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NASL Look Ahead: Week 3

Following abbreviated schedules in Weeks 1 and 2, the NASL features a full docket on Saturday as the league’s eight teams take the field.

Action is headlined by the New York Cosmos’ trip to Miami FC, a match that pits two of the league’s most talented teams. The match serves as a rematch of their Week 2 clash, one which saw Miami FC runaway with a win.

Miami FC’s match will serve as the team’s home opener, as will FC Edmonton’s clash with the Jacksonville Armada. Elsewhere, Puerto Rico FC plays host to Indy Eleven while that San Francisco Deltas return home to take on North Carolina FC.

Here’s a full look at the NASL schedule:

PUERTO RICO FC vs. INDY ELEVEN (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., beIN Sports USA)

After combining for six goals in their Week 2 draw, Puerto Rico FC and Indy Eleven collide again in Week 3. The two clubs enter riding two consecutive draws to open the season, as both look for their first win of the 2017 campaign.

The two settled for a split of the points last time out in a 3-3 draw, one headlined by Justin Braun’s two-goal, one-assist effort for Indy Eleven. On the other side, Pito Ramos racked up a goal and an assist last week for a Puerto Rico FC team among the more attacking teams the early stages of the NASL Spring Season.

MIAMI FC vs. NEW YORK COSMOS (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN 3)

Just one week after thumping the New York Cosmos, Miami FC will hope to repeat the feat in front of a home crowd. The second-year club unleashed a 3-0 demolition of the reigning champions last time out, led by goals from Dylan Mares and Stefano Pinho.

For the Cosmos, the issues have been in the attacking end. Giovani Savarese’s side has yet to register a shot on target, and will obviously need to pick up the slack on the attacking side to have any chance against the high-powered Miami FC lineup.

FC EDMONTON vs. JACKSONVILLE ARMADA (Saturday, 9 p.m., ESPN 3)

After opening their season with a win, the Jacksonville Armada will look to make it two straight as they take on FC Edmonton. The Armada began the season with a narrow 1-0 win over the Eddies last time out as  J.C. Banks bolted through for a wonderful solo goal.

Now at home, the Eddies will look to slow down Banks and Armada playmaker Zach Steinberger in the Canadian side’s first home match of the 2017 campaign. Aside from the Banks finish, the Eddies were relatively solid last time out and they’ll hope for a similar moment of magic to get them through Saturday’s match.

SAN FRANCISCO DELTAS vs. NORTH CAROLINA FC (Saturday, 10:30 p.m., Twitter)

The San Francisco Deltas earned a point from their home opener, but the expansion club will now look to seal all three against a longtime NASL side. Kyle Bekker scored the club’s first ever goal in the Deltas’ lone match, a 1-1 draw against Indy Eleven on March 25. Following the layoff, the Deltas return to Kezar Stadium searching for their first ever win.

On the other side, North Carolina FC earned a 1-1 draw themselves in their last match, which saw them earn a point against Miami FC. Matthew Fondy jumped into the fray quickly with a fourth-minute goal in that draw, and the veteran forward will look to repeat the feat against an expansion side still finding its footing.

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