Just as it did in losses to Carolina and FC Tampa Bay, FC Edmonton started poorly, surrendering two goals to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the first 29 minutes of the game. And, it led the way to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat.

In an entertaining, end-to-end match which saw both teams create their fair shares of scoring chances, FC Tampa Bay got a second-half goal from Shane Hill and an insurance marker from Pascal Millien to give the home side a 3 -1win over FC Edmonton.

Former Toronto FC goalkeeper David Monsalve is expected to get the start when FC Edmonton’s reserves face the Green and Gold Wednesday. If Monsalve, who made one MLS apperance for TFC in 2007 and also played for the Reds in a friendly against Aston Villa, impresses in his audition, he will likely stick with the team and go on the road when FC Edmonton faces Carolina on Saturday.

Glaring errors from FC Edmonton were punished by FC Tampa Bay. But, the visitors were full value for a 2-1 win over the Eddies at Foote Field.

At the start of the NASL season, you’d have predicted that any 2011 match between the Carolina RailHawks and the Montreal Impact would be a top-of-table clash. Only the RailHawks have kept their part of the bargain. When surveying the Impact’s 2-0 road loss to Carolina Sunday, you would be excused for assuming that the RailHawks were preparing to jump to MLS next season while Montreal was, well,just a bad team.

So, more and more, NASL clubs are partying like it’s 1979. FC Edmonton is the latest of the NASL teams to announce that it will wear a retro third jersey. The club will wear the old orange-and-blue strip from the Edmonton Drillers’ NASL days.

FC Edmonton coach Harry Sinkgraven will be missing a key part of his regular starting XI when his club heads to Montreal to face the Impact Saturday. Forward Kyle Yamada, who plays on the left side of the 4-3-3, hurt his ankle in the second half of Tuesday’s 4-0 win over FC Tampa Bay. Yamada had scored earlier in the game — and he unintentionally set up Kyle Porter’s opening goal, ringing the initial shot off the post, then seeing Porter tuck the rebound into an empty net.

A comprehensive 4-0 win at Foote Field over FC Tampa Bay put FCE in second place overall in the NASL standings, six points behind the surging Carolina RailHawks. FC Edmonton has lost just two of eight matches in its first NASL season.

A 3-0 loss to FC Tampa Bay Saturday showed just how far behind schedule the Impact are when it comes to being ready for Major League Soccer. Other than keeper Bill Gaudette, who made several outstanding saves to keep the scoreline from being more severe, there wasn’t an Impact player on the pitch who looked anywhere close to being what anyone would call an MLS prospect.

FC Edmonton Lance Parker was named the NASL’s Defensive Player of the Week Monday. Parker has been a revelation for FC Edmonton since he took over in goal from Rein Baart three matches ago. He has started the last two NASL matches for FC Edmonton and the second leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal, allowing just two goals in that stretch, and making a series of highlight-reel saves.