Preview: Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs Tampa Bay Rowdies | #FTLvTBR
September 22, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Preview: Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs Tampa Bay Rowdies | #FTLvTBR
Key Facts Match: Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs Tampa Bay Rowdies Date: Saturday, 24 September 2016 Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET Venue: Central Broward Stadium Broadcast: SFL-TV (Miami/Fort Lauderdale) ESPN3 (USA), NASL.com (Canada)
2016 Combined Records (W-T-L) FTL: 7th place 8-8-8; 32 pts; 25 GF / 27 GA, -2 GD TBR: 6th place 8-8-8, 32 pts; 26 GF / 27 GA, -1 GD
Series History First Meeting: June 29, 2011; 1-1 T at FTL Recent Meeting: August 6, 2016; 2-1 L at TBR Series History: 6-1-13 (24 GF / 39 GA; -15 GD) At FTL: 4-1-4 (10 GF / 12 GA; -2 GD) At TBR: 2-0-9 ( 14 GF/ 27 GA; -13 GD)
What to watch for Saturday...
* The Strikers are on a seven game unbeaten streak in NASL play following the 1-1 draw on Sunday in Oklahoma City. Fort Lauderdale's current record is eight games unbeaten from September to November 2014. A win or draw on Saturday night would equal the club's all-time record. * The Strikers are already the only team in history to defeat each of the other four active pro clubs in the state of Florida in a competitive match. Head Coach Caio Zanardi, with a win over Tampa Bay would become the first coach to ever defeat each of the four active pro clubs from the state of Florida. * With a win, Fort Lauderdale would become the first team to ever beat each of the other four active pro clubs in the state of Florida in a single calendar year. * If the Strikers win, Fort Lauderdale will move four points ahead of Tampa Bay in the Coastal Cup standings. The Strikers won the Coastal Cup, the annual competition between Florida-based NASL teams in 2014 and 2015. * Maicon Santos has scored in two successive games for Fort Lauderdale. If the former Rowdie records a goal on Saturday, he would become the first Strikers' player this season to score in three successive matches. * The Strikers signed former Jacksonville Armada FC midfielders Junior Sandoval and Pascal Millien this week.
Strikers Notes:
MAICON SANTOS ON FIRE! Former Rowdie, Maicon Santos returned to the starting lineup against Indy Eleven on September 10 and scored his first goal since July 30. He then scored his second in as many weeks Sunday against Rayo OKC. Santos leads the Strikers in scoring this season with seven goals.
RETURN of RESTREPO AND PC Former Strikers Diego Restrepo and PC both were transferred to Tampa Bay in recent months. Both played key roles in Fort Lauderdale's historic 2-1 US Open Cup victory at Camping World Stadium against Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer. Restrepo made seven saves in the match and PC scored the game-winning goal in minute 120.
YOU MIGHT ALSO REMEMBER...
Darnell King, Justin Chavez, Stefan Antonijevic Walter Ramirez, Frankie Sanfillippo and Raoul Voss.
Darnell King remains the Strikers all-time appearance leader with 80 games played. Justin Chavez, Stefan Antonijevic and Walter Ramirez all featured on Fort Lauderdale's 2014 NASL runner-up squad. Ramirez recorded the Strikers only goal in the 2-1 loss in San Antonio that decided the champion. Frankie Sanfillippo played 2011-2014 with Tampa Bay and returned to the Rowdies this season after spending 2015 with Fort Lauderdale. Raoul Voss was an Assistant Coach on that squad as he was in 2013 and 2015. He is a current Rowdies Assistant Coach.
OUTSTANDING FORM FROM BRUNO
The Brazilian Goalkeeper has started the last nine games with the Strikers games recording a record of 4-4-1 (W-D-L) over the period. Bruno had to come up with big saves against Jacksonville on August 17 to preserve a 1-1 draw and saved a penalty with the score tied 1-1 on August 20 against Ottawa. Fort Lauderdale went on to win that match 3-1. Bruno made three saves and kept a clean sheet against Minnesota on August 31. Bruno made eight saves and Since being reinserted into the starting XI, Bruno has conceded just five times in the eight game stretch he has started for a whopping 0.67 Goals against average (GAA).
MANNY GONZALEZ CLIMBS ALL-TIME STRIKERS LIST
Local Broward County product Manny Gonzalez has climbed the all-time Strikers appearance list this season and now sits eighth on the modern Fort Lauderdale list. Gonzalez's 62 appearances put him within striking distance of reaching the top five all-time during this NASL season.
UNBEATEN RUN
Fort Lauderdale is now unbeaten in seven successive matches overall a streak which began with a 2-0 win over Miami FC on August 13. The Strikers have also won five consecutive home games dating back to July 30. The club's all-time record is eight successive unbeaten home games in 2012. The Strikers longest all-time unbeaten streak is eight games - this streak was snapped in the NASL Championship game on November 15, 2014 when Fort Lauderdale lost to San Antonio 2-1.
CENTRAL BROWARD STADIUM
The Strikers opened Central Broward Stadium on August 20 with a 3-1 win over Ottawa. .The stadium which features features modern seating areas with a full roof to protect fans from the sun and rain. The roof and intimate setting was on display in the August 20 match as a unique atmosphere helped propel the Strikers to victory. The Strikers are unbeaten in four matches at Central Broward Stadium.
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