Strikers Come from Behind to Earn Draw in Fall Season Opener
July 8, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Midfielder Shawn Chin
(Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Credit: Carolina RailHawks)
Cary, N.C. (July 8, 2015) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers showed their mettle Wednesday night in the return of recently hired head coach Günter Kronsteiner, scoring late to tie the Carolina RailHawks 1-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
The game was the North American Soccer League Fall Season opener for the Strikers. The match marked the return of Kronsteiner, the Austrian tactician who took the team to the NASL Championship Final a season ago.
The contest was delayed for one hour and 46 minutes minutes after play was stopped in the 75th minute when lightning was spotted in the area. Play resumed at 10:55 p.m. EDT.
Just two minutes after the game restarted, in the 77th minute, Stefano Pinho received a PC pass on the outside of his foot. Stefano then lifted the ball over Carolina goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald to knot the match at one.
Goalkeeper Josh Ford preserved the point in second-half stoppage time when he denied Nazmi Albadawi a late winner with an acrobatic save.
Ford, in his third straight NASL start, made five saves on the night to buoy the Strikers. The first came in the 17th minute when Ford stretched far to his side to deny a dangerous attempt from Tiyi Shipalane.
It was announced before the match that Ford would remain a Striker for the duration of the NASL season after the team and MLS' side Orlando City agreed to another loan for the 27 year old.
The Strikers' most promising opportunity in the opening stanza fell to the feet of Stefano in the 20th minute. A deflected shot by Walter Ramirez found its way to Stefano inside the box, but the Brazilian forward failed to get solid contact on the ball, and defender Connor Tobin was able to clear it off the line.
At the other end, left winger Blake Wagner rocketed a shot off the crossbar in the 35th minute.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes of action, Fort Lauderdale started the second half with intent. PC and Stefano forced Fitzgerald into making a pair of saves in the 46th and 49th minutes.
RailHawks midfielder Hlavaty opened the scoring in the 53rd minute following a Strikers turnover. A backwards pass from Simone Bracalello found Hlavaty, who placed a shot into the back of the right side of the net from the top of the 18-yard box.
Several players were unavailable in Kronsteiner's first match back at the helm. Jose Angulo was serving a one-match suspension while injuries kept Jordan Graye and Bruno Nunes from travelling.
Another notable absentee was James Marcelin, who is away on international duty for Haiti. The defensive midfielder started and played 63 minutes in the opening match of the Gold Cup on Tuesday.
Karsten Smith returned from a toe injury to play his fist minutes since the 2-1 victory against Jacksonville Armada FC on April 11. Former interim coach Iván Guerrero played his first competitive minutes since June 6.
Christian Blandon, who grew up in Miami, made his professional debut when he subbed in for Stefano in the 90th minute.
The match was a clean affair with neither side shown a booking.
Images from this story
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Defender Frankie Sanfilippo (Carolina RailHawks) |
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Midfielder Shawn Chin (Carolina RailHawks) |
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North American Soccer League Stories from July 8, 2015
- Strikers Come from Behind to Earn Draw in Fall Season Opener - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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- Josh Ford Returns to Strikers - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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