Photo by Ottawa Fury FC

BY COLE KELLOGG

Just when it looked like FC Edmonton had done enough to draw the league-leaders at home, a late strike extended the Ottawa Fury’s lead atop the table to six points.

Marc Dos Santos’ side, which finished ninth in the spring season, has now managed five wins and one draw this fall.

The result was disappointing for FC Edmonton, who fought hard for 90 minutes but just couldn’t see out the result. The Eddies dropped from second to fourth place in the table.

Minnesota United brought its firepower along to Jacksonville on Friday, as the side struck late twice to draw on the Armada’s home turf. Meanwhile, Indy Eleven lost the team’s second out of three games after giving up an early goal to the Atlanta Silverbacks.

Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Rowdies drew with the Carolina RailHawks on the road, and the New York Cosmos put up its first win this fall against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s results:

ARMADA AND MINNESOTA DRAW IN HIGH-SCORING AFFAIR

Minnesota United FC came back from two goals down to draw the Jacksonville Armada 3-3 on Friday.

The  Armada got things started right away at Community First Park on Friday night, with Jemal Johnson scoring in the fifth minute. Johnson got on the end of a Lucas Scaglia cross deep to the back post.

Christian Ramirez responded for United in the 21st, heading home a cross that Kalif Alhassan put in from near the right corner flag. In the 23rd minte, though, Akeil Barrett put the hosts back in front by capitalizing on an error from United goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt.

Alhassane Keita made it 3-1 for the Armada in the 72nd, connecting in the box with a low cross from Johnson on the left side of the pitch. Justin Davis gave United some hope with his 78th minute goal, chipping a ball into the box that the Armada goalkeeper didn’t get his hands on. The equalizer came in the 84th minute through a low shot into traffic from Ibson.

ROWDIES LEAVE CAROLINA WITH A POINT

On Saturday evening, two first-half goals led to a 1-1 draw between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and hosts the Carolina RailHawks.

The Rowdies found the back of the net first through Georgi Hristov in the 29th minute. Right back Darnell King went on a run the entire length of the pitch and played a quick wall pass to Brian Shriver before putting in a cross in for Hristov to put home with one touch.

Only three minutes later in the 32nd, the RailHawks equalized through Mark Anderson. Nacho Novo worked hard to get the ball into Carolina’s attacking third before passing it off to Tiyi Shipalane. Shipalane weaved through the defense before losing the ball, and Anderson picked it up before turning and smashing it home.

INDY LOSE AT HOME TO SILVERBACKS

Former Indy striker Pedro Mendes gave the Atlanta Silverbacks a 1-0 win on the road against his old side on Sunday afternoon.

Mendes put his side in front in the 15th minute, taking a pass from Jaime Chavez and firing the ball past Eleven goalkeeper Kristian Nicht.

Indy had its chances on the night, but ultimately failed to find the back of the net after missing the target with its best chances. Midfielder Dragan Stojkov missed two chances, putting a shot wide in the 67th minute and over the crossbar in the 75th. Dane Richards had the Eleven’s best chance of the night in the 85th minute, but his curled far post strike went inches wide of the net.

LATE WINNER PUTS OTTAWA PAST EDMONTON

A late, injury time strike from Fury defender Rafael Alves gave Ottawa a 1-0 victory over Canadian rivals FC Edmonton on Sunday. The Fury FC win was their first over Edmonton in four games this year.

Alves headed home a corner from Sinisa Ubiparipovic for the win. The goal was the defender’s third of the year.

If either team deserved to win this closely contested match between two of the NASL’s hottest teams this fall, it was Ottawa. The side almost took the lead in the 77th minute, but Julian de Guzman’s shot was cleared off the line by Daryl Fordyce.

COSMOS RETURN TO FORM AGAINST FORT LAUDERDALE

The New York Cosmos returned to winning form against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at home on Sunday, scoring twice in the first-half for a 2-0 win.

Hunter Freeman scored first for the home side, getting the ball from Ayoze and curling it to the far post in the 27th minute.

In the 43rd minute, a Fort Lauderdale turnover in the midfield gave the Cosmos the chance it needed to double its lead. Raul played a through ball to Leo Fernandes, and the midfielder on loan from the Philadelphia Union fired home.

The Strikers had a golden chance to score saved off the line in the 64th minute. James Marcelin beat Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer but had his shot saved on the line by Samuel Caceres.