Strikers Game at Lockhart Will Determine NASL Champion
Published on October 28, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Oct. 28, 2011) - The 2011 NASL Champion will be determined when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers play host to the NSC Minnesota Stars in the NASL Championship Final at Lockhart Stadium, Oct. 29, at 7:30p.m. The NASL Championship Series is a home and away format with the winner determined by number of goals scored over the two legs. In the first leg of the series, the Stars won by a final of 3-1 at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota.
If the aggregate score is even after 90 minutes, the game will progress into a 30-minute period of extra-time. A penalty shootout will determine the winner should the score remain even after added time. The Strikers need to win by exactly a two-goal margin for this to occur.
A victory by a three-goal margin or more and the Strikers will clinch the title. The Strikers have scored three or more goals in a game five times this season. Four of those games were at Lockhart Stadium. At home, Fort Lauderdale has outscored opponents 27 goals to 15 in 16 games played this season.
Scoring goals has not been a problem for the Strikers in the playoffs. The team has scored more goals than any other team in the NASL post-season with 11 goals in four games. Starting with a 5-0 win against FC Edmonton in the first round, the Strikers advanced past the Puerto Rico Islanders with 3-1 and 2-1 victories in the semifinals, before adding another one in last week's defeat to Minnesota in the first leg of the Championship Series.
Fort Lauderdale has an excellent record of coming from behind this season. When trailing, the Strikers have scored a total of 14 goals. During the regular season the Strikers salvaged an additional 12 points by coming from behind to win or tie games.
The last time the Stars visited the Strikers at Lockhart Stadium was June 11. Following a comeback 3-2 victory against the Puerto Rico Islanders the week prior, the Strikers recorded another three goal performance, defeating Minnesota 3-0. The win made the Strikers unbeaten in four consecutive games, a streak stretched to seven by the end of the month.
The Strikers were 2-0-2 (W-L-T) against the Stars, with a win and a draw at Lockhart Stadium in the regular season. The loss in Minnesota was the first time the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (formerly Miami FC) were defeated by the Stars in seven matches between the two teams.
Brian Shriver has been the most notable performer for the Strikers in post-season play. The forward has scored five times for the Strikers in four playoff games. Shriver's attacking partner and Strikers' captain Abe Thompson has scored three goals in the playoffs-a hat-trick against FC Edmonton. Playmaker Mike Palacio and left-back Lance Laing lead the team in assists with two each in the playoffs.
Last Time Out
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers fell to the NSC Minnesota Stars in the first leg of the NASL Championship Series by a final of 3-1.
The Stars struck early in the match when their took the lead in the fourth minute on a Neil Hlavaty struck free kick from just outside the penalty area into the far corner of the goal. It was the first time the Strikers trailed in the post season.
The Strikers tied the game on a Stars' own goal in the 52nd minute. Minnesota re-took the lead just a minute later on an excellent shot by Luke Mulholland after the Strikers turned the ball over in their own half of the field. In the 77th minute, the Stars would add to their lead when Lucas Rodriguez snuck through the Strikers' defense and beat goalkeeper Matt Glaeser at the near post to give the Stars a 3-1 lead.
Post Game Ceremony
At the conclusion of the game, the runners-up will be awarded medals by NASL Commissioner David Downs and the champions will be awarded their medals and the NASL Championship Trophy.
The match will be broadcast on GolTV via tape delay at 10:00p.m. EDT. All Strikers games are streamed live online at STRIKERS.com . Tickets are available by calling (954) 606-0400 . Follow the Strikers on facebook and twitter @FTLStrikers.
North American Soccer League Stories from October 28, 2011
- Strikers Game at Lockhart Will Determine NASL Champion - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Stars Re-Set Scoreboard for Second Leg of NASL Championship - Minnesota United FC
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