The NASL’s two newest clubs earned a point apiece in their debut games, while the league’s reigning champions picked up right where they left off in the opening week of action.
Both Miami FC and Rayo OKC settled for draws in their inaugural regular season contests. The former was forced to just one point on a late Fort Lauderdale Strikers equalizer, while the latter played to a scoreless draw with FC Edmonton in front of a capacity crowd in the club’s home debut.
Juan Arango and the New York Cosmos, meanwhile, cruised past Ottawa Fury FC in a rematch of last season’s NASL championship game.
Here’s a closer look at all of this past weekend’s NASL action:
LATE EQUALIZER EARNS STRIKERS TIE WITH MIAMI FC
Through 90 minutes, it appeared that Miami FC was going to walk out of Lockhart Stadium with a win in the club’s first-ever game. Unfortunately for Alessandro Nesta’s side, Maicon Santos and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers had other plans.
Santos netted a penalty kick in second half stoppage time, earning the Strikers a 1-1 draw on Saturday night. Santos’ spot kick canceled out a 12th-minute penalty kick for Dario Cvitanich, whose finish was the first in Miami FC history. Miami FC battled down a man throughout most of the second half as Jorge Luis Corrales was sent off with a second yellow late in the first stanza.
Miami FC will host the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday in the club’s home opener, while the Strikers have a bit of a break before facing Minnesota United on April 16.
ARANGO BRACE LEADS COSMOS PAST FURY FC
Juan Arango didn’t take long to make an impact for the New York Comsos.
In an NASL final rematch, Arango netted a brace to lead the Cosmos past Ottawa Fury FC via a 3-0 scoreline. The Venezuelan’s contributions came just minutes apart. Arango was on the end of a pass from Jairo Arrieta in the 36th minute before pouncing on a rebound just two minuets later for his second. Midfielder Adam Moffat joined him on the scoresheet, besting goalkeeper Romuald Peiser from long distance on a shaky clearance.
The Cosmos will look to make it two wins in as many games on Sunday in a meeting with the Jacksonville Armada, while Fury FC will attempt to bounce back one day earlier in a visit to Indy Eleven.
RAYO OKC TIES EDMONTON IN HOME OPENER
Georgios Samaras made an impact late, but it wouldn’t be enough to earn Rayo OKC a debut win.
The Greek forward entered the fray in the 79th minute but saw his late attempt on goal pushed away by Matt VanOekel to preserve a 0-0 draw. The Eddies did well to hang onto a point after losing defender Albert Watson to a straight red card in the 30th minute. From there, Rayo OKC maintained a bulk of the possession, but failed to put the ball in the back of the net in front of a sellout crowd of 6,416.
Rayo OKC will get another chance to perform in front of the club’s home crowd in a clash with the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday. The Eddies will take their point into the team’s home opener against Minnesota United that same day.
RAILHAWKS SLIP PAST MINNESOTA UNITED
Christian Ramirez got the NASL season started in style, but it wouldn’t be enough to earn Minnesota United all three points in a visit to WakeMed Soccer Park.
Goals from Tiyi Shipalane and Austin da Luz led the Carolina RailHawks to a season-opening 2-1 victory over Minnesota United on Saturday afternoon. Just three minutes into the match, Ramirez, who netted 12 goals last season, ripped a thunderous 25-yard dipping volley to best goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. Responses from Shipalane and da Luz soon followed in the 12th and 26th minutes, as the Loons were pinned in their defensive half for a large chunk of the game.
Minnesota United next faces off with FC Edmonton in another road match, while the RailHawks also face a road trip to Rayo OKC.
ROWDIES, INDY ELEVEN PLAY TO TIE
Neither the Tampa Bay Rowdies nor Indy Eleven could find separation in Saturday’s clash.
The two sides walked away from Al Lang Stadium with a point apiece following a season-opening scoreless draw. The best opportunity came to Rowdies forward Tom Heinemann, who saw his 56th-minute shot parried away by Jon Busch to keep the match level.
Heading into Week 2, the Rowdies will look to move into the win column on Saturday in a Florida derby against Miami FC, while the Eleven return home for a clash with Ottawa Fury FC earlier that day.
looks like the Cosmos could give MLS some trouble this year…
Minimally, start two forwards…Hristov or someone else underneath Cave Man. Was impressed with new guy…Nieill or O’Neill…the left back.
Much better second half than first half.
Oh, and MOTM was the tarp that covered the field.
It is shocking and insulting frankly how the Rowdies’ coach starts Heinemman up front and has benched the team’s 2 most creative footballers- Hristov and Espinal. Those two are thinking creative players with excellent ball control, a rarity in a league dominated by kick and run horticulturalists.
Heinemman has the footballing brain of a headless chicken; he runs a lot, and that’s about it…
Coach needs to get his lineup straight, I ain’t paying to watch Heinemman play. He is a misunderstanding…
I understand what you are getting at; Heinemman should be playing for Ben Olsen in DC.
Have you taken the time to watch Heinemann play? Not every player is the same. His size and strength are his best attributes and his uses them well in combination with a very high soccer IQ. He is one of the top players in the NASL. He stretches the field with fantastic runs from minute 1 to minute 90. Ask his teammates what they think of him? I’m certain they would all say he is fantastic and they wouldn’t trade him for anything.