Indy Eleven v.s FC Edmonton
It’s the final week of spring season and Indy play host to FC Edmonton. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for the team and the supporters, we have been in the position of coming home after an away win with an air of expectancy before, not that I want to heap pressure on the team, but it would be really nice for the supporters to see their team win a game at home. Regardless of where the game is played, gaining another three points is very important right now, especially looking ahead to the combined spring/fall table and potential for making the NASL playoffs. I mentioned before that 10 points is probably the lowest you would like to be before making a run at a playoff spot, Indy have a chance to go for 13 points before the break.
If Indy can defeat Edmonton this weekend and Jacksonville and San Antonio fail to win then we could potentially finish Spring season in 5th place, had someone told me that before the season started I would not have considered that too disappointing, but you can’t help wondering where we would be if we had not dropped points in some of the games we should have won, but it’s much better to look forward than to look back. Last spring we finished bottom with 4 points from four draws and no wins. Edmonton gave Indy it’s first ever defeat in front of it’s home fans, now perhaps we should make sure we use them as a means to get our first home win of 2015.
Let’s get ready to rumble! …
On May 10th 2014, FC Edmonton gave Indy Eleven their first ever defeat at home. Of the starting lineup for Indy that night, only six players are currently still available to play (excluding Kleberson through injury) Nicht, Ring, Norales, Frias, Hyland and Mares. Don Smart played off the bench and Dawson was reserve keeper. A lot has changed since then and as it stood that was the only time Edmonton has beaten Indy. In the fall season Indy pulled off a 1-0 win in Canada thanks to an opportunistic shot from Kleberson in a very scrappy game. Indy drew the home fall game 1-1. Interesting to note in those last two games against Edmonton where we did not lose, Victor Pineda started both of those games and scored in the 1-1 draw and played the full 90 minutes in both games.
Recent form shows Indy with 4 pts from their last four NASL games (LLDW) and Edmonton also have 4 points from four games (LWDL). Edmonton’s most recent defeat was 2-1 to Tampa, who were missing three of their key players thanks to the red cards they picked up in the 2-2 draw in Indy the week before.
Like Tampa, Edmonton will miss a trio of key players themselves this week, Lance Laing has been called up for international duty for Jamaica and Tomi Ameobi is likely to miss the rest of spring through injury, defender Mallan Roberts has also been called up for international duty with Canada. Edmonton have extended their stay in Florida a little this week to train. Ameobi and Laing have combined for 7 goals this season, and six assists, they still have serious attacking threats like Nyassi who loves to take the ball and run at defenders, but this may be as good a time than any for Indy to take advantage of a depleted Eddies team. Edmonton love to score goals, but they let a lot in as well, so far they have scored 16 and conceded 19. Indy’s defense will be key to winning this game, provided we can again find the net, we now have 4 goals in 2 games.
Who has a sick note and who doesn’t?
As well as Kleberson being a long term injury, Sergio Pena will remain out for the Eleven, Daniel Keller (concussion) and Judson McKinney (ankle bone chip) remain questionable and will likely not feature. I expect Indy will start with roughly the same lineup as last week, Regan has pulled out a win after his first game and I doubt he will be tempted to tinker too much. Likely starters and reserves – Nicht, Franco, Norales, Miller, Hyland, Stojkov, Ring, Mares, Pineda, Rugg, Brown. Bench: Wojcik, Cardona, Frias, Janicki, Smart, Lacroix and Melgares.
Give a listen to a Indy Eleven dedicated podcast , Bloody Shambles Soccer Show.
Ottawa Fury vs San Antonio Scorpions
Ottawa Fury (2nd season)
Record: 2-4-3
Table position: 8th
San Antonio Scorpions (4th season)
Record: 3-2-4
Table position: 6th
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This season
The spring season got off to a terrible start for the Scorpions, but in their spring finale they have a chance to move up into the top-half of the table going into the fall. It’s a good turnaround from April, but they will have to first win against the visiting Fury to salvage the spring season. San Antonio is coming off a huge road victory in Atlanta where Omar Cummings added to his goal tally and Daryl Satter looked like Tim Howard against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup. Finishing in the top-half of the table will make the spring seem less like a failure and more of an improvement going into the fall.
The Fury, in their second year, are just one point behind the Scorpions; they too will be looking to end the spring on a high note and possibly finish in the top-half as well. The Fury come into this final game after a scoreless draw in Jacksonville against the expansion Armada. Their goal keeper, Romuald Peiser, is currently on a shutout streak of 436 minutes (and counting), which is a modern day NASL record. The Fury haven’t been able to find the back of the net since a 1-0 victory over Indy Eleven back on May 23rd.
