Fifth Season Kicks Off for NASL
As the North American Soccer League (NASL) kicked off its fifth season on Saturday, one thing was clear – it was going to be a day to remember.
44, 479 fans attended five league matches on Saturday, setting a new league record for attendance in a single match week. The records didn’t stop there.
Jacksonville Armada FC broke the NASL Modern Era attendance record, drawing 16,164 fans at EverBank Field, where they topped FC Edmonton, 3-1. Armada FC’s first goal, scored by Jemal Johnson, came just 12 seconds into the match, setting a record for the fastest goal scored in the league’s Modern Era.
Not too far away, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers set a record of their own, playing in front of its largest ever Modern Era crowd – 11,691 – at Lockhart Stadium. On the field, the New York Cosmos got the last laugh, earning a 1-0 victory in Spanish legend Raúl‘s official debut.
Here are all the results from the first weekend of NASL Spring Season action:
Carolina RailHawks 3, Ottawa Fury FC 1
Carolina started off its season with a bang against visiting Ottawa Fury FC at WakeMed Soccer Park. The RailHawks jumped out to a quick two-goal lead through goals from Tiyi Shipalane and Nacho Novo. After second-half substitute Brandon Poltronieri pulled one back for Fury FC, RailHawks veteran Simone Bracalello made sure the home side collected all three points, finding the net in stoppage time to clinch a 3-1 win.
Atlanta Silverbacks 1, Indy Eleven 1
Atlanta was moments away from a win in Gary Smith‘s NASL coaching debut, but a late penalty kick for Indy Eleven clinched a share of the points. Second-half substitute Don Smart converted a spot kick in stoppage time to cancel out Shaka Bangura‘s opener earlier in the half.
New York Cosmos 1, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0
The Strikers and Cosmos wrote another chapter in their long-standing rivalry. In a game where the Strikers had more scoring opportunities, it was the Cosmos who were able to secure a 1-0 victory. Raúl made his Cosmos debut, but it was another debutant that notched the game’s only goal. Leo Fernandes headed home the winner from a Walter Restrepo corner kick in the 58th minute, and while the goal cost the Strikers the game, the home side did set a club attendance record.
Jacksonville Armada FC 3, FC Edmonton 1
Jackonsville Armada FC began its inaugural season in the NASL and, if you blinked, you probably missed their first-ever league goal. Johnson scored just 12 seconds into the game to put the home side up on FC Edmonton, and the tally was so quick that it set a Modern Era record for the league’s fastest goal. Armada FC added two more goals later in the first half, with Alhassane Keita and Marcos Flores each opening their NASL scoring accounts. The Eddies would eventually pull one back through Ritchie Jones, but it was merely a consolation.
Tampa Bay Rowdies 3, San Antonio Scorpions 1
The Scorpions celebrated their 2014 NASL Championship prior to the match, and unfortunately for the hosts, that was the only thing they would be celebrating on Saturday night. The Rowdies jumped ahead in the 10th minute through a header from Stefan Antonijevic. Darwin Espinal, a 20-year-old forward making his professional debut, scored just before the halftime whistle to double the advantage. After the Rowdies added a third through Corey Hertzog in the 61st minute, the Scorpions pulled one back when second-half substitute Omar Cummings scored in stoppage time. It was too little, too late for the defending champions, though, as the visitors cruised to a season-opening victory.
