Mauro Eustaquio Hitting Stride With Eddies

Photo credit: Tony Lewis/FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton midfielder Mauro Eustaquio returns to the center of the park for the Eddies following the 2017 NASL break with the momentum of a positive run-in during the final half of the Spring Season at his back.

The 24-year-old from Nazaré, Portugal, started seven of the last nine matches in the midfield for the Eddies this past Spring Season after only appearing twice as a substitute in the club’s first 10 contests. Several injuries within the squad allowed the young midfielder his opportunity before impressing head coach Colin Miller with a string of fine performances to end the first half of the 2017 campaign.

“Obviously every player wants to play and if a player tells you otherwise than he’s lying,” Eustaquio said. “We all want to help and be involved. So it wasn’t the best being on the bench at the beginning of the season, especially when we weren’t getting the results. But with a lot of work and analyzing things off the pitch it definitely helped when I got my opportunity to come in.”

Eustaquio featured in the NASL Team of the Week following an impressive comeback win against North Carolina FC. Despite going down 1-0 in the first half, the Eddies rallied back with Eustaquio scoring the game-winning goal off the post and past North Carolina to secure all three points.

“It feels good,” Eustaquio said of his first goal for the Eddies. “On a personal level [scoring] is something every player wants to do, but it was more the fact that it was a win the team needed. I look at it in a way to help the team. [Scoring] is something I’m not used to doing, but if things go my way and I can help the team win with goals or assists, then I’m happy with it.”

A shining light for the Eddies this campaign has been the connection in the midfield between Allan Zebie and Eustaquio, who share a strong bond both on and off the pitch that is apparent when both feature alongside one another in the midfield. The duo started their first match together in an impressive 4-2 win in Brooklyn against the New York Cosmos back on June 3, starting five more games together over the rest of the Spring Season.

“I’ve known Allan for a while and we have that relationship off the pitch as well,” Eustaquio stated. “We're always talking on and off the pitch. The last couple games we’ve been at the point where we can read each other’s minds, so I know where he is even when I have my head down. Allan and I are at that point where we really enjoy playing with each other and the chemistry’s been building, so hopefully that continues.”

Head coach Colin Miller has been impressed with Eustaquio's play since arriving to the club in February of 2017 after an offseason move from rival Ottawa Fury FC. Miller admitted that Eustaquio had some adjusting to do in order to get used to the club’s style of play, but the Eddies’ boss has been impressed with how he’s adjusted his game since arriving in Alberta’s capital.

“Isn’t it great to see two young Canadians in there?” Miller said. “I couldn’t be happier about how these two men have responded to the criticism and coaching given to them. They have responded 100 percent to the way we want things done at the club. It’s a bit of a blessing because with injuries, Mauro has taken the chance and now it’s his spot to lose. If it’s not broken, then I won’t fix it.”