This weekend the 2013 North American Soccer League season gets underway. With a new format, the NASL will split its season into two halves, Spring and Fall. The winner of the first half of the season, the Spring Session from April 6 to July 4, will book themselves a place in the league final, the Soccer Bowl, in November. Facing the Spring Session winner will be the Fall Session winner and should a single team win both sessions, then they'll play the team with the second-most points over the full season in the Soccer Bowl. While not a format too familiar to US audiences (although it is frequently used in Central and South America), it’s easy to understand and looks to generate some heated competition. Teams will be looking to break out from the start; especially as in the Fall Session the re-born New York Cosmos will join the fray.
Let’s take a look at the match-ups this weekend. The Tampa Bay Rowdies will host the Carolina Railhawks, the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers will host FC Edmonton, and Minnesota United will host the San Antonio Scorpions. The Atlanta Silverbacks will have a bye this first week. The league will stream all games live on their website, www.NASL.com, and at each respective team website.
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Carolina RailHawks
Al Lang Stadium, 7.30pm EST
The defending NASL champion Rowdies had the most active and thorough preseason. Over 10 games Tampa ended with a 4-6 record, against several local colleges (University of South Florida, Eckerd College, University of Tampa, and Saint Leo University), some MLS sides (DC United, Montreal Impact, and Sporting Kansas City), and a three-leg local derby with the USL’s Orlando City. Certainly it’s expected that the Rowdies will be fit and gelling (the only significant injury for the Rowdies will be forward Mike Ambersley who will be held out of the home opener). Although Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg is a baseball field, the Rowdies find success there and the Tampa supporters (Ralph’s Mob) make the locale their own.
The Carolina Railhawks will have to play well to come away with a win. Recently, matches between Carolina and Tampa have become high scoring affairs. Both sides have very attack minded players…and an aging, aged, and often lack luster defense. However, Carolina has recently added Paul Hamilton (a starting centerback the past couple of season with FC Edmonton) and have the MLS experienced Julius James. It’ll be interesting to see of Carolina will be able to stave off Tampa’s new forwards Amani Walker and Georgi Hristov or stymie service from midfielder Luke Mulholland. On the flip-side, Tampa has a slower although quality defensive line. Captain fullback Frankie Sanfilippo, veteran Takuya Yamada (who looks to be playing centerback now in his Ryan Giggs-like twilight career), and centerback Jay Needham will contend against Carolina’s new forward Nicholas Addlery, a top scorer for Puerto Rico Islanders last season, and longtime Railhawks danger man Nick Zimmerman.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. FC Edmonton
Lockhart Stadium, 7.30pm EST
Ft. Lauderdale always does well against Edmonton (5-2-2 all-time), so the visiting Canadians will have to work hard to get something out of their annual opening day trip to Lockhart Stadium. The Strikers have brought in a good deal of world-class players to compliment their own young, evolving talent. Defenders Ivan Guerrero and Shavar Thomas (a former Jamaican national team captain) and forward Andy Herron will be expected to not just bring their experience to the pitch but to mentor. Former Puerto Rico forward/winger David Foley will look to partner with Stefan Dmitrov (on loan from the New York Cosmos), and both will be the targets of service from rising stars midfielders Walter Restrepo and the always dangers Mark Anderson.
This will be an immediate test for FC Edmonton. Last season, Edmonton was the whipping boy of the league (due mostly to in-fighting in the front office). More than any other professional team in Canada, Edmonton makes it a point to have young, Canadian talent. There’s been a lot of turnover for the Eddies, 18 players from last season are gone. So it will be a challenge for Edmonton to come out strong in the Spring Session. It’s doubtful they’ll do well but look for the team to build in strength as the season goes on. If Edmonton succeeds, it will be on the shoulders of midfield star Shaun Saiko. But he is by no means alone. Edson Edward (formerly of Puerto Rico), Neil Hlavaty (former of Minnesota), Chris Nurse (Puerto Rico), Wes Knight (formerly of San Antonio) and Lance Laing (formerly of Ft. Lauderdale) are all NASL stalwarts who will bring a determination to Edmonton that was lacking last season. But who knows where Edmonton will get goals or if they’ll be able to hold off Ft. Lauderdale’s attack.
Minnesota United FC vs. San Antonio Scorpions
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, 8pm CST
With a new owner and a new name, Minnesota has assembled what looks on paper at least like the premier team in the league. Raiding the San Antonio Scorpions, Minnesota signed last season’s Golden Boot winner Pablo Campos, midfielder Aaron Pitchkolan, and goalkeeper Daryl Sattler from them. Then continued the augmentation by signed the 2011 Golden Boot winner Etienne Barbara. Having Campos and Barbara together bodes well, the two were striker partners in 2011 with the Carolina Railhawks, so they’ll come into this season already knowing how each other plays. These new signings will blend with current fan-favorites and rising stars midfielders Miguel Ibarra, Kentaro Takada, and forward/winger Italian Simone Bracalello. Minnesota also boasts arguably the two best starting fullbacks in the league, Brian Kallman and Justin Davis, thus it is entirely likely that Minnesota will become one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the league.
Not to be out done, San Antonio has gone out to replenish their side with some very physical and technical Eastern European players. Midfielder Edin Husic (Bosnia) will be a lynchpin for the club as he looks to win balls for team leader the Dutchman Hans Denissen and new forwards Adin Dzafic (Bosnia) and Nikola Vasilic (Serbia), while at the same time looking to help winger Walter Ramirez actual meet expectations. Similarly, new defender Luka Vucko (Croatia) looks to be an imposing presence, to back pseudo-midfielders and former MLS-ers Pat Phelan and Bryan Jordan.
Expectations are high in Minnesota; with a new owner that is committed to funding the team, nothing less than bringing the trophy back home will be accepted. Likewise, last year’s regular season winner, San Antonio, are demanding more success. It was Minnesota that snuffed out San Antonio’s championship dreams last season and the two have been slowly building an intense and meaningful rivalry. San Antonio and Minnesota are the horses to beat this season, so their match in the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis will be the marquee match of the weekend.
(image courtesy of rowdiesoccer.com)
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