Indy Eleven Top the NY Cosmos to Remain Unbeaten at Home in 2016
Indy Eleven notched a win over the New York Cosmos in Week 13 as they jump to second place in the Fall Season and Combined Standings. Puerto Rico FC recorded their first roan win in club history versus Miami FC, while Minnesota United fell to Ottawa Fury FC for a second straight week.
NASL Soccer News: Indy Eleven continued their home unbeaten streak in 2016 at Carroll Stadium, with a key win over the New York Cosmos on an intense Saturday night of North American Soccer League (NASL) action in Week 13 of the Fall Season. The win boosted Indy to second place in the Fall Season and Combined Standings.
While Indy secured three points, FC Edmonton were unable to gain ground in a loss to the Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park. The Tampa Bay Rowdies recorded three points on the road with a win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to move within a point of fourth place in the Combined Standings and a potential berth into the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.
Minnesota United lost to Ottawa Fury FC for a second straight week as the club’s hold on fourth place in the Combined Standings is slipping. Rayo OKC’s late equalizer in Jacksonville secured a point against Armada FC.
On Friday night, Miami FC fell at home to Puerto Rico FC, which earned the club its first road win in franchise history.
Indy Eleven 3, New York Cosmos 0
Indy Eleven avenged their August loss to the New York Cosmos, 3-0 with a victory at Carroll Stadium on Saturday night. The win increased Indy’s home unbeaten streak to 16 matches.
Indy (8W-3D-5L, 27 points Fall; 12-9-5, 45 Combined) forward Justin Braun’s header opened the scoring in the 32nd minute off a cross from Eamon Zayed. Three minutes into the second half, Zayed was received a low cross from Dylan Mares to extend the home side’s lead. Zayed now has 13 goals on the year as he sits two behind league leader and Minnesota United forward Christian Ramirez. Mares capped off the scoring with a strike from 20 yards out following a pass from Braun.
The Cosmos (9-4-3, 31 Fall; 15-4-7, 49 Combined)still lead in the Fall Season and Combined Standings, holding a four-point lead over the Boys in Blue.
Carolina RailHawks 1, FC Edmonton 0
The Carolina RailHawks recorded a win at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday night, stretching their unbeaten run at home to nine matches.
After a great build up play, Carolina (5-4-6, 19 Fall; 9-6-10, 33 Combined) opened the scoring when Omar Bravo chested the ball into Austin da Luz’s path and the RailHawks midfielder struck the ball past FC Edmonton (7-5-3, 26 Fall; 12-7-6, 43 Combined) goalkeeper Matt VanOekel in the 34th minute. De Luz recorded his fourth goal of the year as it stood to be the game-winning goal.
The Eddies dropped to third place in both the Fall Season and Combined Standings following the loss.
Ottawa Fury FC 3, Minnesota United 1
Ottawa faced Minnesota United for a second straight weekend as the Fury picked up back-to-back victories. The club scored three goals in each contest to remain unbeaten in seven matches.
Ottawa (5-5-6, 20 Fall; 7-8-11, 29 Combined) was able to overturn a second-half deficit like last week. Giuseppe Gentile equalized for Ottawa in the 57th minute off a pass from Maxim Tissot to score for the second straight time against the Loons. Fury FC grabbed the lead when Carl Haworth’s cross took a deflection off a Minnesota defender before Ryan Williams scored.. Haworth added a second assist four minutes later when Lance Rozeboom scored Ottawa’s third goal of the match.
Jamie Watson initially gave Minnesota (5-5-6, 20 Fall; 10-6-10, 36 Combined) the lead in the 20th minute when Ben Speas chipped the ball forward to Christian Ramirez who squared the ball towards Watson, who then put in his own rebound for the goal.
Ottawa jumped in front of the Loons in the Fall Season standing, moving into fifth place on goal differential (plus-two to plus-one).
Tampa Bay Rowdies 4, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1
The Tampa Bay Rowdies stormed past the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Central Broward Stadium on Saturday night. Georgi Hristov, making his 100th regular-season appearance – all for the Rowdies – scored the club’s first hat trick in the NASL Modern Era. The win moved Tampa Bay to within one point of fourth place in the Combined Standings.
Hristov competed his hat trick in the 83rd minute. He first scored the equalizer for Tampa Bay (5-4-6, 19 Fall; 9-8-8, 35 Combined) when he tapped home a cross from Joe Cole in the 15th minute. It was the English star’s sixth assist of the year. In the 43rd minute, Hristov turned in a rebound after Darnell King’s effort on goal. Tom Heinemann had the Rowdies’ other goal as he latched onto a through ball from Justin Chavez in the 37th minute.
Fort Lauderdale (4-5-6, 17 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) started out of the blocks quickly, opening the scoring on Ramón Núñez’s fourth minute goal off a Kléberson assist. The loss for the Strikers ended a seven-game unbeaten run and was also their first loss at Central Broward Stadium.
Jacksonville Armada FC 1, Rayo OKC 1
Jacksonville Armada FC and Rayo OKC split points in a draw on Saturday night at Community First Park. Rayo OKC is now unbeaten against Jacksonville in its last three matches.
Michel scored the equalizer in the third minute of the second-half of stoppage time for Rayo OKC (4-7-5, 19 Fall; 7-10-9, 31 Combined) from the penalty spot after Futty Danso was fouled in the box. Michel now has 10 goals on the season after converting for the sixth time from the penalty spot.
Jacksonville (2-6-7, 12 Fall; 3-10-12, 19 Combined) forward Charles Eloundou scored for the third straight match after finding the back of the net with a low strike from distance in the 20th minute.
Puerto Rico FC 1, Miami FC 0
Puerto Rico FC claimed all three points against Miami FC to record the first road victory in franchise history at Ocean Bank Field on Friday night.
Jackie Marrero’s free kick in the 79th minute took a slight deflection off of Miami (7-4-4, 25 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) forward Pablo Campos to beat goalkeeper Daniel Vega to the far post.
Puerto Rico (2-8-6, 14 Fall; 2-8-6, 14 Combined) goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg made a number of key saves, finishing with six saves on the night and recording the shutout.
Miami has lost two straight matches, slowing down their push for the playoffs, while Puerto Rico is now unbeaten in its last four games.
