Hertzog scores winner in debut for Eddies
Striker on loan from Whitecaps on task in fall season home opener
Two games into its fall season, FC Edmonton is on even ground.
Striker Corey Hertzog’s goal in his Eddies debut at the 16-minute mark of play stood up as the game winner as FC Edmonton edged the San Antonio Scorpions 1-0 Sunday in North American Soccer League action at Clarke Field.
Hertzog came to coach Colin Miller’s squad as a loan signing from the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer. The Eddies’ win avenges its 1-0 loss a week ago against the Carolina RailHawks.
“We kept the ball and played it simple, got the ball in the first half and defended really well,” Hertzog said in a release.
“As long as we keep playing together we have a chance of scoring more goals. We just want to score goals, win every game, get to the top of the league and get in the final.”
Goals have been hard to come by for FC Edmonton this year. The team posted 13 goals in its 12-game spring schedule in the NASL, where it went 3-4-5 for 14 points and a fifth-place finish. San Antonio, comparatively, netted 19 while going 6-4-2 and finished third.
The Scorpions’ best chance to tie up the game came on a free kick in the 76th minute. Midfielder Javier Saavedra hit the post on his opportunity,
Eddies goalkeeper Lance Parker withstood a strong Scorpions’ attack in the final 10 minutes to preserve the win.
Edmonton will look to go 2-1 in the fall season next Sunday against the Atlanta Silverbacks, who went 6-3-3 in the spring season to lead the NASL with 21 points. The Silverbacks tied the RailHawks 1-1 on Saturday.