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.

For the second time in two months, an FC Edmonton player has been disciplined by the club.

“We can’t worry about the schedules of the other teams or the standings,” said FCE keeper Lance Parker.

FC Edmonton narrowed the gap to four points between itself and the Carolina Railhawks for the final NASL playoffs spot with a 1-0 home win Sunday over an undermanned and overmatched Puerto Rico Islanders side.

In front of a full house at Clarke Stadium, Yashir Pinto scored the goal that allowed FC Edmonton to draw level with the San Antonio Scorpions. Nearly three hours later, in front of just a handful of fans, he missed the sitter that would have given the Eddies the win.

“No, I am not happy,” said Saiko. “It looks like I am not playing. But, if that’s what the coach wants to do, if he feels that what it takes for this team to win is keeping me on the bench, I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team.”

Cox got a low shot on goal, that Stars keeper Matt Van Oekel got down to stop. But the rebound caromed off the shin of defender Ernest Tchoupe, and bounded across the goal line.

The club announced Thursday — while the first team is on a road trip that will see it face Atlanta on Saturday — that Sinkgraven and Schrijver’s contracts will be extended through to the end of the 2013 season.

Despite being up a man for an hour, FC Edmonton couldn’t score — and, to make matters worse for the home team, the Eddies were caught at the back late in the game, as Luke Mulholland’s goal gave the Tampa Bay Rowdies a 1-0 win.

Toronto FC is a much bigger club than second-division FC Edmonton but, relatively speaking, FCE’s decision to go 4-4-2 is more stunning than the Reds’ change.