NASL International Spotlight: Overseas Players Are Major Contributors to NASL Fall Kickoff

July 14, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release

NEW YORK, NY (July 14, 2014) - The overseas stars from seven different nations scored 60 percent of the total goals (nine of 15 tallies) to open the 2014 North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season, highlighting this week's NASL International Spotlight.

In his NASL debut, Colombian midfielder Rafael Castillo scored twice, while Gambian forward Sainey Touray added another for the visiting San Antonio Scorpions in the 3-1 victory over the New York Cosmos at Hofstra University's James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday. The win also extended San Antonio's 2014 road winning streak in league play to a perfect 5-0-0.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, Bulgarian forward Georgi Hristov had two goals including the game-winner for the host Tampa Bay Rowdies, which resulted in a 3-2 victory over Atlanta Silverbacks at Al Lang Stadium. Atlanta took a 2-0 lead after first-half goals from midfielder Junior Burgos of El Salvador and Deon McCauley of Belize.

The international talent in the NASL kept shining with Brazilian midfielder Daniel Mendes scoring the first goal of the match for NASL Spring Champion, Minnesota United FC, in the 3-0 road win over Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Additionally, Uruguayan midfielder Enzo Martinez had the only tally for host Carolina RailHawks in their 2-1 loss to Indy Eleven.

Every week throughout 2014 Season the NASL puts its international stars - both coaches & players - under the 'NASL International Spotlight' focusing on the league's overseas connections.

International Players/Coaches in 2014 NASL Fall Season Week 1

Saturday, July 12

New York Cosmos 1 San Antonio Scorpions 3

at Hofstra University's James M. Shuart Stadium

Cosmos

Defenders - Ayoze (Spain) played the full 90, while Rovérsio (Brazil) came in off the bench at the start of the second half.

Midfielders - Sebástian Guenzatti (Uruguay) and Joseph Nane (Cameroon) also earned another complete game under their belts.

Forwards - Mads Stokkelien (Norway) played the whole game, while Stefan Dimitrov (Bulgaria) saw action in 71 minutes before being substituted by Paulo Mendes (Brazil). David Diosa (Colombia) played the first half before being replaced.

Coach - Giovanni Savarese (Venezuela) loses for the first time his last six encounters.

Scorpions

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

Midfielders - Stephen DeRoux (Jamaica) also earned another full 90, while Rafael Castillo (Colombia) scored the club's first two goals before being replaced in the 83rd minute by Danny Barrera (Colombia).

Forwards - Sainey Touray (Gambia) had the team's third tally during his time on the field, while Tomasz Zahorski (Poland) also played the entire match. Billy Forbes (Turks & Caicos Islands) assisted on club's third goal before being subbed out in the 87th minute.

Tampa Bay Rowdies 3 Atlanta Silverbacks 2

at Al Lang Stadium

Rowdies

Defender - JP Rodrigues (Guyana) played the entire game, while Takuya Yamada (Japan) saw action in 66 minutes before being substituted by Tamika Mkandawire (Malawi).

Midfielders - Shane Hill (England) and Darel Russell (England) also earned the full 90.

Forward - Georgi Hristov (Bulgaria) scored the last two goals for the club during his time on the field, while Lucky Mkosana (Zimbabwe) saw action in 71 minutes before being substituted by Evans Frimpong (Ghana) who assisted on the team's game-winner.

Coach - Ricky Hill (England) ended a two-game winless streak.

Silverbacks

Goalkeeper - Derby Carrillo (El Salvador) played the whole game.

Defenders - Abdul Bangura (Sierra Leone) and Ramiro Canovas (Argentina) also saw action during entire match.

Midfielders - Junior Burgos (El Salvador) scored the club's first goal before being substituted in the 71 minutes by Alex Harlley (Togo), while Junior Sandoval (Honduras) saw action during the full 90 and assisted on the team's first tally. Borfor Carr (Liberia) also played entire match.

Forwards - Deon McCaulay (Belize) scored the club's second goal before being replaced by Lucas Paulini (Argentina) in the 77th minute, while Kwadwo Poku (Ghana) came in off the bench in the 59th minute.

Assistant Coach - Ricardo Montoya (Costa Rica) coached his third match with the team this year.

Carolina RailHawks 1 Indy Eleven 2

at WakeMed Soccer Park

RailHawks

Midfielders - Enzo Martinez (Uruguay) scored the team's only goal during his time on the field, while Jun Marques Davidson (Japan) also played the entire match. Ty Shipalane (South Africa) saw action in 72 minutes before being substituted in the 72nd minute.

Coach - Colin Clarke (Northern Ireland) lost his second consecutive NASL game.

Indy Eleven

Goalkeeper - Kristian Nicht (Germany) earned the club's first NASL victory.

Defenders - Jaime Frias (Mexico) and Erick Norales (Honduras) also played the entire match.

Midfielder - Kléberson (Brazil) earned another full 90 on the field.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0 Minnesota United FC 3

at Lockhart Stadium

Strikers

Goalkeeper - Kamil Čontofalský (Slovakia) played the entire game.

Defenders - Rafael Alves (Brazil) and Ivan Guerrero (Honduras) earned another full 90.

Midfielder - Mark Anderson (England) also saw action the whole match.

Forwards - Jenison Brito (Brazil) played 64 minutes before being replaced, while Martin Nuñez (Uruguay) saw action the entire game.

Coach - Gunter Kronsteinter (Austria) is winless in his last five NASL games.

United

Defenders - Cristiano Dias (Brazil) and Tiago (Brazil) played another full 90.

Midfielders - Daniel Mendes (Brazil) scored the club's first goal before being substituted by Omar Daley (Jamaica) in 81st minute, while Juliano Vicentini (Brazil) played the entire match.

Sunday, July 13

FC Edmonton 0 Ottawa Fury FC 0

at Commonwealth Stadium

FC Edmonton

Defenders - Kareem Moses (Trinidad & Tobago) and Albert Watson (Northern Ireland) played another full 90, while Lance Laing (Jamaica) saw action in 80 minutes before being subbed out.

Midfielders - Horace James (Jamaica) and Cristian Raudales (Honduras) also played the entire match.

Forwards - Daryl Fordyce (Northern Ireland) saw action in 73 minutes before being replaced.

Fury FC

Defender - Maykon (Brazil) earned another full game under his belt.

Midfielders - Richie Ryan (Ireland) also played the full 90, while Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina) saw action in 61 minutes before being substituted by Omar Jarun (Palestine).

Forwards - Oliver Minatel ( Brazil) played 74 minutes before being replaced, while Vini Dantas ( Brazil) came in off the bench in the 83rd minute.

North American Soccer League Stories from July 14, 2014

• Tampa Bay Rowdies Forward Georgi Hristov Named NASL Player of the Week - Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Late Game-Winning Goal from Tampa Bay Forward Georgi Hristov Propels Him To NASL Player Of Week 1 - NASL
• NASL International Spotlight: Overseas Players Are Major Contributors to NASL Fall Kickoff - NASL
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger

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