“There were a lot of things going on in Atlanta. And the team wasn’t making decisions on a lot of the guys. And some of the guys opted for a change of scenery. That’s part of professional football. But they fired Brian Haynes, who won coach of the year, and it gave the impression that things were not very stable.”

The survey, which was sent out to FC Edmonton and Minnesota United supporters on Wednesday, asks if fans like the current Soccer Bowl format or would like to see the competition widened.

Miller joked that it was “handbags, lipstick and eyeshadow,” but it was clear the emotions weren’t being kept in check on the field. Maybe the biggest surprise is that no one was sent off, though Eddie Corey Hertzog was stretchered off late in game after being scythed to the turf by Milton Blanco, who saw yellow. Hertzog has a knock on his hip.

But, the deal is more significant because it suggests a thawing of relations between MLS and NASL, at least when it comes to bringing players under NASL contracts up to the first division.

The Eddies are now just three points back of the NASL-leading Carolina RailHawks as they hit the midway mark of the NASL spring season with a 3-0 lead over the Silverbacks in front of 1,161 fans at Clarke Stadium.

But it should feel like a Cup match. Not only will it be the first time the Eddies take the field at a new and improved Clarke Stadium, with capacity for 4,000 fans, but NASL is already entering a phase of the spring season schedule where every game is a must-win.

But, does a team that loses both of its home matches to Atlanta deserve a playoff spot? The answer is clear — no. On a cool, blustery prairie afternoon, Atlanta did more in the half it had the 50 km/h wind at its back than Edmonton. Matt Horth scored two second-half goals as the Silverbacks all but ended FCE’s playoff hopes.