FC Edmonton's explosiveness was on display again Sunday, when they were frequently on the offensive during a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC. The Eddies came into the match having scored three goals in each of their previous three outings, including both NASL and Amway Canadian Championship competition, a first in club history.

It's a welcome sight for Eddies supporters that love to see offence, and perhaps somewhat surprising to observers that have come to equate FCE under the stewardship of coach Colin Miller with defensive-minded football.

The Eddies certainly didn't light up the scoreboard in their first two seasons with Miller at the helm. Last year, they tied for eighth out of 10 North American Soccer League teams in goals scored after ranking last in the league in 2013.

At the same time, Edmonton was a highly competitive team, thanks to its stingy defence that has consistently hovered right around an average of one goal against during Miller's tenure.

What's changed is not a change in Miller's philosophy – the Eddies have still allowed just one goal in three of their last four outings – but the weapons at his disposal.

He now has a pair of deadly wide midfielders in Lance Laing and Sainey Nyassi that attack in waves off the waves on the wings, and while Miller's lineup still doesn't boast that pure-scoring striker, it features a number of potential finishers in the likes of Tomi Ameobi, Ritchie Jones and Daryl Fordyce. The off-season addition of goalkeeper Matt VanOekel, whose ball distribution ability can transform a defensive situation into an attacking one in the blink of an eye, has bolstered the Eddies' quick-strike ability.

“The first couple of seasons I wanted to develop a culture of the club, and now we're developing the same culture but with a better quality of player and a more attack-minded player, so now I'm hoping the two sides of the game will complement each other, whereas in previous seasons, we've not been famous for our attacking prowess,” Miller said prior to Sunday's match.

“We have attacked, but we haven't been as clinical as we are at this moment of time, but we've now gone from a defensive situation and the guys are playing a lot more up field (and) they're attacking more.”

AN 'A' FOR MR. Z

Allan Zebie was pretty soft-spoken about his Eddies debut on Sunday.

His teammates, not so much.

The 21-year-old defender, who signed with FCE in the off-season, subbed into the match in the 62nd minute while the score was knotted at one and was on the pitch when the Eddies, reduced to 10 men thanks to Daryl Fordyce's red card, withstood a fierce late push by Minnesota.

“I think I did ok. I was nervous every time I touched the ball, but other than that I think I did pretty well,” Zebie said.

“I thought he was brilliant when he came on,” FCE veteran striker Tomi Ameobi said. “It's not an easy game to come on in against one of the best teams in the league, and to be honest in my opinion, he didn't put a foot wrong, so it was a great performance for him when he came on.”

MINNY TO THE MAJORS

Sunday's match was the second-to-last visit Minnesota United FC will make to Clarke Stadium before they join Major League Soccer next year.

MUFC, two-time NASL finalists and 2011 champs, was awarded the 23rd team in MLS at the end of March, just before the start of what will now be their final campaign on the NASL.

The Eddies and MUFC had annually competed in the Flyover Cup, contested between the NASL's two northernmost sides, since both joined the league in 2011. FCE won the first year, while Minnesota has had it since.

FC Edmonton will play at Minnesota on Aug. 8 before hosting MUFC on Sept. 6.