Steven Sandor of The 11.com posted yesterday that FC Edmonton has confirmed they will play their Amway Canadian Championship match opener at Commonwealth Stadium. The game will take place on May 2nd against the Vancouver Whitecaps. According to Sandor, the CSA does not allow ACC matches to be played on fields with "football lines or [.

Three members of the NASL's FC Edmonton squad have received invitations to Canada's Olympic qualifying camp in March. Edmonton native Shaun Saiko, along with Eddies' striker Kyle Porter and trialist goalkeeper Michal Misiewicz all received emails Wednesday for the camp in Fort Lauderdale. Midfielder Saiko, 23.

Adidas will be the new outfiter for FC Edmonton for the next three seasons. The Canadian NASL side released a statement late last week stating they have entered into an agreement with adidas Canada. "We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with FC Edmonton," said Jeff Clements, director, TEAM Business Development, adidas Canada.

Mmmm, Tuesday's looking up isn't it? Images via Greg in Hollywood.

We've been jonesing for brand spankin' new (and naive) man meat to profile on our humble little site, and boy did our wishing, hoping and bartering with God pay off!

Allow us to introduce you to Lance Parker and his abs, who both play for FC Edmonton in the North American Soccer League.

While last season's D2 playoff champion the Puerto Rico Islanders will meet the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the second leg of their semifinal series and 2011 regular season champions the Carolina RailHawks battle the NSC Minnesota Stars Saturday in the other semifinal matchup, other NASL teams are announcing roster changes for next season.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Half of the teams in the NASL have already started their winter breaks while the four remaining teams are left to battle for a place in the inaugural NASL final.

The sixth-seeded NSC Minnesota Stars and No. 4 Fort Lauderdale Strikers survived the pressure of a one-off quarterfinal against No.

For the six months, the NASL marveled at FC Edmonton's discipline, maturity and ability to grind out results.

Well so much for that.

The expansion side showed their youth and inexperience in a 5-0 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers during the quarterfinals of the NASL playoffs.

What a great night at Lockhart Stadium this Saturday when the Strikers defeated FC Edmonton 5-0 thanks to a hat trick by Abe Thompson and a brace by Brian Shriver. The team played inspired football and gave South Florida a true show that we hope we can see again next week as the playoffs continue.
The Strikers will face the Puerto Rico Islanders this coming Saturday in the first of 2 games to determine who advances to the NASL Finals.

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers defeated FC Edmonton 5-0 on Saturday evening at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. You can find the IMS game report here. Here are video highlights of the game.

FC Edmonton made the long trip to southern Florida Saturday evening to play the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in a quarterfinal NASL playoff game. Astonishingly, the Eddies entered the game with a better record in Fort Lauderdale (3 points) than at home in Edmonton (1 point) against the Strikers. For the Strikers it was a bit [.

There is no rest for the weary and no one knows that better than the quarterfinalists in the NASL playoffs.

Combine the physical toll of a long season with the pressure cooker of a win or go home match-up and fans are in for something special come Saturday. Florida will be the host for both quarterfinals as #6 Minnesota travels to #3 Tampa Bay and #4 Fort Lauderdale plays host to #5 Edmonton.

South Florida Soccer fans need to get out to Lockhart Stadium this Saturday October 1, 2011 for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers playoff game versus FC Edmonton. Game starts at 7:30 pm and tickets are now available at www.strikers.com. You can also get them game day at the box office. Come out and support the Strikers as they make their NASL Championship run!

Strikers fans made the trip to St Pete to support their team only to be disappointed by a 2-0 loss. The Strikers played well, dominating certain moments of the game but the turning point was the red card given to Cristian Arrieta. It was enough to change the tide and give Tampa an advantage that proved too much for the Red & Gold.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Minnesota nearly bungled their way out the playoffs with a near-epic collapse towards the end of the season but the Stars came up with a win when it counted, beating the Carolina Railhawks, 2-1, to book a place in the postseason.

