The red card issued to FCE keeper Lance Parker in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Fort Lauderdale have sent plenty of wheels into motion.

But the game quickly turned against the Eddies. In the 16th minute, without contact, central defender Carlyle Mitchell crumpled to the ground without contact. He was in agony and rolled off the pitch. He was subbed out for Adrian LeRoy. Mitchell, on loan from the Whitecaps, will have x-rays done performed on the ankle Monday.

The Fury has gone with the shield.

"I don't think they'll be tired," said FCE's central midfield catalyst. "They're at the bottom of the league, so they need a result. I think they'll put a priority on the league over the Cup."

But, with each week that goes by, the Gold Cup gets closer. It kicks off July 7 and wraps up on the 28th. Conveniently, the NASL takes almost all of July off — and Miller could have the time on his hands.

"I need tough challenges in my life," Dos Santos said from Sao Paulo in a teleconference. "My family is used to it. When I first spoke with John it was clear that this was a big challenge."

And, while the Eddies have been on a bye, pretty well each and every result they wanted to go their way has, well, gone their way.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have issued a one-game recall for defender Carlyle Mitchell.

FC Edmonton will be cheering for its six fellow NASL teams as they enter the U.S. Open Cup competition next week.

Fast forward to the present. Miller has his FC Edmonton squad just three points off the top of the NASL table. And he’s beaming with pride after the Canadian Soccer Association confirmed that he’ll be the interim coach of the national side once again.