Fort Lauderdale's Win over Carolina Headlines Week 13 Results
Published on October 4, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release
NEW YORK (October 4, 2014) - Week 13 of the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season concluded with a full slate of five games in Tampa Bay, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio, Minnesota, and New York on Saturday night. The two matchups in the Sunshine State had the biggest implications on The Championship race, and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers came out as the big winners.
The Strikers knocked off the team that they're chasing for the final spot in The Championship, the Carolina RailHawks, gaining three valuable points on their competitors in the Combined Standings. The Strikers are now just two points behind Carolina with a game in hand. In the other game in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Edmonton played to a 1-1 draw at Al Lang Stadium - not the ideal result for either team when it comes to The Championship picture.
The New York Cosmos and Indy Eleven tied, as did the San Antonio Scorpions and Ottawa Fury FC. League-leading Minnesota United FC took care of business at home against the Atlanta Silverbacks, topping them 1-0.
Minnesota United FC 1, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
Riding an 11-game home unbeaten streak into its matchup against the Atlanta Silverbacks, the league's last-place team, United felt pretty good about its chances on Saturday night. The Silverbacks made it difficult for the league leaders for most of the game, but a second-half strike from the NASL's leading scorer, forward Christian Ramirez, gave United a 1-0 win. The result increased the Loons' lead over the Scorpions in both the Fall and Combined Standings.
"I thought that we came out in the second half and played better. We created chances and we scored a good goal," said United Head Coach Manny Lagos. "We should have had some more - there is no doubt about it. There was a bit of a lack of urgency to finish the chances we created, but certainly overall it was really good."
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1, Carolina RailHawks 0
The Strikers knew their game against the RailHawks was an important one going into the weekend. After all, the RailHawks are the ones everyone is trying to chase for the final spot in The Championship. The hosts played like it was a must-win, using a second-half strike from midfielder Mark Anderson to wrap up a 1-0 victory in front of their home fans. Anderson should have found the net earlier in the game, but the Englishman's spot kick was saved well by RailHawks goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald. The win put the Strikers just two points behind the RailHawks in the Combined Standings with a game in hand.
"Getting the three points today was most important. They are a very good team, but we had more opportunities tonight," said Strikers Head Coach Gunter Kronsteiner. "We didn't allow them a clear chance to score a goal. Now it's going to be hard for us, going on the road for three games in a row. That's why it was very important to come out with the points at home tonight."
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, FC Edmonton 1
St. Petersburg, Fla. native Chad Burt found the net in his hometown on Saturday night - the only problem for the home fans was that Burt was playing for visiting FC Edmonton. The 26-year-old forward struck just before halftime against his former club, giving the Eddies a 1-0 lead. The Rowdies climbed back in the second half, though, as forward Georgi Hristov converted from the penalty spot to clinch a 1-1 draw. In terms of The Championship picture, each team would have liked three points on Saturday night. FC Edmonton trails the RailHawks by five points with four games to play, while the Rowdies trail by six points with five games to play.
"It was a cracking game of football," said FC Edmonton Head Coach Colin Miller. "We've traveled away to a very difficult Tampa Bay team, and I thought they played well and I thought we played well at times."
New York Cosmos 0, Indy Eleven 0
In the early stages of their head-to-head series, the New York Cosmos and Indy Eleven don't appear as if they want to beat each other. The teams played to their third consecutive draw - this time a 0-0 score line at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. The Cosmos caught a break with the RailHawks losing in Fort Lauderdale, and actually increased their lead over Carolina in the Combined Standings.
"I think what we were missing most today was the ability to capitalize on the chances that we had," said Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese. "I felt, especially in the second half, we did a lot of good things, and we played with high intensity. In the first half, I think we started off a little bit casual and we just didn't capitalize on the opportunities that we had."
San Antonio Scorpions 1, Ottawa Fury FC 1
The Scorpions' chances at a Fall Season Championship took a slight hit on Saturday night when visiting Fury FC found the net in second-half stoppage time. A first-half strike from midfielder Rafael Castillo looked as if it might be enough to give the Scorpions a 1-0 win, but Fury FC defender Ryan Richter fired a shot into the roof of the net in the dying seconds of the game to reduce the Scorpions' take from three points to one. The Scorpions now trail United by four points in the Fall Standings and seven in the Combined Standings. United also has a game in hand on San Antonio.
"It's tough to lose points when we were clearly the better team, but to be fair, I'm proud of my guys. They did an excellent job," said Scorpions Head Coach Alen Marcina. "At the end, unfortunately the ball bounced their way and they were able to finish. We'll take this game, move on, and make sure we get three points against Tampa."
NASL Fall Season Week 13 Scores
Minnesota United FC 1, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1, Carolina RailHawks 0
Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, FC Edmonton 1
New York Cosmos 0, Indy Eleven 0
San Antonio Scorpions 1, Ottawa Fury FC 1
North American Soccer League Stories from October 4, 2014
- Cosmos Held to Draw by Indy Eleven - New York Cosmos
- Scorpions Draw 1-1 with the Fury at Toyota Field - San Antonio Scorpions
- Fort Lauderdale's Win over Carolina Headlines Week 13 Results - NASL
- RailHawks Lose Narrowly in Fort Lauderdale - North Carolina FC
- Minnesota United Extends Home Unbeaten Streak to Twelve Games with 1-0 Win over Silverbacks - Minnesota United FC
- Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Edmonton Battle to a 1-1 Tie - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Eddies Settle for Share of Points in Tampa Bay - FC Edmonton
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