By JOHN BOSCHINI
For the first time in a very long time, the Montreal Impact are within striking distance.
The proverbial whipping boys throughout the spring are now within three points of sixth-place Fort Lauderdale following a 2-0 win over the NSC Minnesota Stars. The Impact have rattled off an impressive three-straight shutout victories and are holders of a four-game unbeaten run.
The Carolina Railhawks, meanwhile, wrapped up a first-round bye with a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks. A Etienne Barbara hat trick wa the driving force behind Carolina's win and Atlanta was finally mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Carolina holds onto its seven-point lead at the top of the table with five games to go.
Puerto Rico is the only remaining challenger for the top spot and the Islanders kept pace with a dramatic 3-2 win over FC Edmonton. The newcomers are still in fifth place but are only four points in front of Montreal and Edmonton will have to turn rebound from an August from which they only garnered four points.
Minnesota also finds itself mired in a sudden playoff fight after its loss to Montreal. Only FC Tampa Bay's 2-0 win over Fort Lauderdale keeps Minnesota out of a tie for sixth place.
Here is a look back on all the weekend action in the NASL.
FC Tampa Bay went a long way towards securing a playoff spot with a comfortable win.
Aaron King put Tampa Bay up early with a goal in the ninth minute with an assist from Mike Ambersley. Ambersley gave Tampa an insurance goal in the 77th minute as Fort Lauderdale's offense struggled all game.
Carolina Railhawks 4, Atlanta Silverbacks 2
Etienne Barbara raised his season goal-scoring total to 20 goals with a hat trick against Atlanta as Carolina matched a club record for wins in a season with 16.
The Silverbacks took an early lead when Willie Hunt scored in the 26th minute courtesy of an assist from Ciaran O'Brien. The lead lasted only two minutes as Barbara slotted home his first goal of the evening. Tony McManus gave Carolina the lead in the 31st minute.
Atlanta equalized in the 76th minute when Raphael Cox scored in the 76th minute but two Barbara penalties gave Carolina the comfortable victory.
Puerto Rico Islanders 3, FC Edmonton 2
Kyle Porter seemed to have rescued a point or FC Edmonton with a late equalizer but Jay Needham snatched a victory with a goal deep into stoppage time.
Shaun Saiko opened the scoring with a goal in the 28th minute but strikes from Nick Addlery and Jonathan Fana gave the visitors the lead before halftime. The Islanders weathered Edmonton's pressure until three seconds before normal time elapsed when Porter was presented with a free header.
Edmonton couldn't make the draw hold up and Needham took advantage of poor defending on a corner kick to give Puerto Rico a much-needed win.
Montreal Impact 2, NSC Minnesota Stars 0
Midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic bagged a double for Montreal as goalkeeper Evan Bush registered his sixth shutout of the season.
Montreal jumped out to an early lead when Ubiparipovic turned in Ryan Pore's centering pass with a shot to the top corner. The Serbian gave Montreal an insurance goal 18 minutes from time with a lobbed shot off a counter-attack. The Impact are now four points out of fourth place and in position to make a jump into a playoff spot.
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What did you think of the weekend's results? Is Montreal destined for the playoffs? Can Carolina relax now that it has a bye?
Share your thoughts below.
