The good news for the Carolina RailHawks is that they’ve now completed their Canadian swing for the year, knocking out their two NASL fall season trips to Ottawa and Edmonton this week. Unfortunately for the RailHawks, their 1-0 loss to FC Edmonton today completes an O-for-Canada 2016: no points and no goals in three total trips north of the border.

While the RailHawks have surrendered the most goals in the league this year, with 25 scores during their 16 matches, the win gives FC Edmonton eight consecutive home victories, having not dropped a result at Clarke Stadium since the 2016 opener against Minnesota United. Edmonton has also conceded the fewest goals in the NASL in 2016, allowing only 10 goals out of 16 games.

Carolina played their second straight without starters Nazmi Albadawi, Matt Watson and James Marcelin. But the visitors enjoyed a shot in the wing as newcomer Omar Bravo made a Friday flight to Edmonton after receiving his international visa clearance since last Wednesday’s loss at Ottawa. Bravo not only made the starting XI today but also wore the captain’s armband.

Although a scoreless first half fit the RailHawks’ game plan, 10 of FC Edmonton’s 14 goals coming in have come in the second stanza. On cue, Tomi Ameobi sprung an attack in the 64th minute after Simon Mensing mistimed his slide tackle clearance. Ameobi drove starboard, then crossed to a charging Jake Keegan for an easy putaway and the 1-0 advantage. The score is Keegan’s team-high fifth goal this year.

RailHawks goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre made seven saves to keep the Eddies at bay. But Carolina couldn’t find an equalizer in their second straight match without a goal.

Meanwhile, the RailHawks have never won a game at Clarke Stadium — Carolina’s lone three points in Edmonton came at nearby Foote Field in 2011, the Eddies’ first year in the NASL.

FC Edmonton (9-3-4, 30 pts.), who have a game in hand on the New York Cosmos, leap into a tie with the Cosmos atop the NASL fall season table and one point behind the Cosmos in the overall regular season standings.

Meanwhile, Carolina’s next two games are against the bottom two teams in the league table. The RailHawks (6-3-7, 21 pts.) mercifully complete their current three-game road trip next Saturday, Aug. 6, with a visit to the Jacksonville Armada. Carolina returns to WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, Aug. 13 to host expansion side Puerto Rico FC.

BOX SCORE

LINEUPS

CAR: Sylvestre, Black, Mensing, Daly, Moses, Beckie, Shipalane, da Luz, Orlando (Shriver, 69’), Hassan (Fondy, 56’), Bravo

FCE: VanOekel, Eckersley, Nicklaw, Diakite, Watson, Corea (Gustavo, 88’), Shome (Galvao, 86’), Ledgerwood, Fordyce, Keegan (Fisk, 86’), Ameobi

GOALS

CAR: ---

FCE: Keegan, 64’ (Ameobi)

CAUTIONS

CAR: Mensing, 61’; Beckie, 74’; da Luz, 79’

FCE: ---

EJECTIONS

CAR: ---

FCE: ---