NASL International Spotlight - Fall Season Week 3

Published on August 19, 2013 under North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release

MIAMI, Fla. - English midfielder Mark Anderson and his Uruguayan teammate Martin Nunez both found the net, while Mexican goalkeeper Richard Sanchez posted seven saves to lead the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to their first victory of the 2013 North American Soccer League Fall Season.

The international trio stood out on Saturday as the Strikers won 2-1 away from home against the San Antonio Scorpions.

Anderson, who hails from County Durham in England, was capped by England Schoolboys at the Under 18 level and represented Great Britain at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China, starting every game and scoring twice en route to a silver medal. He signed with the Strikers in 2012 having impressed at open tryouts and is a former Sunderland FC trainee.

The midfielder assisted on the game's opening goal and doubled the Strikers' lead with a free kick that curled over the defensive wall.

Nunez, who was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, has played for five NASL teams and is in his second spell with the Strikers. His header on the end of an Anderson free kick earned Fort Lauderdale a lead after only two minutes.

Sanchez won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with Mexico in 2011 in front of 100,000 fans at Estadio and earlier this year represented his country at Under-20 level. He is currently on loan to the Strikers from FC Dallas. He recorded seven saves as the Strikers defended a 2-1 lead against the Scorpions throughout the second half of their win.

Six of the 10 total NASL goals scored over the weekend encounters came from NASL international stars with Polish forward Tomasz Zahorski having the only tally for the Scorpions in the 2-1 loss to the Strikers. Brazilian striker Pablo Campos' goal gave Minnesota United FC the lead in an evential 1-1 draw against the visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies.

On Sunday, NASL Spring Season title winners Atlanta Silverbacks took the lead on a goal from Jamaican midfielder Horace James, however host FC Edmonton got the equalizer from Guyana native Chris Nurse for the 1-1 final. Nurse has also played extensively in England during his career.

Every Monday throughout the 2013 Fall Season, the North American Soccer League (NASL) will put its international stars - both coaches & players - under the 'NASL International Spotlight' focusing on the league's oversees connections.

International Players/Coaches in 2013 North American Soccer League Fall Season Week 3

Saturday, August 17

Carolina RailHawks 3 New York Cosmos 0 at WakeMed Soccer Park

RailHawks

Defender - Julius James (Trinidad & Tobago) played the entire match.

Midfielders - Breiner Ortiz (Colombia) and Nick Millington (Guyana) got the full 90 under their belts, while Ty Shipalane (South Africa) saw action for 77 minutes before being replaced by Enzo Martinez (Uruguay) and Cesar Elizondo (Costa Rica) came in for the final five minutes.

Coach - Colin Clarke (Northern Ireland) picked up his 17th NASL regular season victory with the club.

Cosmos

Defender - Rovérsio (Brazil) came into the game at the start of the second half.

Midfielders - Ayoze (Spain) and Marcos Senna (Spain) played the entire game, while Sebástian Guenzatti (Uruguay) was seconds shy when he was sent off before the conclusion of the match. Joseph Nane (Cameroon) was also sent off after just 44 minutes of play.

Forwards - Peri Marosevic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) played the entire game. Alessandro Noselli (Italy) and Diomar Diaz (Venezuela) came in the second half at the 46th and 78th minutes, respectively.

Coach - Giovanni Savarese (Venezuela) suffered his first loss at the helm of the Cosmos.

Minnesota United FC 1 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 at NSC Stadium

United

Midfielders - Calum Mallace (Scotland) played full 90 and Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) was nine minute short of a complete game before being replaced.

Forwards - Pablo Campos (Brazil) with a full game under his belt he scored to give the team the lead, while Simone Bracalello (Italy) saw action in 88 minutes before subbing out.

Rowdies

Goalkeeper - Diego Restrepo (Venezuela) had seven saves during match.

Defender - Takuya Yamada (Japan) played the entire game.

Midfielders - Shane Hill (England) and Evans Frimpong (Ghana) got 90 minutes under their belts, while Stuart Campbell (Scotland) played final 13 off the bench.

Forwards - Georgi Hristov (Bulgaria) played the full 90, while Carl Cort (Guyana) saw action in 77 minutes before being substituted. Etienne Barbara (Malta) came into the game in the 61st minute.

Coach - Ricky Hill (England) - extended the team's unbeaten streak to five matches.

San Antonio Scorpions 1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 at Toyota Field

Scorpions

Defender - Luka Vucko (Croatia) played the full 90 minutes.

Midfielders - Javier Saavedra (Mexico) saw action in 66 minutes before being replaced by Edin Husic (Bosnia & Herzegovina).

Forwards - Tomasz Zahorski (Poland) scored the only goal for the team in 90 minutes, while Hans Denissen (Netherlands) also played the entire match. Borja Rubiato (Spain) saw action in 72 minutes before being substituted by Fabrice Noel (Haiti).

Strikers

Goalkeeper - Richard Sanchez (Mexico) posted seven saves to earn his first win with the club.

Defenders - Rafael Alves (Brazil), Ivan Guerrero (Honduras), Stephane Guillaume (Haiti) and Toni Stahl (Finland) all played the full 90.

Midfielders - Martin Nunez (Uruguay) scored the team's first goal before being replaced by Paulo Junior (Brazil) in 64th minute, while Mark Anderson (England) notched the game-winner and assisted on the club's first tally before subbing out to Gonzalo De Mujica (Argentina) with two minutes remaining.

Forward - Yaikel Pérez (Cuba) came in to play the final 17 minutes off the bench.

Coach: Günter Kronsteiner (Austria) - earned his first NASL victory.

Sunday, August 18

FC Edmonton 1 Atlanta Silverbacks 1 at Clarke Stadium

FC Edmonton

Defenders - Lance Laing (Jamaica) and Albert Watson (Northern Ireland) all played the entire match, while Mallan Roberts (Sierra Leone) saw action in 83 minutes before being substituted by David Proctor (Scotland).

Midfielders - Chris Nurse (Guyana) scored the tying goal, while Robert Garrett (Northern Ireland) played the full 90.

Forward - Daryl Fordyce (Northern Ireland) came into the match for the final 29 minutes.

Silverbacks

Midfielders - Horace James (Jamaica) scored to give the team the lead, while Richie Menjivar (El Salvador) played the entire match.

Forwards -Danny Barrera (Colombia) assisted on the club's tally before being replaced in the 73rd minute, while Pedro Mendes (Brazil) played the whole game.

Coach - Brian Haynes (Trinidad & Tobago) extended his team's unbeaten streak to five NASL games.

North American Soccer League Stories from August 19, 2013

• RailHawks Striker Shriver Named NASL Player of the Week - NASL
• NASL International Spotlight - Fall Season Week 3 - NASL

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