Stefano Hat Trick Fuels Strikers Victory
October 3, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 3, 2015) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers returned to the win column in fine fashion Saturday night with a 4-2 win in North American Soccer League (NASL) action Saturday night at Toyota Field in San Antonio. NASL leading scorer Stefano exploded for three goals, two in the first half, to give him 15 on the year and extend his league lead to five more goals than the next highest scorer, Scorpions forward Omar Cummings.
The road decision halts a two-match losing skid and erases a four-match stretch in which Stefano had failed to score a goal. The victory puts the Strikers in the fourth and final position to make The Championship (postseason) with 34 points in the NASL Combined Standings. It also evens Fort Lauderdale's record in 2015 to nine wins and nine losses -- 9-7-9 (W-T-L).
Stefano opened the scoring 10 minutes into the contest when he maneuvered around two San Antonio defenders and sent a sizzling shot past goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes.
Fewer than five minutes later, Marlon Freitas got into the act when he slammed home a tap pass from PC for his sixth goal this year.
It was Stefano again in the 40th minute: He took a PC pass from 25-yards out on the counterattack, and sent a hard shot in with his left foot, freezing Fernandes.
It remained 3-0 through halftime, thanks largely to a stellar Fort Lauderdale defense and holding midfielders James Marcelin and Hendry Thomas that snuffed out several Scorpions' attacks.
The home team got on the board in the 56th minute when Kris Tyrpak scored a debut goal. San Antonio appeared to get back in the game in the 79th minute when Stephen DeRoux reduced the deficit to one goal.
Stefano picked up the hat trick and put the game away fewer than 10 minutes later (86th minute) when substitute Shawn Chin slipped him a pass inside the six-yard box and he slotted home. The hat trick is Stefano's second this year, the first coming August 29 in a 7-1 win over Indy Eleven. The three-goal night gives Stefano four games this season in which he's scored at least two goals.
It also sends him past Mark Anderson for the modern era Strikers single season goals-scored record. Stefano now has 15 goals in NASL games, two more than Anderson tallied in all competitive matches in 2012.
"It's not easy to come and get three points" said Strikers head coach Günter Kronsteiner. "We did it. And, I'm happy with our performance."
Lionel Brown, who grew up in Margate, was pressed into action after Josh Ford was recalled by Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC. Ford, on loan since May 29 and the starter in the last 16 straight games, was on the Strikers' team flight Friday morning when Orlando City recalled him following an injury to another of its goalkeepers. Brown, who has been with Fort Lauderdale for four seasons, earned earn his first win while starting in net.
On April 25, Brown came on early in the first half to help the team win at Ottawa. In two 2015 starts prior to tonight, Brown allowed two goals in a tie and defeat (1-0 home loss to Carolina on May 23; 1-1 tie at San Antonio on May 30). Tonight's game was the fourth NASL game in which Brown has appeared for the Red & Gold against San Antonio in five career league starts.
The Strikers' defense was strong for the most part while doing without Jordan Graye, who is still recovering from a broken nose suffered last month. Gabriel was also out after a lower body injury during training Thursday.
The team did regain the services of defenders PC and Iván Guerrero. PC sat out last week serving a red card suspension while Guerrero returned from a hamstring injury.
First Half
1' San Antonio receives the kickoff under partly cloudy skies and 82-degree temperatures at Toyota Field. Fort Lauderdale is dressed in its all-white kits.
2' Offside is called after freekick finds the back of the Strikers' net
6' Stefano centers the ball from the right side, but it's plucked by Scorpions' goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes
10' FTL GOAL 1-0 Stefano Pinho threads the needle, scoring after recovering a loose ball and sending in into the back of the net to extend his league-leading goals scored total to 13. Goal number 13 also ties him with Mark Anderson for the most in a season in the modern era. The play was initiated by Marlon Freitas, who sent it to PC, followed by a PC pass that was in front of Stefano and two San Antonio defenders.
15' FTL Goal 2-0 Marlon Freitas scores from front and center after taking the tap pass from PC. The goal is Freitas' sixth on the year in NASL action.
