EDMONTON

It’s not often FC Edmonton are favoured going into a game.

The local professional soccer club has struggled to string together wins in the past couple of seasons.

Yet, heading into their opening game of the Amway Canadian Championship on Wednesday, FC Edmonton may hold an edge over the expansion Ottawa Fury.

“We know that Ottawa are off to a similar start to us,” said FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller. “It won’t be an easy game for us, but we’re looking forward to it. We’ll freshen the team up a little bit, give one or two players a chance that haven’t played so much so far.”

With another North American Soccer League team now in the country, FC Edmonton will face Ottawa in a two-game home-and-home series with the winner moving on to take on the defending national champion Montreal Impact.

Ottawa will host Wednesday’s first leg against FC Edmonton with the second game of the series taking place the following Wednesday at Clarke Stadium.

It will be the first time FC Edmonton has not had to open against a Major League Soccer squad, having lost out to the Vancouver Whitecaps last season.

“They’re a new franchise like we were not long ago, they’ll be finding their way,” Miller said of the Fury. “They might look at this as a fresh challenge also. It’s their home game and away goals count double in the event of a tie, so we know we have to try and score some goals.

“I would imagine that we would go in as favourites just on the fact that we’re a more established NASL team. That’s a new pressure that’s on us for sure. But to win a game at the professional football level is not easy, regardless of who you play. The carrot that is there for either team to go through is the chance to play against the Montreal Impact.”

Ottawa has lost its first two games of the NASL season, falling 2-0 to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in their home opener two weeks ago, then dropping a 2-1 decision, on the road, to Minnesota United FC on Saturday.

Edmonton also lost Saturday, falling 1-0 in their home opener to the New York Cosmos.

Miller was disappointed with his team’s effort against New York and is looking for a better outing against the Fury.

“We’re very disappointed with the result Saturday night in front of a terrific crowd as well,” Miller said. “We underachieved, given how well we had trained and how well we had played the week before in Tampa. I’m glad that one is out of the way and we can turn our attention on the next game. We’re in a good frame of mind. Our guys are such an honest group of players that they know we didn’t play well.”

Having developed a reputation as a strong defensive team under Miller, FC Edmonton were hoping a number of new additions to the squad would provide some offensive punch.

Traditionally, the club has struggled to score goals. Such was the case against the Cosmos where offensive opportunities were few and far between.

“I think the chemistry is definitely forming on our team,” said striker Frank Jonke. “It might take a couple of games for it to develop. But we’ve gotten two games out of the way now an it’s time for things to gel.

“Once we gel and open up and do the things we’re capable of doing, it’s not going to be hard to score. It’s just finding a balance. In the first couple of games people are more worried about defence than scoring. But it’s going to happen, it’s going to come for us.”

FC Edmonton is hoping a good game against Ottawa is a springboard for the remainder of their NASL Spring season.

From Ottawa, FC Edmonton will travel to Minnesota for their third game of the NASL campaign.

“There are a lot of new faces on the team, and I said at the start that it would take at least three games into the year for it to come together,” Miller said. “That may include the Amway game. There is still a real feeling-out process with the guys and getting to know each other and stuff. It’s great in training, but on game day it’s different when you’re trying to get new players to gel together.”

derek.vandiest@sunmedia.ca

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