NASL North Carolina FC

Carolina Defeats Fort Lauderdale 1-0

Published on July 17, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


RailHawks continue positive form with 1-0 win over Strikers in Fort Lauderdale First half goal by Brian Shriver, assisted by Matt Fondy, secures road win; Strikers finish match with 10 men

Download Match Highlights Here Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - The Carolina RailHawks (2W-0D-1L, 6 pts.) defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (0W-1D-3L, 1 pt.) 1-0 at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday night. A first half goal by Brian Shriver, assisted by Matt Fondy, proved to be enough to propel Carolina to victory. Fort Lauderdale finished the match down a man as Ramon Nuñez received a second caution in stoppage time. Strikers Head Coach Caio Zanardi was also sent off by the referee in the waning moments of the match.

Head Coach Colin Clarke opted for the same attack-minded 4-4-2 lineup that successfully defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-1 last Saturday, July 7. The RailHawks took control of the game early on with attempts by Shriver and James Marcelin in the 2^nd and 9^th minute respectively. The Strikers responded in the 13^th with a run in the box towards goal, but Marcelin aptly cleared it into a corner kick.

The lone goal came in the 23^rd minute when Tiyi Shipalane made a run into the box handing the ball off to Fondy. The forward flicked it to Shriver who hit the ball past Strikers goalkeeper Diego Restrepo into the back of the net. Fort Lauderdale responded ten minutes later with Paulo Jr. finding himself in front of Brian Sylvestre, but the keeper was able to dive into the play to make a save. The half ended with the RailHawks ahead 1-0, but not before an attempt by Strikers forward Jose Angulo, who barely failed to connect with a cross from Nana Attakora.

A tactical change by the Strikers at the beginning of the second half made them more dangerous and almost paid dividends when a strike by Nuñez from distance ended straight into RailHawks' goalkeeper Sylvestre in the 47^th minute. Carolina responded with a couple of chances soon after. In the 57^th minute, Shipalane put himself in front of the Strikers goal after a brilliant ball by Shriver, but the South African was stopped by a diving Restrepo, who deflect it away.

Fort Lauderdale's best chance to tie the match came in the 81^st when Nuñez shot from distance only to see his rocket hit the post and bounce back into the RailHawks defense and away from the box. In the final minutes of the game, the Honduran international received a second caution for a late challenge on Marvin Ceballos, leading to an ejection and leaving the Strikers down a man. Two minutes later, the referee signaled the end of the match with the RailHawks coming away with three important road points.

The RailHawks return home next Friday, July 22 as they host Miami FC at 7:30 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. The match will likely mark the debut of Carolina's newest signing, Mexican legend and Chivas Guadalajara all-time leading scorer, Omar Bravo. Tickets for the match can be found HERE

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North American Soccer League Stories from July 17, 2016


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