Fort Lauderdale, Minnesota Pick up Big Wins Away from Home
Published on July 25, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release
NEW YORK - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers remained unbeaten in the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season with a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night, riding a goal apiece from the Brazilian trio of Victor "PC" Giro, Bruno Nunes, and Stefano Pinho.
New Tampa Bay Rowdies signing Freddy Adu made his club and league debut - replacing Darnell King in the 75th minute - and made an immediate impact by providing an assist on Maicon Santos' late consolation goal.
In Indianapolis, the New York Cosmos, who won the league's Spring Season title, remained winless in the Fall Season after their second draw this month against Indy Eleven. The 1-1 result was the sixth draw in the series between the two teams. New York's unbeaten streak ended last weekend in Jacksonville, while Indy has lost only one game since Tim Regan replaced Juergen Sommer late in the Spring Season.
STANDINGS | Minnesota makes move, Cosmos sit in Fall Season cellar H24Ocs01sPa996bNx7AIhM1JdhlS7WFjSi-Q]
Down in San Antonio, Kalif Alhassan tallied a goal and two assists as Minnesota United FC extended its unbeaten streak to four games with a 4-3 win over the Scorpions. Christian Ramirez added a goal and an assist for the Loons.
On Sunday, the focus in the NASL turns to Canada where first-place Ottawa Fury FC hosts the Carolina RailHawks and second-place FC Edmonton hosts the Atlanta Silverbacks.
Indy Eleven 1, New York Cosmos 1
The teams entered the match having played to draws in all of the five meetings in the series, and finished 90 minutes later with the sixth. There were late fireworks in the first half before 10,206 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium when the Cosmos (0-2-1, 2 points) took a 1-0 lead into first-half stoppage time. Walter Restrepo and Raî=BAl played a tidy one-two passing combination on the right that ended with Restrepo tucking a shot past goalkeeper Kristian Nicht.
But Indy Eleven (1-2-1, 5 points) struck back quickly when Dylan Mares blasted a left-footed shot past Jimmy Maurer to tie the match only seconds after Restrepo's goal. The teams each played the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Erick Norales of Indy Eleven and Sebastián Guenzatti of the Cosmos were ejected. The game also marked the NASL debut of the Cosmos' U.S. youth international Haji Wright, 17, who had a goal waved off after a close call. The Cosmos, who are in last place in the Fall Standings after three games, played the match without Marcos Senna.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3, Tampa Bay Rowdies 1
In one of the most enduring rivalries in the NASL, the Strikers (1-3-0, 6 points) took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when Marlon Freitas assisted on a goal by PC, his third of the year. The Rowdies (1-0-3, 3 points) suffered a setback when central defender Stefan Antonijevic was forced from the game with a strained right thigh injury in the 40th minute.
Fort Lauderdale methodically built from the back line with a long series of passes ending in Bruno's goal from 10 yards out in the 79th minute. Later, Adu slipped a pass to Maicon Santos who put a shot into the roof of the net in second-half added time. With the Rowdies pressing for the equalizer, Stefano Pinho completed a counterattack by tallying a third goal for the Strikers and ensuring three points for the visitors.
Minnesota United FC 4, San Antonio Scorpions 3
The visiting Loons jumped in front in the 12th minute when Christian Ramirez scored for the third straight game following a pass from Kalif Alhassan. But only four minutes later, San Antonio's Adrian Cann picked a loose ball out of the air and volleyed it past Sammy Ndjock to tie the score. Minnesota (2-1-2, 7 points) retook the lead when Ramirez slipped a pass to a streaking Justin Davis, who blasted a left-footed shot past Daryl Sattler.
The Scorpions (1-1-3, 4 points) struck back again, this time from the penalty spot by Rafael Castillo in the 34th minute. The goals kept on coming, and three minutes later Minnesota was back in the lead when Alhassan set up Ibson's goal. Alhassan gave up the role of provider when his soft, looping shot cleared Sattler's fingertips and settled into the goal in the 48th minute. In the 85th minute, Davis was called for a foul in the penalty area and Castillo converted to make it a one-goal game, but in the end it wasn't enough for the Scorpions to complete their comeback.
North American Soccer League Stories from July 25, 2015
- Scorpions Fall 4-3 to Minnesota United in An Action Packed Match At - San Antonio Scorpions
- Cosmos and Indy Draw in Wright's NASL Debut - New York Cosmos
- Minnesota United Defeats San Antonio Scorpions in Wild 4-3 Victory - Minnesota United FC
- Indy Eleven Fit to be Tied Once Again with New York Cosmos, 1-1 - Indy Eleven
- Fort Lauderdale, Minnesota Pick up Big Wins Away from Home - NASL
- Strikers Sink Rowdies in Tampa Bay - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Tampa Bay Rowdies' Comeback Bid Falls Short in 3-1 Loss to Strikers - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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