NASL Action Heats Up With Final Playoff Spot Up for Grabs
NASL Soccer News: The North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season is entering its final stretch as the race for the final spot in The Championship heats up heading into the weekend. Six teams are now separated by just three points in the race for fourth place in the league’s Combined Standings.
Miami FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies played out a 2-2 draw on Friday night that opened up the table for the other four teams seeking to claim the final playoff berth.
On Saturday night, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the Carolina RailHawks, and Minnesota United will look to book their ticket into The Championship. The Strikers welcome Puerto Rico FC to South Florida, while Minnesota host a FC Edmonton squad that recently punched their ticket into the playoffs. Carolina will look to improve their road streak in a matchup against Spring Season Champion Indy Eleven.
In the lone Sunday matchup, Rayo OKC looks to continue their push towards the playoffs, welcoming Ottawa Fury FC to Miller Stadium.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Puerto Rico FC
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 15
Central Broward Stadium | Lauderhill, Fla.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), SFL-TV (Local – Fort Lauderdale), WAPA 2 (National – Puerto Rico), *International outlets
Fort Lauderdale may have seen their playoff opportunity flash before their eyes after a five-game winless streak that included four straight losses. On Wednesday night, the Strikers ended the drought to remain in the hunt with a 1-0 win over FC Edmonton. Fort Lauderdale (5-5-9, 20 Fall; 9-8-12, 35 Combined) are three points out of fourth place and the final playoff berth.
Puerto Rico FC (4-9-6, 21 Fall; 4-9-6, 21 Combined) are currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak and are one of the sides that edged the Strikers in prior weeks. The club has also been strong on the road as they head to Central Broward Stadium on Saturday. Puerto Rico is unbeaten in their last five road matches and have also kept four clean sheets during the unbeaten run.
Jacksonville Armada FC vs. New York Cosmos
7 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 15
Community First Park | Jacksonville, Fla.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), ONE World Sports (National – U.S.), ONEWorldSports.com (National – U.S., Canada), CW-17 (Local – Jacksonville)
New York are closing in on the Fall Season title as well as the No. 1 seed in The Championship. The Cosmos can do so this weekend with a win and some help from fellow NASL sides. New York (11-5-3, 38 Fall; 17-5-7, 56 Combined) came from behind to draw Ottawa Fury FC 1-1 last Sunday with Juan Arango scoring his 12th goal of the season. The club will now stay on the road and travels to Jacksonville to take on the Armada FC.
Jacksonville (3-8-7, 17 Fall; 4-12-12, 24 Combined) enters the match with a five-game unbeaten run and has also not lost in their last six games at home. While Jacksonville is picking up points in recent weeks, the club hasn’t been able to pick up wins along the way. Four of the Armada FC’s last five games have ended in deadlocks, most recently a 0-0 draw versus Indy Eleven.
Indy Eleven vs. Carolina RailHawks
7:30 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 15
Carroll Stadium | Indianapolis, Ind.
Watch | beIN SPORTS en Español (National – U.S., Canada), beIN SPORTS CONNECT (National – U.S., Canada), WISH-TV (Local – Indianapolis), TWC SportsChannel (Regional – North/South Carolina)
Indy Eleven has earned a postseason berth – and a home semifinal game – as they look to build momentum over the final three matches of the regular season. Indy (8-4-6, 28 Fall; 12-10-6, 46 Combined) are coming off a scoreless draw versus Jacksonville Armada FC on Wednesday night. The Boys in Blue are unbeaten in their previous 16 matches at Carroll Stadium, dating to the end of last year.
The RailHawks (6-5-8, 23 Fall; 10-7-12, 37 Combined) enter the game on Saturday fighting for the final spot in The Championship. Carolina fell during their midweek game 1-0 to Rayo OKC. In the last meeting between the sides in Indianapolis, the RailHawks saw Indy tally four goals in a performance that ultimately clinched the Spring Season title for the Eleven.
Minnesota United vs. FC Edmonton
8 p.m. ET | Saturday, October 15
NSC Stadium | Blaine, Minn.
Watch | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), MY29 (Local – Twin Cities)
Although currently on a six-game winless streak, Minnesota United are still holding onto the final spot in The Championship. The Loons earned a point versus Puerto Rico FC last Saturday without star striker Christian Ramirez, who has a league-leading 16 goals. The Loons (5-7-7, 22 Fall; 10-8-11, 38 Combined) host FC Edmonton who has secured their playoff spot in prior weeks.
The Eddies (9-6-4, 33 Fall; 14-8-7, 50 Combined) were in action on Wednesday night and were edged, 1-0, by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. FC Edmonton, trailing the New York Cosmos by five points in the Fall Season standings, cannot miss out on any more points if they are to earn a piece of silverware and a home semifinal match. The club will certainly want to regain momentum as the Fall Season concludes in anticipation of their first postseason appearance since 2011.
Rayo OKC vs. Ottawa Fury FC
7 p.m. ET | Sunday, October 16
Miller Stadium | Yukon, Okla.
Watch | | ESPN3 (National – U.S.), NASL.com (National – Canada), Cox Channel 703 (Local – Oklahoma City), Rogers TV (Local – Ottawa)
Over the past two matches, Rayo OKC has put gained momentum to earn the final postseason berth. The club picked up back-to-back wins against fellow postseason teams Miami FC and the Carolina RailHawks with Michel scoring both game-winners to increase his total to 12 on the season. Rayo OKC (6-8-5, 26 Fall; 9-11-9, 38 Combined) are now tied on points with Minnesota for fourth place, as the club remains unbeaten in seven matches entering the encounter with Ottawa Fury FC.
Ottawa (5-6-8, 21 Fall; 7-9-13, 30 Combined) slipped off pace for the final playoff berth recently, but the club can certainly play spoiler on Sunday night. Despite Fury FC not picking up wins in their last three matches, there may be no player in top form like Ryan Williams. Over the past five games, the midfielder has recorded four goals, most recently in the 1-1 draw with the New York Cosmos. Ottawa travels to Miller Stadium for the first time looking for their first win against Rayo OKC.
Photo Credit: North American Soccer League
