The Competition for the NASL Championship Intensifies in Week 10
Only six points separate second and fifth place in Combined Standings.
Midweek action between Jacksonville Armada FC and Indy Eleven kicked off Week 10 of the North American Soccer league (NASL) Fall Season, and now a full slate of Sunday games will round out the schedule.
FC Edmonton welcomes the San Francisco Deltas to Clarke Stadium at 4 p.m. ET a week after falling to the Bay Area side, 2-1, at Kezar Stadium. In the other 4 p.m.kickoff, Indy Eleven stays on the road to face North Carolina FC.
One hour later, Puerto Rico FC makes an emotional return to the field in the wake of Hurricane Maria when the club faces the New York Cosmos. In the last matchup of the day, Jacksonville heads south in a matchup with league leader Miami FC. Miami defeated Armada FC, 3-0, a weekend ago.
FC Edmonton vs. San Francisco Deltas
FC Edmonton gets another crack at the San Francisco Deltas, this time at Clarke Stadium. The Eddies fell to San Francisco a weekend ago, with Salvadoran international Dustin Corea getting on the scoresheet late for the club. Edmonton has lost four out of five meetings with San Francisco – with two of those losses coming at home. All of the previous matchups have been decided by a goal.
Devon Sandoval played a pivotal role last week for San Francisco, scoring two goals in a 2-2 draw with the New York Cosmos and added an assist in the weekend victory over the Eddies.
North Carolina FC vs. Indy Eleven
North Carolina FC put on a strong showing on the road against the New York Cosmos with a 2-0 victory at MCU Park. Austin da Luz pulled the strings with an assist and a goal in the win. NCFC is in the thick of the race to the postseason, but the club will need to turn around its home form to solidify a place in The Championship. The club has not won at home since July 15, earning five draws with one loss in the last six home contests.
Indy is coming off a scoreless draw in Jacksonville on Wednesday. One player that will certainly be looking forward to the matchup with North Carolina is Eamon Zayed. The Ireland native has scored two game-winning goals against this weekend’s opponent this year. In the last meeting between the sides, Zayed scored a header in second-half stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win.
New York Cosmos vs. Puerto Rico FC
The New York Cosmos are hoping to rebound on Sunday after a recent three-game home stretch that only netted the club two points. Most recently, the club was shut out by North Carolina FC.
Puerto Rico FC readies for its first time on the field after Hurricane Maria. The club last played on September 16 in a 0-0 draw with North Carolina FC. Puerto Rico has lost its two previous matchups in New York, but the club will look to take advantage of the Cosmos’ tough stretch of form.
Miami FC vs. Jacksonville Armada FC
After already locking up a postseason berth with the Spring Season title, Miami FC is on pace to claim the Fall Season title as well. Stéfano Pinho who has 12 goals, and Jaime Chávez, who has 10, led the way in the club’s recent win over Jacksonville Armada FC. Pinho scored and had an assist as Chávez scored two and supplied the assist for Pinho’s opening tally. Miami will look to make it a clean sweep against Jacksonville with four wins already against its Florida rival.
On the heels of a draw against Indy Eleven on Wednesday, Armada FC heads into Sunday’s clash with Miami pushing for a postseason place and looking to take down its Florida rival for the first time this year. Jacksonville has yet to score against Miami this season.
Photo Credit: NASL
