High-flying FC Edmonton isn’t taking struggling Miami for granted
The last thing FC Edmonton wants, after winning four of their past five games and getting within a point of top spot in the North American Soccer League Spring Season standings, is to trip up over a lowly opponent.
So despite the discrepancy in the standings, FC Edmonton is not about to take Miami FC lightly on the road Saturday (6 p.m., beIN Sports) in their penultimate game of the Spring Season.
The expansion Miami FC have yet to post a win this season and have three points through their first seven games.
“We have to keep it simple and keep doing the right things, that’s exactly how we’ll approach it down in Miami,” said FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller. “We have to do it that way. If we think we’ve arrived, then this game will kick you in the goolies (groin) as quick as it looks at you.
“Nobody is getting carried away. The guys are enjoying themselves because we’re playing good football, but they’re still working hard and there is a job to still be done.”
Edmonton was one contentious offside call from maintaining first place after defeating the Carolina RailHawks 1-0, last Sunday and temporarily taking over top spot.
The New York Cosmos regained it with a 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies later in the day. The Rowdies appeared to have scored a late tying goal, but substitute Danny Mwanga was flagged offside after heading the ball past goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer. Replays, however, appeared to show otherwise.
The Spring Season winner earns a berth into the NASL playoffs to be joined by the Fall Season champion and the two teams with the next best overall records.
“We’re in a good place and the guys are a mature group of players,” Miller said. “They understand to win a game of football, your approach has to be totally professional. Nobody in the world is that good that they can just turn up and have a swagger in them. Even Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have to put in a shift to get a result, so we’ll have to be our best to get a result in Miami. And we’re capable of going there, we’re capable of going away from home and getting a result in this league and we’ve shown that already this season.”
Miami has been limited to five goals this season and go into Saturday’s game off a scoreless draw at the RailHawks two weeks ago.
They recently signed midfielder Michael Lahoud in an effort to improve offensively. Lahoud, 29, started the season with the Cosmos before being called up by the Philadelphia Union of the MLS and then returning to the NASL to play with Miami.
“Lahoud is the one that made the Cosmos tick for many games and now Miami have him,” Miller said. “With him and Richie Ryan in the middle of the park, you can see their intent down in Miami is not to be where they are at the moment.”
Edmonton will go into the game without midfielder Dustin Corea, who was called up to play a pair of exhibition games with the El Salvador national team.
Midfielder Nik Ledgerwood was also summoned for international duty and will head off join the Canadian national team following Saturday’s game in Miami. Canada will travel to Austria to face Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan next week.
“We have to believe in ourselves and go down to Miami and put the work in,” FC Edmonton midfielder Daryl Fordyce said. “We have two games left and we have to take care of ourselves and keep doing what we’re doing. You obviously see the table (standings) and see where you are and where your opponents are, but there is always room for improvement and you have to keep putting in the work and try to keep improving. You can’t take anyone lightly.”
After charging toward the top of the standings following a slow start to the Spring Season, Edmonton is not to be taken lightly either.
The club was expected to be competitive this season, but few saw them challenging for a league title, particularly against large-budget teams like the Cosmos and Minnesota United FC.
“You look around at the players that we have, every player, even the guys on the bench, have quality,” Fordyce said.