Strikers Can Clinch Playoff Spot in Edmonton Sunday
Published on September 10, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (SEPTEMBER 10, 2011) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers (8-10-7, 34 points) travel to face FC Edmonton (10-6-10, 36 points) on Sunday at 9:30p.m. with a chance to reach the playoffs and move into fourth place in the NASL standings. The Strikers need only a point or a Montreal Impact tie or loss to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
"We know that our playoff future looks bright," said head coach Daryl Shore. "Now the goal is to get the highest seed possible. We still feel it's important to have a home game in the first round of the playoffs. Not just to reward the team, but to reward our fans for the support they've given us this season. So, we're going up to Edmonton to play for full points."
The Strikers would move ahead of FC Edmonton with a win on Sunday. Fort Lauderdale is 1-1-1 against Edmonton in their three meetings this season. The Strikers would own the regular season tiebreaker should the game end in a draw as they would have the better goal differential head to head.
The team is on a winning streak, having defeated their last two opponents in 1-0 shutouts at Lockhart Stadium. Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Matt Glaeser has regained the form which saw him earn Defensive Player of the Month honors earlier this season. The Strikers entire back line, led by Strikers minutes-leader Martyn Lancaster, has given the team every opportunity to win. In their last game against Carolina, they held the high-scoring RailHawks without a shot on goal.
Edmonton has also won its last two games, the most recent one against Atlanta in dramatic fashion as they scored in second half stoppage time to earn a 2-1 victory. Edmonton leading scorer Shaun Saiko sent a corner kick into the penalty area where substitute Paul Craig headed home the winner. FC Edmonton have the NASL's minutes leader in Christopher Kooy, who has played the full 90 in 25 of the team's 26 games this season. Edmonton also hold the dubious honor of leading the NASL in red cards with six this season.
"Edmonton is very good on set pieces," said Shore. "So we have to be tuned in every time the ball goes out. They've got a number of good players who are dangerous. Shaun Saiko has been playing well and he's a dangerous guy. They've got a very good attacking group and they know how to play up there on that field."
Three points separate third place FC Tampa Bay and fifth place Fort Lauderdale. A draw would clinch a playoff spot for the Strikers. A win would move them ahead of FC Edmonton into fourth place and in position to host a first round playoff game at Lockhart Stadium the first weekend of October.
Last Time Out
Fort Lauderdale won 1-0 at home against the NASL-leading Carolina RailHawks. The Strikers became the only team to shutout the RailHawks twice on the season.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers captain Abe Thompson scored the winning goal in the 52nd minute. The goal came on a build-up of play between Strikers midfielders Gerson Mayén and Brian Shriver, who found defender Lance Laing on the wing. Laing took the pass, ran down the sideline, and crossed it toward a streaking Thompson, who finished it for his fourth of the season. The goal ties him for second on the team with Brian Shriver.
Strikers goalkeeper Matt Glaeser, with a big assist from the Strikers back line, collected his seventh shutout of the season. The defense held Carolina without a shot on goal in the game.
2011 STAT LEADERS
Appearances: Martyn Lancaster (24)
Starts: Martyn Lancaster (23)
Minutes: Martyn Lancaster (1,973)
Goals: Eduardo Coudet (6)
Assists: Eduardo Coudet (4)
Shots: Brian Shriver (42)
Yellow cards: Eduardo Coudet (7)
Red cards: Lance Laing, Cristian Arrieta, Eduardo Coudet, Abe Thompson (1)
Saves: Matt Glaeser (63)
NEXT UP
The Strikers return home to face the Atlanta Silverbacks on Sept. 17 at 7:30p.m. at Lockhart Stadium.
All Strikers games are streamed live online at STRIKERS.com . Tickets are available by calling (954) 606-0400 or by going to STRIKERS.com . Follow the Strikers on facebook and twitter @FTLStrikers.
North American Soccer League Stories from September 10, 2011
- Minnesota Stars Snap Winless Streak with 2-0 Victory Over Atlanta - Minnesota United FC
- Stars Top Silverbacks, 2-0 - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Minnesota Stars End Skid with 2-0 Win Against Atlanta - Minnesota United FC
- Impact Faces Carolina RailHawks Sunday - Montreal Impact
- Sunday's Match Has Major Playoff Implications - FC Edmonton
- Strikers Can Clinch Playoff Spot in Edmonton Sunday - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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