Things aren't so bright for Carolina.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

After a grueling season spanning nearly six months and consisting of 27 games, it all comes down to the final weekend in the inaugural season of the NASL.

The NSC Minnesota Stars and the Montreal Impact enter the weekend in a fight for the final playoff spot, while FC Tampa Bay and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers jockey for third place.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The penultimate weekend in the NASL offered little in the way of high-scoring contests but instead set up a thrilling final weekend for the Montreal Impact and the NSC Minnesota Stars.

The NSC Minnesota Stars conceded a second-half goal to draw 1-1 with FC Tampa Bay but the vital point keeps them narrowly ahead of the Montreal Impact for sixth place.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With only two weeks to go in the NASL regular season, the postseason picture is pretty much set. Five of the six teams headed to the playoffs have already clinched their spot while Carolina and Puerto Rico have wrapped up byes to the semifinals.

That precious final spot will be contested down the stretch by the NSC Minnesota Stars, who have imploded during August and September, and the Montreal Impact, who have turned their form around after an atrocious opening half of the season.

The Strikers are set to travel to Edmonton for their final regular season meeting between both teams on Sunday. At stake is placement for the playoffs as well as tie breaker implications which would be important at season's end. Previous meetings Last April FC Edmonton won their inaugural game in Fort Lauderdale by a score of [.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The Carolina Railhawks have been, without question, the most dominant team in the inaugural NASL season, but they had to wait until Wednesday to make it official.

The Railhawks wrapped up the regular-season title despite a 1-0 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Three important games took place on Wednesday evening in the North American Soccer League. Each had an impact on the playoff picture. The Carolina RailHawks clinched the regular season championship, FC Edmonton clinched a playoff spot and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are within a grasp of also clin Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1-0 Carolina RailHawks The [.

Although it has been months since the Atlanta Railhawks were anywhere near the playoff picture, the worst team in the NASL still has the power to stir the pot.

Two first-half goals stunned the visiting Puerto Rico Islanders and were enough to give the Silverbacks their fourth win of the season.

FC Edmonton 3-1 NSC Minnesota Stars After a dominating performance in the first 45 minutes of action on Saturday evening against FC Edmonton, the NSC Minnesota Stars deservedly took the lead just before halftime. Brian Cvilikas rose high above a crowd in front of the Edmonton net on a corner kick from Andrei Gotsmanov to [.

After playing each other Saturday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, the Islanders and FC Edmonton played a Tuesday night match. While FC Edmonton couldn't quite avenge their Saturday loss, they did get a measure of satisfaction by leaving the island with a point after drawing 1-1 with the in form Islanders.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The playoff picture is slowly coming in to focus as the NASL has less than one month left in the regular season.

FC Edmonton was fortunate to play the woeful Atlanta Silverbacks last weekend to snap an eight-game winless streak but faces a much tougher test against Puerto Rico on Saturday.

A few things are on my mind this Wednesday morning. It would seem that the rippling effects of last year's CCL is paying dividends for the league this year. As are several other league changes. Enjoy the rest of your week!
CONCACAF Champion's League: Major League Soccer is being represented extremely well in the region tournament.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

With all the fanfare surrounding the hiring of Martin Rennie as the coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps, it's easy to forget he's still in prime position to win the NASL title with the Carolina Railhawks.

Anything but a spectacular collapse sees Carolina securing the top seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

The Carolina Railhawks will have to wait another week to wrap up their playoff spot.

After a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Railhawks, Carolina needed only for Montreal to lose or draw against the Puerto Rico Islanders to assure themselves a postseason berth, but the Impact came out with a surprising 1-0 victory of their own.

Cary, N.C. – 7-25-11

Carolina RailHawks forward Pablo Campos has been named the Week 16 NASL Offensive Player of the Week.

Pablo Compos - Photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan

Campos scored two goals on Saturday night to lead the RailHawks to a 4-1 win over Edmonton at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Cary, N.C. – 7-25-11

Carolina RailHawks forward Pablo Campos has been named the Week 16 NASL Offensive Player of the Week.

