NASL Rewind: Carolina perfect; Cosmos fall again

The Carolina RailHawks beat Tampa Bay, 3-1, to remain the only perfect team four games into the NASL season, while the defending champion New York Cosmos lost their second straight. Three teams, including last year's runner-up, remain winless after FC Edmonton celebrated its first victory.

Christian Ramirez broke a scoreless tie with a 90th minute strike to give Minnesota a 1-0 win over the New York Cosmos, who last week fell to Indy Eleven. The 25-year-old Ramirez, who joined Minnesota in 2014, is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 36 goals.

Leading Scorers
G PLAYER (TEAM)
3 Dario Cvitanich (Miami)
3 Austin Da Luz (Carolina)
3 Christian Ramirez (Minnesota).

Minnesota’s win, despite playing a man-down after Damion Lowe’s 53rd-minute red card, marked its first over the Cosmos in nine meetings.

"We were just going into the game prepared to do what we wanted to do," said Minnesota coach Carl Craig. "It's not so much who we're playing against, but the fact that we go down to 10 men against a quality side like them and get the goal. It's important that in every game you play, you got to go out and believe you can win."

NASL Week 4, Results
Miami FC 2 (Martinez 36, Rusin 75) Rayo OKC 3 (Findley 15, Forbes 25, Michel)
Att.: 2,168
Ft. Lauderdale 1 (Maicon Santos 74) Jacksonville 1 (Bahner 16)
Att.: 1,097
Tampa Bay 1 (Collins 65) Carolina 3 (Perez, 45, Marcelin 47, Shriver 87)
Att.: 5,948
Minnesota 1 (Ramirez 90) New York 0
Att.: 9,078
FC Edmonton 2 (Watson 46, Keegan 69) Ottawa 0
Att.: 1,500

Carolina, which handed Minnesota its only loss when they clashed in their season opener, got their fourth win over the season thanks to goals by Alex Perez, James Marcelin and Brian Shriver.

NASL Standings: Carolina RailHawks 12; Minnesota United 9; New York Cosmos 6; Indy Eleven 5, Tampa Bay Rowdies 5; Rayo OKC 4; Jacksonville Armada 4; FC Edmonton 4; Miami FC 2; Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2; Ottawa Fury FC 1.

“We got three goals from three different players all scoring their first goal of the season," said RailHawks coach Colin Clarke. "From back to front, this team is playing like a unit. To go on the road and win is not easy. I am super proud of this entire team and this entire organization.”

FC Edmonton, scoreless in its first three games, finally got its first goals of the season, from Albert Watson and Jake Keegan, and its first win with a 2-0 victory over last season’s runner-up Ottawa.

The Eddies’ win and Rayo OKC's victory 3-2 win over Miami FC left Ottawa, Miami FC and Ft. Lauderdale as the only winless teams after Week 4.