Strikers Drop Spring Season Home Finale
June 6, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (June 6, 2015) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers concluded their last home match of the NASL Spring Season at Lockhart Stadium with a 2-1 defeat to the Indy Eleven on Saturday night after giving up a goal four minutes into added time.
Victor Pineda blasted a match-winning goal into the back of the net from the top of the box after a failed clearance from the Strikers.
Pineda also scored the equalizer for Indy when he beat new Strikers goalkeeper Josh Ford low to the far post also from the edge of the box. Dylan Mares set up Pineda with a short pass.
Ford was acquired on loan from Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC the same day that the club learned David Meves suffered a fractured jaw in the U.S. Open Cup match at Charleston Battery on May 27.
"They (the losses) all hurt," said defender Fabian Kling. "We just have to keep going out there and remember that the score is 0-0 when we start."
Stefano Pinho scored the lone goal for the Strikers when his header skipped off the ground past Indy goalkeeper Kristian Nicht in the 23rd minute. It was Stefano's second goal in as many games. Daniel Sanchez picked up the assist with a cross front the right flank..
Fort Lauderdale lost to the Indy Eleven for the first time in four meetings (2-1-1) since the two sides first squared off in 2014..
The Strikers had several solid opportunities to not only at least secure a tie, but claim a victory.
Strikers captain Leo Moura forced Nicht to make a critical save off a free kick in the 56th minute.
Stefano came close to scoring his second goal of the night three minutes later. The ball reached Stefano following a good combination by Moura-James Marcelin-Shawn Chin. However, Nicht again made the stop. Marcelin also was involved on a right side run in the 52nd minute when he found PC with a good low cross, but the shot was directed wide.
Stefano also had a fine scoring chance in the 49th minute, but once again Nicht denied him.
In the first half, Chin executed a corner kick from the left side in the 32nd minute, the ball reached Sanchez, who made a good redirect with his heel when Nicht again covered the ball to make the save on the goal line.
Marcelin tried his luck in the 30th minute with a quality shot from 30 yards out that sailed just over the bar.
Despite some heavy rain in the late afternoon, 5,083 fans came to support their home team.
The Red & Gold close out the 2015 NASL Spring Season on the road against Minnesota United FC on Saturday (June 13) at NSC Stadium in Blaine, MN.
Fort Lauderdale will return to Lockhart Stadium once before the start of the Fall Season when they host Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors in the inaugural Challenge Cup on July 1 at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
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North American Soccer League Stories from June 6, 2015
- Indy Eleven's Victor Pineda Scores Twice to Down Strikers, 2-1 - Indy Eleven
- RailHawks Draw with Minnesota at WakeMed Soccer Park - North Carolina FC
- Eddies' Comeback Bid Falls Short against Rowdies - FC Edmonton
- Tampa Bay Rowdies Stay Alive in Spring Season Title Race with Win - NASL
- Tampa Bay Rowdies Stay Alive in Spring Race with 2-1 Win over FC Edmonton - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Scorpions Beat Silverbacks 1-0 in Atlanta - San Antonio Scorpions
- Strikers Drop Spring Season Home Finale - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Scorpions Steal Victory in Atlanta - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Minnesota United Draws 1-1 with Carolina - Minnesota United FC
- FC Edmonton Defender Roberts to Replace Dejan Jakovic for Canadian World Cup Qualifying Camp - FC Edmonton
- Strikers Marcelin Included in Haiti's Preliminary Gold Cup Roster - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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