And the Eddies bid goodbye to two international players in the past week. Dean Shiels's departure was confirmed earlier in the week and, on Sunday, the Eddies announced that Norwegian midfielder Sabri Khattab was going to return home. 

FC Edmonton’s roster was depleted; the team had just a keeper and 12 outfield players healthy enough to play. Thanks to omissions, injuries and Gold Cup call-ups, the New York Cosmos brought a squad to Edmonton that looked nothing like the kind of team we see in NASL week in, week out. Thanks to a 79th-minute goal from Eric Calvillo …

“I felt in preseason that I was doing really well,” Fisk said. “And then I kind of fell out of the team a bit. Now that I have gotten myself back in, I feel that it’s taken a few games to kind of find my feet, to find my full 90-minute fitness. I think in the last couple of games, I’ve done a lot better, and I think Carolina was one of my better games so far. Hopefully I can build off of that.”

Would Miller entertain the thought of a Fordyce return? Judging from the coach’s comments, the door is open.

Dean Shiels tenure as an Eddie lasted a little less than half an NASL season.

“A Portuguese player once said, the goals come like ketchup. Once you get one, all the rest come after it,” said Eustaquio. This is especially poignant considering that Eustaquio grew up in Leamington, Ont., which is the tomato and ketchup capital of Canada. Damn, do I love it when the player provides the poetry for me. Makes this “game story” thing so much easier.

As the Carolina RailHawks, the NASL franchise now known as North Carolina FC never won a game at Clarke Field, and were on the end of the some real pastings. Look at the history of FC Edmonton, and the list of most-lopsided wins in club history are filled with “home to Carolina.”

So, you’d think that getting your Canadian permanent-residency status would make things a little easier on an FC Edmonton player. No more occupying one of the team’s seven international roster slots. Travel to the United States for road trips should be easier. Canadian paperwork should become a heck of a lot easier.

For the fourth straight NASL match, FC Edmonton failed to score a goal. For the fourth straight match, the Eddies chalked up a loss.

FC Edmonton has scored nine times in 13 NASL games. Take away a four-goal outburst against the New York Cosmos, and it’s just five goals in the other 12 matches.