NASL WEEK 2 FALL SOCCER RECAP: Indy Eleven Extend Unbeaten Streak
Indy and New York score late for victories in Week 2 of the Fall Season – what it takes to be a championship team….
Soccer News: The North American Soccer League (NASL) fall soccer season kept fans on the edge of their seats with great soccer action right up to the final whistle.
Dylan Mares scored from long range as the NASL Spring Season champion Indy Eleven extended its unbeaten streak to 12 games by defeating Minnesota United, 1-0, in Week 2 of the Fall Season on Saturday night. The Boys in Blue are now one victory or draw away from tying the league’s unbeaten streak record.
Lucky Mkosana scored two goals, the second in the dying moments of the game, as the New York Cosmos took over first place in the NASL Fall Season Standings with a 3-2 win at Miami FC.
Carolina got back on the winning track as Matt Fondy scored in his RailHawks debut and Nazmi Albadawi scored twice and had an assist in a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay. Elsewhere, Jacksonville extended its unbeaten run to five games, beating Puerto Rico FC, 2-1.
Indy Eleven 1, Minnesota United 0
Indy Eleven (1-1-0, 4) celebrated its Spring Season championship before the start of the game, and remained unbeaten with the victory over Minnesota United (1-0-1, 3) at Michael Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis.
Indy midfielder Dylan Mares intercepted a pass and then powered a shot from outside the box past Sammy Ndjock in the 78th minute for the game’s only goal. In the first half, Eleven goalkeeper Jon Busch saved a Christian Ramirez penalty kick to keep the game scoreless. The penalty was awarded after Stefano Pinho’s brilliant run, highlighted by a triple step-over, that ended with him being taken down in the area.
Watch Head coach Tim Hankinson, goalkeeper Jon Busch and midfielder Dylan Mares give their thoughts on Indy Eleven’s important 1-0 win over Minnesota United at IUPUI’s Carroll Stadium.
New York Cosmos 3, Miami FC 2
Lucky Mkosana directed a corner kick across the goal line in second-half stoppage time as the Cosmos scored twice in the game’s final 10 minutes to defeat Miami FC for the second time this year at Ocean Bank Field in Miami.
New York (2-0-0, 6) took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute when Mkosana scored his second goal of the year, tucking a cross from David Diosa past Miami (0-1-1, 1) goalkeeper Daniel Vega. Kwadwo Poku, the midfielder acquired recently from New York City FC, equalized in the 73rd minute converting a brilliant diagonal pass from Dario Cvitanich.
Cosmos substitute Andrés Flores and Yohandry Orozco played a nifty 1-2 passing combination that sent Orozco in alone for his third goal of the year in the 81stminute. Cvitanich buried a penalty kick in the 88th to once again tie the score. WIth time running out, Hunter Freeman’s corner kick to the near post struck the woodwork and bounded off Mkosana’s thigh and into the net for the game-winner.
Carolina RailHawks 4, Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
The RailHawks earned their first win in eight games, defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, powered by Nazmi Albadawi’s two goals and one assist.
Striker Matt Fondy made his first start for Carolina (1-0-1, 3) and put the RailHawks on top in the 11th minute, heading Albadawi’s corner kick past Tampa Bay (0-1-1, 1) goalkeeper Matt Pickens. The Rowdies’ Georgi Hristov equalized from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, his fifth goal of the year. Fondy played a role in the RailHawks’ second goal — a Brian Shriver penalty in the 55th minute — when he was tripped up in the penalty area. Albadawi scored another from the penalty spot just four minutes later; and then his second in the 71st minute to put the game to bed.
Freddy Adu made his 2016 debut for the Rowdies, coming on for Joe Cole in the 72nd minute.
Jacksonville Armada FC 2, Puerto Rico FC 1
The Armada FC extended its unbeaten streak to five games with a win over Puerto Rico FC in a game that included a two-hour weather delay at Community First Park on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Fla.
Jacksonville (1-1-0, 4) jumped into the lead only minutes into the game when Jemal Johnson one-timed a cross from Alex Dixon past Puerto Rico FC (0-1-1, 1) goalkeeper David Meves. After a lengthy weather delay that began in the 20th minute, Johnson returned the favor when he provided the pass as Alex Dixon doubled the lead, scoring in the 27th minute. Héctor Ramos cut the lead in half when his header in the 78th minute beat goalkeeper Sean Lewis. It was the second goal in as many games for Ramos.
Source/Photo Credit: North American Soccer League
