Road Clubs Shine In Week 9 Of NASL Spring Season
Photo credit: Indy Eleven/Trevor Ruszkowski
In Week 9 of the NASL Spring Season, the road teams reigned supreme. All three traveling sides earned three points and now sit one, two, and three in the standings.
Jacksonville Armada FC earned a resounding victory in San Francisco as Zach Steinberger paced the club with a pair of goals on Friday night. The win was the largest road victory for the club in its history.
On Saturday night, North Carolina FC overturned a Puerto Rico FC lead late, scoring twice in the final 20 minutes of action. Matt Fondy played a starring role in the club’s win.
Also on Saturday night, Indy Eleven’s record home unbeaten streak came to an end as Miami FC downed the Boys in Blue with goals in either half. It was the second weekend in a row that Miami earned three points against Indy, remaining as the leader of the pack in the Spring Season.
Continue below for a recap of all the action in Week 9:
San Francisco Deltas 0, Jacksonville Armada FC 3
Fresh off a midweek U.S. Open Cup win, followed by a cross-country flight, Jacksonville Armada FC stormed into Kezar Stadium and shut out the San Francisco Deltas, 3-0, on Friday night. The hosts controlled the opening 15 minutes, but Jacksonville took it from there, getting a pair of headed goals from star midfielder Zach Steinberger in the 28th and 45th minutes, respectively.
The visitors continued to put pressure on the Deltas after halftime, and eventually their strong play led to a third goal in the 73rd minute. Steinberger, who was outstanding all night, threaded a pass behind the San Francisco defense, and substitute forward Derek Gebhard was there to run onto it and curl an inch-perfect shot over the head of Deltas goalkeeper Romuald Peiser.
The result snapped the Deltas' three-game winning streak in all competitions, while Jacksonville moved into third place in the Spring Season Standings with three big road points.
Puerto Rico FC 1, North Carolina FC 2
Similar to a few weeks ago, Puerto Rico FC was unable to maintain its lead at home and fell to North Carolina FC, 2-1, on Saturday night at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium. Puerto Rico lost by the same scoreline to Miami FC on April 29 after holding the advantage for the majority of the game.
Starting a new era after parting ways with coach Adrian Whitbread, Puerto Rico FC began the game brightly. Guyana international Emery Welshman used trickery to create a goalscoring opportunity, but his shot went wide of the net. The home side, though, wouldn’t have to wait long for an opener. Rudy Dawson rose well to head home Jordi Quintillà’s corner kick in the 27th minute.
North Carolina FC stormed back in the last 20 minutes, however. Putting a lot of pressure on Puerto Rico’s back line and debutant goalkeeper Austin Pack, the visitors found the equalizer in the 73rd minute. Matt Fondy was unmarked and connected with a header from Lance Laing’s corner kick to level the score. Second-half substitute Billy Schuler would then provide the decisive touch in the contest. Fondy whipped in a cross from the right flank and Schuler volleyed his shot into the back of the net.
The win pushed North Carolina into second place in the Spring Season Standings as the club has now won three of its last four games.
Indy Eleven 0, Miami FC 2
After beating Indy Eleven a weekend ago, Miami FC made it two for two, downing the Boys in Blue, 2-0, at Carroll Stadium on Saturday night. The win for Miami snapped Indy’s 21-game home unbeaten streak, which is a league record.
Miami, who entered the game on a four-game winning run, including the Open Cup victory on Wednesday, jumped all over the home side from the outset. Vincenzo Rennella gave Miami the lead just before the half-hour mark when the club used quick thinking from a free kick to open the scoring. Hunter Freeman played the ball on the ground to Robert Baggio Kcira, with the Indy defense not switched on, and Kcira smashed the ball across the face of goal. Rennella helped the ball into the net for his third goal of the year, and his third tally in three career games against Indy.
Kwadwo Poku then sealed the win in the 72nd minute for the visitors. Michael Lahoud lofted a ball towards Poku, who raced through a gap in Indy’s back line. The Ghanaian international then curled a right-footed shot past Indy goalkeeper Jon Busch to double Miami’s advantage.
Miami, which sits in first place, continues to showcase a devastating attack. In the club’s last four league wins, Miami has scored nine goals.
