Strikers Head Indoors to Face Minnesota on the Road at Metrodome Saturday
June 7, 2013 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (June 7, 2013) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2-2-4, 8 points) have a chance to record points in their third consecutive match when they travel to take on Minnesota United FC (3-2-3, 11 points) on Saturday, June 8, at 8:30 p.m. at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. Fort Lauderdale has four points from their last two matches and will look for a repeat of their earlier matchup against United FC, a 2-1 win on May 11 at Lockhart Stadium. With five weeks remaining in the NASL's Spring season, all seven squads are still in the hunt for the championship as the Strikers are five points behind first-place Atlanta, who was idle last week.
"Our mindset has to be that a tie is not good enough and that we have to get a full three points," said Strikers head coach Daryl Shore. "We have to make sure we continue to play balls forward, defend well and transition ourselves going forward because we need goals and we need a win."
The match, taking place inside the Metrodome, will be the first time these Strikers have played in an indoor facility. Also, this season the Strikers have one win and one loss on artificial surfaces. With the win coming against FC Edmonton and the loss in Atlanta against the Silverbacks.
"We're familiar with the surface, having played on similar fields in Atlanta and Edmonton," said Shore. "I think what will be a little bit different will be playing indoors. I don't think any of our guys are accustomed to that. Hopefully we'll be able to adapt to it and get a positive result."
While the current franchise has never played in the Metrodome, the original Strikers which left Fort Lauderdale after the 1983 season and moved to Minnesota, played in the dome for the 1984 season as the Minnesota Strikers. The last time a Fort Lauderdale Strikers team played an indoor game was on Aug. 20, 1983 against the Seattle Sounders at the Kingdome in Seattle.
The Strikers remaining schedule has two games at home and two on the road. A victory on Saturday would put the team on level points with United FC and potentially just two points out of a first place tie depending on other match results.
The match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on the Strikers' website, www.strikers.com.
MATCH FACTS:
FTL went 1W-1T-2L against MNU in 2012
FTL is 8W-7T-6L all-time against MNU
FTL is 4W-3T-2L against MNU in NASL regular season matches since 2011
Last meeting: May 11, 2013 FTL 2-1 MNU
Johnson to join New York Cosmos
Fort Lauderdale Strikers' winger Jemal Johnson will join the New York Cosmos in the Fall NASL season after his contract with the Strikers expires following the Spring Championship. Johnson, 28, is a nine-year professional who began his career with Blackburn Rovers of the English Premier League, before playing for European clubs such as Wolverhampton Wanderers and Lokomotiv Sofia.
NEXT UP
The Strikers take on NASL league leaders, the Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at historic Lockhart Stadium. Tickets for all Strikers home games may be purchased online at Strikers.com or by calling the Strikers' ticket office at 954-606-0400. Follow the Strikers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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North American Soccer League Stories from June 7, 2013
- Eddies Continue to Earn Air-Time - FC Edmonton
- Minnesota United FC v Ft. Lauderdale Strikers - Revenge Game - Minnesota United FC
- RailHawks Host Defending Champion Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday - North Carolina FC
- Strikers Head Indoors to Face Minnesota on the Road at Metrodome Saturday - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Legends to be Honored at Cosmos Opening Day - New York Cosmos
- Scorpions Sign Fabrice Noel - San Antonio Scorpions
- First-Place Silverbacks Host FC Edmonton - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Rowdies News and Notes - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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