It took until the 82nd minute for the Eddies to force Atlanta keeper Joe Nasco into a meaningful save. Just two minutes after coming in as a late sub, FCE teenager Hanson Boakai won a physical battle with Atlanta’s Kwadwo Poku at the top of the box, and then left-footed a curling shot towards the top corner that forced Nasco into a fingertip save.

Coach Colin Miller promised that his players would be doing a lot of running at that training session after the Eddies laboured to a 0-0 draw with the Ottawa Fury at Commonwealth Stadium. The Eddies went up a man in the 56th minute after Ryan Richter, making his Fury debut after being loaned out from Toronto FC, was sent off.

Raudales describes himself as a player that can “destroy” the opposition’s attacks and help his team build its offensive forays.

Cristian Raudales has transitioned from FC Edmonton trialist to roster player.

Want to talk about the World Cup, and what it means on a global scale? How soccer influences international politics? And what it will mean if Canada wins the right to host the 2026 World Cup?

And, if injuries during the fall-season break keep mounting, Miller may need even more reinforcements. The Eddies are now sweating on the health of forward Tomi Ameobi, midfielder Ritchie Jones and keeper Lance Parker.

Striker Chad Burt and midfielder Cristian Raudales will be available for the Eddies on Wednesday and hope to crack the team’s NASL roster for the upcoming fall season, which begins July 13.

Mallan Roberts is a man of two nations, but he only officially belongs to one of them.

The Eddies scored six on Sunday. Daryl Fordyce scored 34 seconds into the match, the fastest goal from the start of a game so far this NASL season, and the Eddies were on their way to a 6-1 hiding of the Carolina RailHawks.

“One win in our first eight games, that’s a recipe for disaster anywhere in the world,” said Miller after FCE trained Thursday at Clarke Stadium. “If things don’t change, there will be changes. That’s the nature of the profession I’m in.”