Preview: FC Edmonton (5-1-1) is tied with Indy Eleven at the top of the North American Soccer League fall season table in points, and the Eddies' success at home is a major reason. Edmonton has won eight matches in a row there. The Eddies welcome Minnesota – the only team to beat them at home this year – to Clarke Field in the league's lone Sunday match. Minnesota (3-2-2) is coming off a 4-0 loss at home to Miami FC — the worst by a Minnesota professional soccer team in more than four years — and is winless in its past three games.
Players to watch: Edmonton forward Tomi Ameobi has formed a strong partnership with Dustin Corea; the Eddies' past four goals have come after the pair have linked up at some point in the attacking move. Goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, a former Loons' player, is second in the league in saves (55), first in shutouts (eight) and first in goal-against average (0.59).
Numbers: Minnesota is the only team that has scored multiple goals against Edmonton this season. Ben Speas scored twice in the Loons' previous Edmonton visit. That match, played in week two of the spring season, marked the only time Edmonton failed to score at home.
Scoring differential: Minnesota's top three goal scorers, Christian Ramirez, Stefano Pinho and Ben Speas, have netted 19 goals — three more than the entire FC Edmonton squad.
David La Vaque