Pablo Compos - Photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan

Campos scored two goals on Saturday night to lead the RailHawks to a 4-1 win over Edmonton at WakeMed Soccer Park.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

If there were any doubts about the dominance of the Carolina Railhawks after two winless games, they were removed with a 4-1 trouncing of FC Edmonton on Saturday.

Pablo Campos snapped a goalless drought that lasted nearly 700 minutes with a masterful brace to take the forward's goal total to eight on the season.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

For the first time since the beginning of June, the Carolina Railhawks' lead is back to single digits.

The Puerto Rico Islanders have emerged as legitimate contenders after a 3-1 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Wednesday took their unbeaten streak to seven games.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Don't look now, but the Atlanta Silverbacks are starting to string together some results.

Atlanta and fellow bottom-dweller Montreal Impact battled to a 2-2 draw in Canada on Sunday. It was the first time in 2011 the Atlanta Silverbacks were able to stay unbeaten over two games.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Just when it looked like no one would catch the Carolina Railhawks, the NASL leaders lost their first game since April 9 over the weekend and followed it up with a 1-1 tie with FC Edmonton on Thursday night.

The departure of captain Brad Rusin has obviously had an effect on Carolina, but the Railhawks still maintain a 13-point lead over second-place Edmonton.

The NSC Minnesota Stars defeated the Carolina RailHawks by a score of 1-0 Saturday evening in Blaine, Minn., at the NSC Stadium. The game winning goal scored by Amani Walker was a dramatic one, recorded in the 3rd minute of added time which was Walkers first professional goal. The win was the 5th of the season for Minnesota keeping them in 4th place in the standings at 5-7-3 with 22 points, one point off from 3rd place Puerto Rico and two off from 2nd place Edmonton who sit at 24 pts.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

It's no secret that Carolina has been far and away the best team in the NASL this season and, somewhat unfortunately for the Railhawks, teams across the Atlantic Ocean are starting to take notice.

Carolina captain Brad Rusin left the club abruptly earlier this week to sign a three-year contract with Denmark Superliga side HB Køge.

Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net

The NASL debuted their new game ball last night at all three league games in Atlanta, GA, (Silverbacks vs. Islanders), St. Petersburg, FL, (FC Tampa Bay vs. Strikers) and Blaine, MN, (Stars vs. FC Edmonton).

The ball which is made by Joma, looks very much like the old NASL balls from the 70′s but uses the new NASL Logo and star.

NSC Minnesota 1-1 FC Edmonton

For the second time in three meetings this season, the NSC Minnesota Stars tied FC Edmonton. It was fitting that the two teams, who had been battling for 2nd place in the NASL standings for a good share of the season, saw the identical scoreline on June 18th, Edmonton's last visit to Minnesota.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Major League Soccer's next franchise is going through some hard times in U.S. Soccer's second division.

The Montreal Impact is reeling from the sudden resignation of coach Marc Dos Santos earlier in the week. The Impact is off to an atrocious start, winning only twice in 11 games and sitting seventh in the standings, well outside a playoff spot.

Mais um jogo do Mundial Sub-17, foi realizado no dia 22/06/2011, na cidade de Pachuca-MEX, no Estádio Hidalgo, onde jogaram as seleções do Canadá (76º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Inglaterra (6º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
1986Vancouver 24/05/1986 CAN0:1 (0:0)ENG
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Omar Ponce-ECU
O primeiro assistente do jogo, foi: Carlos Herrera-ECU
O segundo assistente do jogo, foi: Christian Lescano-ECU
O quarto árbitro do jogo, foi: Bas Nijhuis-NED
O primeiro gol do jogo, foi de Adam Morgan, jogador do Liverpool-ENG, aos 45 segundos do segundo tempo.

Nevio Pizzolitto, captain of the Montreal ImpactArguably, it's the fans which keep football/soccer alive. The thousands which pack stadiums, the millions which watch on their TV, they are the ones which keep this game running. Not only is it the ticket sales and the merchandise bought, but it's also the passion and the love which fuels the players to play their best.