17' Jonathan Borrajo centering pass is intercepted by Fernandez who stretches out to retrieve it
20' Strikers netminder Lionel Brown comes out to block a chipper and runs into the Scorpions' Omar Cummings. It sets up a penalty kick by San Antonio's Rafael Castillo. He stutter steps and take a hard shot with his left foot that slides right.
25' PC takes a shuffle pass from Stefano, but the it gets in a little too close to Fernandes to send it over him, and the San Antonio keeper corrals the ball
27' Castillo takes a San Antonio freekick, and sends it right at Brown for an easy stop
31' PC whistled for offside as he attempts a volley from the corner of the box
34' PC corner kick on the set piece is headed by Frankie Sanfilippo. The attempt is just off the mark and Fernandes snares the ball.
37' Borrajo whistled for the yellow card after he pulls down Kris Tyrpak in the corner
40' FTL GOAL 3-0 Stefano takes the PC pass 25-yards out on the counter attack, and his left-footed laser freezes Fernandes and sails into the right corner of net. Stefano now has the brace and extends his NASL lead to four with his 14th goal.
45' The official signals one minute of extra time
45+1' Strikers head to the locker room with a 3-0 lead thanks to two goals by Stefano and one by Freitas, all complimented by a stingy Fort Lauderdale defense.
Second Half
46' The Strikers have the kickoff to start the second half
48' Stefano goes down after a collision on the touch line. The Brazilian comes up holding his wrist. He remains in the game.
50' Adrian Cann is issued a yellow card. Strikers' Walter Ramirez' free kick from the left sails high and deep into the grandstand.
54' San Antonio earns a free kick after Ramirez after bringing down Ramirez. Castillo sends a liner toward Brown, who punches it away.
55' Stefano narrowly misses on a prime hat trick opportunity after Ramirez sends him a pretty pass
56' SAS GOAL 3-1 Tyrpak with the left-footed volley from distance puts the Scorpions on the board
59' Brown scoops it up after the ball emerges from a gaggle of players in front of the Fort Lauderdale net
62' Brown reaches out to make the fingertip save on the shot from Eric Hassli
63' Hassli given a yellow card after he takes down Iván Guerrero
64' PC volley from about 20 yards away goes wide right
67' PC slinks by one defender, but Stephen DeRoux is able to fend him off with a quality tackle
68' Freitas centering pass earmarked for Stefano is sent away by San Antonio defenders. If it had connected, it would been similar to the match's first score.
70' The game's first substitution: Giuseppe Gentile comes on for Joseph Nane
73' Shawn Chin comes on for Freitas. It marks Chin's 50th appearance with the Strikers.
74' Brown has no issues with the long shot
77' Castillo with a defensive stop to keep the match at 3-1
79' SAS GOAL 3-2 DeRoux takes the proper angle from the left side, sending a low liner to the right side of the net and making a one-goal game
80' Ramirez takes a shot from way out; it is wide left
82' Long forward pass to Stefano is promising, but he's called for offside
83' Castillo with the free kick to the back post is sent away by Sanfilippo via a header
84' Chavez shot goes high over the crossbar after he receives an overhead pass just in front of the six-yard box
85' Dani Sánchez comes on for PC
86' FTL GOAL 4-2 Stefano with his third goal on the night gives him his second NASL hat trick. Chin slipped him the pass in front of the six-yard box after a series of unselfish passes involving Sánchez.
89' Stefano close-range shot is stopped by Fernandes
90' Bruno Nunes comes on for Stefano
90' Referee adds two minutes of extra time
90 + 1' Bruno is issued a yellow card
90+2' The final whistle blows with the Strikers claiming a 4-2 victory on the road
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North American Soccer League Stories from October 3, 2015
- Stefano Hat Trick Fuels Strikers Victory - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Shorthanded Armada Nearly Pulls off Win, Settles for 1-1 Draw with Indy - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Brian Brown Strike Salvages Draw for Indy Eleven - Indy Eleven
- Minnesota United Remains Unbeaten at Home in the Fall with 1-0 Victory over Rowdies - Minnesota United FC
- Josh Ford Recalled by Orlando City SC - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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