The Montreal Impact was hoping to record its first victory of the 2011 campaign over FC Tampa Bay in front of 13,000 fans this afternoon — but inclement weather kept the attendance down as the home team had to settle for a 0-0 draw in front of considerably fewer spectators. Near-freezing temperatures and winds that regularly gusted beyond 30km/h combined to make for an afternoon during which only the 36 media folk on the press gallery and the Ultras in section 114 — their drums banging, flags flying and vocal cords fraying — seemed to be immune. It was weather more appropriate to November than late April.

Edwini-Bonsu, an Edmonton native, has been on the wish lists of FCE fans since the club started playing friendlies in 2010, long before it kicked a ball in NASL play.But the former Canadian U-20 standout hinted on his Twitter account that it might be time to go “back to Europe.” And he also pledged not to play with the Montreal Impact, the Whitecaps old hated Div. 2 rival.

FC Edmonton finally looked like an expansion team.After two wins to start the club’s first NASL season, the FC Edmonton couldn’t finish its chances, and were left red-faced in conceding two bad goals to the Carolina RailHawks in a 2-0 loss.

Holt said the USL won’t talk expansion until the Canadian Soccer Association ends its moratorium on approving expansion teams into U.S.-based pro league outside of Major League Soccer. The CSA’s 10-month ban should end in October of 2011.

FC Edmonton has inked former Ottawa Fury defender Adrian Leroy to a contract.Leroy, who was on trial with the NASL club for the past two weeks, was offered the deal late last week, but the paperwork was sorted out as of Monday.

"It's a very sad moment for me because I felt this day would never come," said Sebrango in a release issued Monday by the Impact. "It's a difficult decision for me because I still have the passion and energy to play and live the life of a pro player. I have been very lucky to have played all these years and to leave my sport with my health and with the respect of my peers. I would like to thank Joey Saputo, his family, and the entire Impact organization who gave me the opportunity to make a career by playing the game I love. I would also like to thank the Whitecaps organization, all my coaches and teammates, my parents, my family, as well as my children Gabriella and Donovan.”

While the tornadoes that touched down in the Raleigh area earlier today may have kept some fans away from WakeMed Soccer Park, the weather did not put a damper on the Carolina RailHawks, who defeated the Impact 2-1, handing Montreal its second straight loss to open the NASL season.

Alex Surprenant’s audacious chip and a last-second diving stop from Rein Baart were the two defining moments of FC Edmonton’s 1-0 win over the Atlanta Silverbacks in NASL action Saturday.FC Edmonton is now 2-0-0 in its first season of Div-2 soccer, and will go for a sweep of its three-game road trip Wednesday when the club visits the Carolina RailHawks.

FC Edmonton has announced the 18-man roster for its next two matches, Saturday against the Atlanta Silverbacks and Wednesday in Cary, N.C. against the RailHawks.

Wednesday will be cut-down day for FC Edmonton coach Harry Sinkgraven. Well, sort of.The team spent a week in Florida with its full roster complement of 23 players — and trialists Kyle Porter and Adrian Leroy — ahead of Saturday’s NASL-opening 2-1 win over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.