NASL Week 9 Preview: Crunch Time for Bottom Half

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NASL Week 9 Preview: Crunch Time for Bottom Half

By Jake Nutting on 08/26/2016

FC Edmonton (22 pts Fall, 39 pts Combined) and the New York Cosmos (20 pts, 38 pts) will seek to take advantage of home fixtures as they look to solidify their positions at the top of the Fall Season and Combined standings. Meanwhile, Indy Eleven (19 pts, 37 pts) will look to get back in the mix for the top spot against a vulnerable Ottawa Fury FC after stumbling last week.

As the top three jostle positions, the time is fast approaching for the majority of the teams in the NASL to make their move if they hope to clinch a playoff spot. If the season were to end as it stands now, the Cosmos and Minnesota United FC (15 pts, 31 pts) would occupy the third and fourth seeds in The Championship, the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament. The next few weeks will be crucial to see if any of the teams chasing four the fourth spot — the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (11 pts, 26 pts), Carolina RailHawks (12 pts, 26 pts), Rayo OKC (13 pts, 25 pts), or Tampa Bay Rowdies (8 pts, 24 pts) — can gain any ground and stay in the hunt.

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Tampa Bay Rowdies host Rayo OKC, Saturday August 27, 7:30 p.m. ET

Following their bitter loss to Edmonton at home last week, the Rowdies will be eager to get back on track on Saturday. Despite dominating in nearly every aspect over the Eddies, the Rowdies still fell 1-0 to drop their fifth match out of their last six. With one of the highest payrolls in the league, pressure is mounting on the coaching staff to find a way into the playoff picture.

Since battling to earn the first point on the road against the Cosmos this year, Rayo OKC has lost two straight closely contested matches. Working in the expansion side’s favor is the resurgence of attackers Georgios Samaras and Billy Forbes. The two have looked markedly more dangerous and active since interim head coach Gerard Nus took over for Alen Marcina several weeks ago.