Moura Delivers as Strikers Defeat Chengdu Qianbao
Published on March 8, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Chengdu Qianbao
(Fort Lauderdale Strikers)
CHENGDU, CHINA - A strong defense performance and a goal by Geison Moura was enough for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to tally their second consecutive preseason victory in China with a 1-0 result over Chengdu Qianbao.
The Strikers came into the match on the back of a 6-0 triumph over Sichuan Longfa on Sunday.
"Today we had a complicated game, but I am very happy what we did," said head coach and general manager Caio Zanardi. "We have a few more days to practice here [in Chengdu] and correct our mistakes before our last friendly at the end of the week."
Zanardi stuck with ten members of the side that started the match on Sunday, and introduced wholesale changes after the halftime interval.
Just as the club did on Sunday, the Strikers started, and finished, the match with attacking intent, while finding balance on defense to shut out Chinese opposition for the second straight match.
Moura recorded the first real chance of the day in the 24th minute. Playing with his back to goal, target forward Maicon Santos redirected Neil Hlavaty's ball into the path of Moura, who had surged into the box from the left. His shot was parried by the goalkeeper at the near post.
On the ensuing corner, Moura got another opportunity, and this time he buried it. Hlavaty's in-swinging corner was met by the Brazilian winger at the far post and nodded into the back of the net.
The goal was the first for Moura in Strikers' colors. Hlavaty meanwhile tallied his third assist in two games.
Though the score remained 1-0 for the duration of the contest, the Strikers didn't stop creating goalscoring chances.
Matheus Carvalho should have doubled the lead on the half hour mark. A counter-attacking move following a Chengdu Qianbao corner kick began when goalkeeper Bruno Cardoso punted a ball forward to PC. The midfielder was fouled from behind as he chased the long ball, but Carvalho, streaking in from the right, maintained control of the ball and beat the keeper in a 1-on-1 to roll the ball into the goal. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, advantage was not signaled by the referee, and the play was called back for the original foul.
Fort Lauderdale's defense was tested, although neither Bruno or Diego Restrepo had to make a save.
In the second half, the Strikers kept the intensity while Zanardi experimented with formation and overall shape.
Jean Alexandre fired wide on a volley and a clever exchange between Jose Angulo and Victor Pineda should have warranted a goal.
The Strikers preseason tour of China concludes on Sunday with a friendly match against Beijing Qihang.
Images from this story
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Chengdu Qianbao |
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- Moura Delivers as Strikers Defeat Chengdu Qianbao - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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