Last season & Outlook
The Fury and Scorpions have only met up three times, all coming in 2014 as it was the first season for Ottawa. San Antonio is 1-2-0 all-time against the Canadians; the lone win was in Ottawa and a draw each at home and away. The playoffs are still a possibility for both teams – if they do well in the fall. Ottawa’s defense has been pretty solid this spring, posting five shutouts, though their attack only scoring five total goals so far this spring.
Players to watch
My player to watch for Ottawa is their goal keeper, Romuald Peiser. He hasn’t allowed a goal against the Fury in four matches. Can he continue to keep the ball out of the net – facing the leagues’ leading goal scorer in Cummings – and get an important away victory, and first against the Scorpions?
I’ll be looking to Omar Cummings again for San Antonio to produce more goals. He is our most consistent and biggest threat in the attacking third. Once our midfield starts to take control of the game, I’ll look to see more balls played up field to find the fancy feet of the Jamaican international.
Prediction
The Fury have never beaten the Scorpions, and I don’t think it will happen on Saturday. With few consistent attacking options from the visitors, Daryl Satter should be able to post another shutout. If our midfield and forwards can break down the Fury defense, I believe it will be a successful end to the spring season for the home team. 2-0 to the Alamo City boys.
Game time is this Saturday, June 13th at Toyota Field at 7:30pm CST. #SASvOTT
New York Cosmos v.s Jacksonville Armada
The Cosmos are coming off their bye week , in which they played the Cuban National team . They got a well deserved break . Some players have picked up some injuries during the Cuba match. Leo Fernandes is questionable for this weekends contest against the Armada. If Leo is unavailable for the match it will be a huge blow , but you have to look out the big picture. The Cosmos face the Armada tomorrow night and NYCFC on Wednesday.
The Cosmos need to balance the squad because of the match on Saturday which is a important one , and a quick turn around against NYCFC. The Cosmos can become Spring Season Champs with a win , or draw against the Armada. The Rowdies are the only club in the NASL , that has a chance besides the Cosmos to win the Spring. The Rowdies may have a difficult time to clinch because they need the Cosmos to lose and they need to score 6 goals (goal differential) . That may be hard to do but , never is it impossible, anything can happen.
The Armada come into this match currently sitting in 5th place with 11 points. It will be the Armadas first time they will face the undefeated New York Cosmos. . In the beginning of the year the Armada implemented 2 co- head coaches , which at the time seemed like an odd thing because I never heard of such a thing. One of the co- head coaches has left , and now the club went back to the traditional single head coach.
Jemal Johnnson former New York Cosmos player , current Armada player will face his old club tomorrow night. It is going to be weird to see Jemal in another kit and playing against the boys in green. Jemal is from New Jersey , so he will probably have some family members and friends in the stands.
With a victory the or draw the Cosmos will win the Spring and raise the Spring shield (silverware) , hopefully after the match and not during the week. This will be a great reward for a great spring . With a victory or draw tomorrow night against the Armada the Cosmos will remain undefeated , going into the break.
Tampa bay Rowdies v.s Atlanta Silverbacks
The Tampa Bay Rowdies come into the final match day of the NASL Spring Season , with a small chance of winning the spring. Im not writing the Rowdies off , but they have a very small chance of winning the the Spring. For the Rowdies to win the spring they need to score 6 goals , and they need the Cosmos to lose . So far during the Spring the Cosmos are undefeated , they face the Armada , which is going to be a difficult match.
The Silverbacks are going to try to end the spring on high with a win against a very competitive Rowdies side. Since the Silverbacks are out of contention for the Spring they will be looking to pick up important points for the combined table .
Give a listen to some Rowdies from our friends at The Unused Subs.
Lastly Gorilla Talk , Silverbacks centric show
Minnesota United FC v.s Fort Lauerdale Strikers
Minnesota United played to two draws in the last two weeks. They will be looking to get the victory and go into the break with a winning mentality. This is going to be a special match for United fans because its Miguel Ibarra’s last match playing for United. During the week he was sold to Club Leon , and will play his final match tonight . We wish Miguel the best of luck with this new club and hopefully he returns to the NASL in the future .
The Strikers have not been having a great Spring . The Strikers fired there head coach and appointed Iván Guerrero as interim manager for the final spring season . Hopefully he brings some success to the club in their final match. During the break they will name a long term manager . Who could it be? Could they bring back Gunter? Just some banter would be great to see Gunter back in Fort Lauderdale .
Fellow United fans , Two United Fans discuss the recent week in Minnesota soccer news and much more.
