blue will take the field in front of their home fans on Saturday, November 5 at 3 p.m. ET at Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The Fall Season title comes with the right to host the other semifinal, and here are the details for each club should they end up on top:
- New York Cosmos: Saturday, November 5, 7 p.m. ET, Shuart Stadium
- FC Edmonton: Sunday, November 6, Time TBD, Clarke Stadium
- Miami FC: Saturday, November 5, 8 p.m. ET, Ocean Bank Field
The defending NASL champion Cosmos are currently in the driver’s seat for the Fall Season title, entering Week 16 with a five-point advantage over the Eddies. New York has, however, played one more game than Edmonton, so a victory from the Canadian side on Wednesday night in Fort Lauderdale would tighten things up.
Miami needs some significant help if it’s going to earn semifinal hosting rights. Alessandro Nesta’s side trails the Cosmos by nine points, but, like the Eddies, Miami has a game in hand on the defending champions.
The schedule this week features some significant midweek action, with three matches on the docket, including the aforementioned game between the Eddies and Strikers at Central Broward Stadium.
For updates on The Championship Race, click here.
