Strikers Continue Postseason Push with 2-0 Win over Puerto Rico On
Published on October 15, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Lauderhill, FL (Saturday) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers remain in the postseason hunt with their second win in four days, defeating Puerto Rico FC 2-0 with two second half goals at Central Broward Stadium. Tonight's match was presented by AutoNation as part of the #DrivePink campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Second half substitutes Ramon Nunez and Jose Angulo combined for a lovely second goal to seal the deal in the 85th minute. Nunez, who came onto the pitch eight minutes earlier, escaped on a solo counterattack run from midfield, reached the edge of the box and set up Angulo to the right side, who pushed the ball around goalkeeper Trevor Spangenberg and slotted into the open net.
Angulo, who came in for Julius James in the 60th minute, threatened first with a driving shot in the 72nd minute.
Geison, who scored the game winner Wednesday night against Edmonton FC, also tallied the decisive goal tonight in the 78th minute. In a sequence that had Amauri attempt two bicycle kicks in the box, the first from a corner kick, the second after a cross from Jorge Luis Corrales reaching Geison for an easy close range tap in. Amauri's initial attempt was blocked by Spagenberg.
In-between the two goals, Junior Sandoval also tested Spangenberg with a shot from distance as the goalkeeper was able to push the ball wide. Sandoval also had a long range attempt with the Strikers' first shot on target in the 18th minute.
Amauri nearly got on board himself when his free kick in the 37th minute took a deflection off the wall as Spangenberg was able to stay with the trajectory of the ball and make the stop.
The Italian International was also involved in a quality scoring chance after 19 minutes when he set up Geison on the left side inside the box before the 30-year-old Brazilian hit the base of the post. Amauri followed through on the play, got to the rebound but headed over the crossbar.
Strikers goalkeeper Bruno had several good saves to earn his sixth shutout of the season and his second clean sheet of the week.
Fort Lauderdale is in the midst of the three game homestand which ends next Saturday against Rayo OKC as they continue their late-season playoff push. The Strikers jumped two positions in the combined standings with the win tonight. Fort Lauderdale passed Carolina and Miami in the combined standings and are currently tied with Tampa Bay and Rayo OKC on 38 points.
Strikers Head Coach and General Manager Caio Zanardi says:
"I spoke to the players beforehand that this was a mandatory match (to win), a tough game, a nervous game, but in the end we prevailed."
Notes: .
The Strikers collected another van full of goods for distribution in Haiti tonight. The island nation is suffering from the impact of Hurricane Matthew.
Geison has started three successive games and has scored the winning goal in each of the last two matches. The Brazilian winger had started just one match in the month of September, a 1-1 draw at Rayo OKC on September 18.
Both Pascal Millien and Junior Sandoval have played all six matches since signing with Fort Lauderdale on September 23.
Fort Lauderdale has now won the first two games of a three game homestand. The homestand concludes with a matchup with Rayo OKC next Saturday at 7pm local time.
Bruno made his 15th successive start in goal for the Strikers and kept his sixth clean sheet in that period.
Ramon Nunez recorded his fifth assist of the season for Fort Lauderdale.
Jose Angulo scored his fifth goal of the season and his 12th as a member of the Strikers.
Geison's goal was his third of the season. His initial strike came June 4 in Fort Lauderdale's first modern-era win over the New York Cosmos.
The Strikers will continue to wear pink kits for the remainder of October as part of the #DrivePink Campaign in cooperation with AutoNation and the Breast Cancer Research foundation.
Scoring Summary
1st 2nd FT
FTL 0 2 2
PRFC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
78' Moura (Amauri)
86' Angulo (Nunez)
Stats
FTL-PRFC
Shots: 19-11
Shots on Target: 9-3
Blocked Shots: 5-2
Total Passes: 361-299
Pass Accuracy Percentage: 70.9-62.2
Possession: 55.3-44.7
Yellow Cards: 1-3
Red Cards: 0-0
Lineups
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (4-3-3) - Bruno; James(60' Angulo), Agbossoumonde(C), Dalton, Corrales; Sandoval, Fernandes (Nunes 77'); Pineda, Moura, Paulo Jr (75' Millien), Amauri
Unused Substitutes: Reynares, Attakora, Maicon, Kleberson
Puerto Rico FC (3-5-2) - Spangenberg ; Soria, Dias, Del Campo; Culbertson, Bement, Kafari (Agnew 89'), Mendes (J. Rivera 84'), Rudy; S. Rivera (69' Marrero), Ramos
Unused Substitutes: Pack, Botero
Booking Summary
23' PRFC Michael Kafari YC
58' PRFC Cristiano Dias YC
70' FTL Junior Sandoval YC
90+2' PRFC Tyler Rudy YC
About the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are part of the 13-team North American Soccer League (NASL). Fort Lauderdale has made the postseason four times in five NASL Modern Era seasons. The club's history dates back to 1977 and the original NASL. The Strikers play at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium. For more information, visit Strikers.com or follow @FTLStrikers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram .
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- Strikers Continue Postseason Push with 2-0 Win over Puerto Rico On - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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