Indy Eleven Host New York Cosmos in NASL Week 13 Action
NASL Week 13 action prepares to kick off as Indy Eleven welcome the New York Cosmos to Carroll Stadium on Saturday night. Teams across the league are gearing up for their final push to clinch a spot in The Championship – the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.
NASL Soccer News: The race to The Championship, the North American Soccer League (NASL) four-team postseason tournament, is in the final stretch with several postseason contenders set to face off in Week 13.
Spring Season Champion Indy Eleven hosts Fall Season leader New York Cosmos in a showdown on Saturday night at Carroll Stadium. FC Edmonton are hoping to catch the Cosmos at the top of the Fall Season and Combined Standings as they travel to take on the Carolina RailHawks, who also need to pick up points in order to clinch a playoff berth.
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers welcome rival Tampa Bay Rowdies to Central Broward Stadium with both teams in striking distance of fourth-place Minnesota United in the Combined Standings. The Loons will travel to Ottawa after conceding late goals in a loss to the Fury FC last week. Miami FC host Puerto Rico FC on Friday night after suffering its first loss on the road in the Fall Season against Indy Eleven in Week 12.
Rayo OKC can recor its third consecutive win against Jacksonville Armada FC when Gerard Nus’ men head to Jacksonville on Saturday.
Miami FC vs. Puerto Rico FC
8 p.m. ET | Friday, September 23
Ocean Bank Field | Miami, Fla.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), WAPA 2 (National – Puerto Rico), *International outlets
Miami FC (7W-4D-3L, 25 points Fall; 8-8-8, 32 Combined) picked up their first road loss in the Fall Season versus Indy Eleven last Saturday. Miami are four points behind Minnesota United for the fourth spot in the Combined table and trail the Cosmos by six points in the fall standings. Forward Vincenzo Rennella scored his second goal of the year versus Indy with a backheel as he sets in nicely with the Miami attack. The club take on Puerto Rico FC on Friday night, a side Miami defeated 3-0 earlier this month.
Puerto Rico (1-8-6, 11 Fall; 1-8-6, 11 Combined) enters the match following an intense 3-3 draw with Jacksonville Armada FC last weekend. Puerto Rican international Jackie Marrero and Sidney Rivera scored their first NASL goals during the match as they now go on the road looking for their first road victory in franchise history.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 24
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 Tampa Bay Rowdies enter their Saturday matchup with even records in the Combined Standings, as both sit four points behind Minnesota United for fourth place and a potential playoff berth. The Strikers (4-5-5, 17 Fall; 8-8-8, 32 Combined) head into the Florida Derby with a seven-game unbeaten streak as Maicon Santos leads the way with goals in back-to-back games to increase his team-leading goal total to seven this campaign.
The Rowdies (4-4-6, 16 Fall; 8-8-8, 32 Combined) have picked up points in their last four matches with Eric Avila scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks last week. Tampa Bay edged the Strikers twice this year in a 1-0 win during the Spring Season and recently at Al Lang Stadium in a 2-1 victory.
Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Rayo OKC
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 24
Community First Park | Jacksonville, Fla.
Watch | beIN SPORTS en Español (National – U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National – U.S., Canada), CW17 (Local – Jacksonville)
Jacksonville Armada FC(2-5-7, 11 Fall; 3-9-12, 18 Combined) have yet to record points against Rayo OKC following a 3-2 loss in September. Jacksonville’s attack has developed in recent weeks, scoring five goals in the past two matches. Cameroonian forward Charles Eloundou has scored in back-to-back matches and also added an assist in the draw versus Puerto Rico.
Rayo OKC (4-6-5, 18 Fall; 7-9-9, 30 Combined) enter the match with a three-game unbeaten streak after picking up a set of draws in Week 12 – a 0-0 draw at FC Edmonton and a 1-1 draw against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Defender Sebastien Ibeagha has had a successful past few weeks, scoring in the win against Jacksonville to pick up points for Rayo OKC. The club’s leading goalscorer Michel returned to the lineup and ultimately the scoresheet in the draw versus Fort Lauderdale, converting from the penalty spot.
Ottawa Fury FC vs. Minnesota United
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 24
TD Place | Ottawa, Ontario
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), Rogers TV (Local – Ottawa), MY29 (Local – Twin Cities)
Ottawa Fury FC (4-5-6, 17 Fall; 6-8-11, 26 Combined) came from behind to edge Minnesota United in a 3-2 victory on the road last week. Ottawa welcome Minnesota to TD Place, aiming to build on the momentum from last match and extend their six-game unbeaten run. Canadian international Jamar Dixon tallied two assists on the club’s final two goals to help Ottawa record three points.
Three teams are now on the heels of Minnesota United (5-5-5, 20 Fall; 10-6-9, 36 Combined) in the Combined Standings as postseason approaches in the coming week. Minnesota has fallen two straight matches, holding a four-point lead over Miami FC in the Combined Standings. Forward Christian Ramirez converted from the penalty spot to add to his league-leading 15th goal of the season. Ramirez also tallied his fourth assist of the year in the losing effort.
Carolina RailHawks vs. FC Edmonton
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 24
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)
The Carolina RailHawks (4-4-6, 16 Fall; 8-6-10, 30 Combined) are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies last Saturday as they return to WakeMed Soccer Park where they are on an eight-game unbeaten streak. The RailHawks’ hot start to the Fall Season has cooled off, having been shut out in the past three matches. Carolina are six points back of fourth place in the Combined Standings and will look to use its home-field advantage to close the gap on Saturday.
FC Edmonton (7-5-2, 26 Fall; 12-7-5, 43 Combined) are sitting in second place in both the Fall Season and Combined Standings – the Eddies are five and six points behind the New York Cosmos. FC Edmonton played out two scoreless draws versus Rayo OKC and New York last week. Matt VanOekel’s two clean sheets added to his league-leading total for the year of 13, one shy of an NASL record.
Indy Eleven vs. New York Cosmos
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, September 24
Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), ONE World Sports (National – U.S.), ONEWorldSports.com (National – U.S., Canada), WISH-TV (Local – Indianapolis)
Indy Eleven (7-3-5, 24 Fall; 11-9-5, 42 Combined) hosts the New York Cosmos in a matchup of title contenders. Indy clinched their berth in The Championship with their Spring Season title, while New York leads the league in both the Fall Season and Combined Standings. Indy ended a five-game winless streak with a key 2-1 victory over Miami FC last Saturday. Dylan Mares and Don Smart recorded goals on the night to extend Indy’s unbeaten run at The Mike to 15 games since the end of last year.
The Cosmos (9-4-2, 31 Fall; 15-4-6, 49 Combined) got some revenge in the Fall Season with a 3-0 victory at home as Juan Arango found the net twice versus Indy. That win was just one statement in a run of nine matches without a loss, while the Cosmos also hold a lengthy home unbeaten run, which stands at 17. The Cosmos have picked up most of the points at Shuart Stadium in recent weeks. New York heads on the road as they finish the Fall Season with five of their last seven games away from home. The Cosmos have had troubles on the road with a 3-2-6 record.
Photo Credit: North American Soccer League
