As FC Edmonton won just five of those 28 games and finished dead last in the NASL, the numbers aren’t expected to be pretty. But because FCE’s defensive-minded games resulted in a lot of low-scoring losses and draws, the minus numbers aren’t as severe as you might think.

With Pinto and Craig both out of the team, it’s a sign that FCE is looking to make room for a new striker or strikers.

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.

A spectacular drive from the boot of Bryan Arguez gave the Eddies a point on the road in Blaine, Minn., cancelling out Cristiano Dias’s opener.

For the second week in a row, FC Edmonton enters a critical match without the service of leading scorer Shaun Saiko.

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

FC Edmonton has scored just 18 goals this season. And two players who have scored nine of those markers could not make the team’s road trip to North Carolina for this weekend’s big six-pointer against the Carolina RailHawks.

Heading into what is the team's biggest game of the NASL season so far, FC Edmonton’s practice was as notable for who was sitting out with injuries as who was actually on the field working out.

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.

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.