Final Two Weeks of the NASL Regular Season Heats Up
With two weeks left of the NASL regular season, Minnesota United and Rayo OKC battle for the final postseason spot. The Loons travel to take on the Carolina RailHawks, while Rayo OKC face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in Week 17 of the NASL Fall Season.
NASL Soccer News: The North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season is winding down with one spot remaining in The Championship, the league’s four-team postseason tournament. Minnesota United and Rayo OKC currently are tied for fourth place in the Combined Standings – with the Loons ahead on goal differential – heading into Week 17. Both clubs face crucial road matches against other playoff contenders on Saturday night – Minnesota visits the Carolina RailHawks, while Rayo OKC takes on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.
Miami FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies’ hopes of earning a playoff berth are hanging by a thread after losses on Wednesday night. The Rowdies host Ottawa Fury FC, while Miami heads to New York to take on the Cosmos, who have yet to lose a game at Shuart Stadium this calendar year.
Indy Eleven can remain unbeaten at home in a matchup with Puerto Rico FC. In the lone Sunday matchup, FC Edmonton hosts Jacksonville Armada FC.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Rayo OKC
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 22
Central Broward Stadium | Lauderhill, Fla.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), SFL-TV (Local – Fort Lauderdale), *International outlets
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Rayo OKC face off in an important matchup in the race to the playoffs. The Strikers need a win to stay in the hunt as they currently trail Rayo OKC by three points. Fort Lauderdale (6W-5D-9L, 23 points Fall; 10-8-12, 38 points Combined) enters the match on Saturday after two straight wins with Geison Moura leading the way for the Strikers. Moura has scored game-winning goals in back-to-back matches, most recently in a 2-0 victory over Puerto Rico FC. The Strikers have recorded just one loss at home in their last eight games.
Rayo OKC’s take on the Strikers as they remain unbeaten in their last eight matches. Michel has been leading the charge to the playoffs, scoring six times over the eight-game stretch. The veteran Brazilian scored three goals in Week 16 as Rayo OKC (7-8-5, 29 Fall; 10-11-9, 41 Combined) earned a pair of victories that vaulted the club into postseason contention. A win would not only give Rayo OKC a strong chance to reach The Championship, but also help shut the door on other contenders.
New York Cosmos vs. Miami FC
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 22
Shuart Stadium | Hempstead, N.Y.
Watch | ONE World Sports (National – U.S.), ONEWorldSports.com (National – U.S., Canada), GolTV (National – U.S.), *International outlets
The New York Cosmos have wrapped up the Fall Season title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, but the club will be fighting for a record on Saturday against Miami FC. The Cosmos (12-5-3, 41 Fall; 18-5-7, 59 Combined) are unbeaten in their last 18 regular-season games at Shuart Stadium and can set the league’s home unbeaten streak with a draw or win this weekend. Juan Arango continues to be the key point of the attack, using a pair of his signature free kicks to lead the Cosmos to a 4-2 win over Jacksonville Armada FC in the club’s last match. Arango and New York’s attack has been strong against Miami in the two meetings, scoring three goals apiece in each meeting and winning both.
For Miami FC, after grabbing a lead against Jacksonville on Wednesday night, the side conceded two goals and left Community First Park with no points. That loss kept Miami (8-6-6, 30 Fall; 9-10-11, 37 Combined) four points back of fourth place in the Combined Standings and the final playoff berth. Miami will be without Kwadwo Poku (red card) and Gabriel Farfán (yellow-card accumulation).
Carolina RailHawks vs. Minnesota United
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 22
WakeMed Soccer Park | Cary, N.C.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), TWC SportsChannel (Regional – North/South Carolina), WRAL2 (Local – Cary/Raleigh), MY29 (Local – Twin Cities)
The Carolina RailHawks hit a speed bump with back-to-back losses, but the club has a huge opportunity to vault itself right back into the playoff chase. Carolina (6-5-9, 23 Fall; 10-7-13, 37 Combined) hosts Minnesota United and a win on Saturday would move the club within a point of fourth place in the Combined Standings, depending on other results, heading into the final week of the Fall Season. The RailHawks have been in good form at WakeMed Soccer Park throughout most of the campaign, but have lost two of the last three home matches. Carolina defeated Minnesota, 2-1, in the Spring Season in Cary.
Minnesota (6-7-7, 25 Fall; 11-8-11, 41 Combined) faces off with Carolina after a confidence-building 3-1 win over FC Edmonton. After a winless streak of six matches, Christian Ramirez (18 goals) extended his league-leading goal total with a pair of tallies in the victory. With an advantage in goal differential, two wins to close out the regular season should bring the reward of a postseason spot.
Indy Eleven vs. Puerto Rico FC
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 22
Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), WISH-TV (Local – Indianapolis), WAPA 2 (National – Puerto Rico)
With a playoff spot already guaranteed, Indy Eleven played the role of spoiler on Wednesday with a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay, which put Rowdies’ postseason chances in question. More importantly for Indy (10-4-6, 34 Fall; 14-10-6, 52 Combined), the club shook off its struggles on the road to record a second win away from home in 2016. Now, the club will look to continue its unbeaten run at Carroll Stadium, where it has not lost in the last 17 matches. Coach Tim Hankinson chose to rest several players during the midweek clash, but forward Duke Lacroix stole the show with some stellar individual efforts in the victory.
Puerto Rico FC (4-9-7, 21 Fall; 4-9-7, 21 Combined) travels to Indy following a 2-0 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers that ended the club’s seven-game unbeaten run. Puerto Rico played the Eleven in the club’s first NASL game in the 1-1 draw. Puerto Rico has shown promising signs at the end of their first NASL season with several young players – Sidney Rivera, Jackie Marrero and Kyle Culbertson – making important contributions.
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Ottawa Fury FC
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 22
Al Lang Stadium | St. Petersburg, Fla.
Watch | beIN SPORTS en Español (National – U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National – U.S., Canada), BHSN 1147 (Local – St. Pete/Tampa Bay), Rogers TV (Local – Ottawa)
The postseason hopes for the Tampa Bay Rowdies were stalled on Wednesday night after the 3-2 loss to Indy Eleven. Joe Cole powered the Rowdies’ comeback with a pair of goals, but a late tally left Tampa Bay (5-7-8, 22 Fall; 9-11-10, 38 Combined) with no points and a three-point gap in the Combined Standings. Wednesday’s game was the second match in a row that Tampa Bay has fallen in a two-goal hole to start a game.
Fury FC (5-6-9, 21 Fall; 7-9-14, 30 Combined) are also trying to rebound from a setback in form that has resulted in three losses in the last four matches. The club lost, 3-1, a weekend ago to Rayo OKC. Ryan Williams and Giuseppe Gentile have scored the last four Fury FC goals with each having two goals apiece over the past four contests.
FC Edmonton vs. Jacksonville Armada FC
4 p.m. ET | Sunday, October 23
Clarke Stadium | Edmonton, Alberta
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), City TV (Local – Edmonton)
FC Edmonton will try to get back on track in their final home game with the postseason looming for the club. The Eddies (9-6-5, 33 Fall; 14-8-8, 50 Combined) have dropped the last two matches, most recently in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota United, before taking on Jacksonville Armada FC. The Eddies have picked up four points in the two previous contests against Sunday’s opponent. Coach Colin Miller has rested several regulars over the past two matches, most notably goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, and may do the same against Jacksonville.
Armada FC (4-8-8, 20 Fall; 5-12-13, 27 Combined) was in action on Wednesday night and played the role of spoiler with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Charles Eloundou shined once again with his dribbling ability and strength on the ball, recording a goal 36 seconds into the match against Miami.
