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NASL Week 6: A Look Ahead

BlakeWagnerSanAntonioScorpions1-FortLauderdaleStrikers (FortLauderdaleStrikers)

By MIKE GRAMAJO

After their tenacious home victory last week, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are riding a three-game winning streak and sit in second place in the North American Soccer League standings.

The South Florida side host the winless San Antonio Scorpions at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday (7:30 p.m. WATCH HERE).

Strikers head coach Gunter Kronsteiner will rely on goalkeeper Richard Sanchez, on-loan from FC Dallas, who was able to shutout the Carolina RailHawks that are currently one point above the Strikers in the standings.

Scorpions midfielder Javier Saavedra was named player-assistant coach on Tuesday, a week after head coach Tim Hankinson received the boot from the front office after starting the season in a four-game losing streak.

Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s NASL matchup:

NEW YORK COSMOS vs. ATLANTA SILVERBACKS (Saturday, 7:00 p.m. WATCH HERE

Back in the comforts of their home, especially after failing to register their first road victory, the New York Cosmos welcome the Atlanta Silverbacks to James Shuart Stadium on Saturday evening.

While the Cosmos have maintained a perfect home record this fall, it’s the spring champions who are in need of a pivotal road victory since they sit in sixth place with six points in the standings.

Despite their woes on the road, the Cosmos has seen plenty of late drama this fall, especially last time they played home when Guatemalan forward Henry Lopez scored the stoppage-time winner for Giovanni Savarese’s side.

MINNESOTA UNITED FC vs. FC EDMONTON (Saturday, 7:00 p.m. WATCH HERE)

It’s the tale of two teams as FC Edmonton visit the National Sports Center Stadium to take on Minnesota United.

Minnesota United enter Saturday’s matchup after defender Connor Tobin’s stoppage-time header lifted Manny Lagos side to a 3-2 victory last Saturday over the Scorpions, which snapped their two-game winless run.

Despite the Eddies sitting in seventh place, they are currently in a five-game unbeaten run, with one win and four draws. Forward Chris Nurse and Corey Hertzog, on-loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps, look to guide the Canadian side over a United squad that’s lead by forward Pablo Campos.

TAMPA BAY ROWDIES vs. CAROLINA RAILHAWKS (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. WATCH HERE)

While unbeaten runs headline this weekend of matches, the Tampa Bay Rowdies look to continue their run as the only unbeaten side in the fall season when the Carolina RailHawks visit Al Lang Stadium.

The St. Petersburg club salvaged a draw last week at the Silverbacks, but what came more in a surprise was the league-leading RailHawks falling to the Strikers at Lockhart Stadium.

Despite suffering their first defeat last week, Colin Clarke’s side looks to rebound from the shocking loss against a Rowdies team that hasn’t performed well at home, given their many draws this year.

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What do you think the Week 6? Can the Strikers extend their winning streak? Do you think the Cosmos will keep their perfect record at home? Can United top the Eddies? Do you think the Rowdies will remain unbeaten?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the new format isn’t working. I like the spring-fall split of the season.

    Maybe get away from a playoff altogether?

    Keep the single table, the team with most points wins the title (like 95 % of the world already does it)…

    Reply

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