Strikers Close Spring Season with Come-From-Behind Win at Minnesota
June 13, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Minnesota United FC
(Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Credit: Minnesota United FC)
Blaine, MN (June 13, 2015) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers wrapped up the North American Soccer League Spring Season with a spirited win at Minnesota United FC on Saturday at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, MN. The win was the Strikers first since April 25 and moves their Spring Season record to 3-2-5 (W-T-L).
The victory comes in the coaching debut for interim coach Iván Guerrero. The third-year Strikers' defender took the helm after Head Coach Marcelo Neveleff and top assistant Ricardo Lopes left the team six days ago.
Strikers' forward Stefano Pinho sealed the victory with a goal in in the 81st minute. The backend of Stefano's brace came after he controlled a pass on the counter and slotted it home with his left foot.
The game-winning goal came fewer than two minutes after Fort Lauderdale tied the match at 2-2 in the 79th minute when substitute Jose Angulo headed in a Léo Moura cross to the far post. Angulo rose high to nod in the aerial pass and earn his third goal of the season.
Making the win all the more impressive, Fort Lauderdale closed out the match playing the final six minutes plus more than four minutes of stoppage time with 10 men after Angulo was sent off with a red card.
Goalkeeper Josh Ford made five stops on the night, including three critical saves in the game's final seven minutes in which he thwarted three close-range attempts. Ford, on loan from MLS' Orlando City Soccer Club, made his second straight start for the Red & Gold.
Stefano opened the scoring when he netted his third goal in as many matches in just the third minute of the match. The Brazilian sent a lob over Minnesota United goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt after controlling a knock-on header from James Marcelin. Stefano's third-minute strike was the earliest goal in 2015 for Fort Lauderdale.
The Strikers visit to Minnesota Saturday was the first since Fort Lauderdale earned a semifinal victory in the 2014 postseason by topping the Loons 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout after playing to a 1-1 draw. The win earned the Strikers a berth in last year's NASL Championship Final. In NASL regular season matches, the Strikers had lost six of seven to Minnesota United before Saturday's win.
Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra didn't go quietly in his last NASL match for Minnesota United. The United States men's national team midfielder, who is moving on to play for Mexican League stalwart Club Leî"n after four seasons with the Loons, tied the match at one in the 18th minute on a penalty kick. The equalizer came after Strikers' defender Frankie Sanfilippo was whistled for his sliding tackle on Ibson in the box.
The home team took its first lead in the 38th minute when Aaron Pitchkolan powered a header past Strikers' goalkeeper Josh Ford after the Loons drew out the Strikers' defense following a corner kick.
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES UP NEXT FOR THE STRIKERS
The Strikers will travel to Brazil to face Serie A side Ponte Preta in an international friendly next Saturday (June 20) at Estádio Moisés Lucarelli in Campinas, Sî=A3o Paulo.
The Strikers host Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors at Lockhart Stadium in the inaugural Challenge Cup on July 1 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Tickets are available from $29 at Strikers.com.
Fort Lauderdale returns to NASL action for the first match of the Fall Season on Wednesday, July 8, when they travel to the Carolina RailHawks.
Images from this story
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Minnesota United FC (Minnesota United FC) |
• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...
North American Soccer League Stories from June 13, 2015
- Shutout Streak Continues in San Antonio - Ottawa Fury FC
- Scorpions Earn Important Point in 0-0 Draw with the Ottawa Fury - San Antonio Scorpions
- New York Cosmos Capture 2015 NASL Spring Season Championship - NASL
- Furious Comeback Earns Armada FC 3-3 Draw with Cosmos - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Cosmos Clinch NASL Spring Season Title - New York Cosmos
- Minnesota United Falls 3-2 to Fort Lauderdale in Spring Finale - Minnesota United FC
- Tampa Bay scores 3 in final 30 minutes to down 10-man Atlanta - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Depleted Eddies' Roster Drops 3-0 Decision to Indy Eleven - FC Edmonton
- Indy Eleven Ends Spring Season in Style with 3-0 Victory over FC Edmonton - Indy Eleven
- Strikers Close Spring Season with Come-From-Behind Win at Minnesota - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Tampa Bay Rowdies Beat Atlanta Silverbacks 3-0 in Spring Finale - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Match Day 11 - Atlanta Silverbacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
