Strikers Open China Preseason Tour against Shandong Luneng
March 6, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
CHENGDU, CHINA - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers picked up their first win in China with a 6-0 result against Sichuan Longfa. First-half goals by Matheus Carvalho and Maicon Santos paved the way for a second-half flurry by Jean Alexandre, Giuseppe Gentile, and Jose Angulo, who notched a brace.
The Strikers fielded the same eleven from the defeat to Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng, with one exception: Christian Blandon started at right back ahead of Gabriel, who was rested. Neil Hlavaty wore the captain's armband and led by example, assisting on both goals during his 45 minutes on the field.
"We had a very good game today," said head coach and general manager Caio Zanardi. "We had good possession, we attacked, we pressured. 6-0 is a great result, but we have two more games to correct our mistakes."
Just nine minutes into the match, Hlavaty burst through midfield and was spotted by Geison Moura, who played a ball into his path as he surged into the box. Hlavaty squared the ball for Carvalho to tuck past the goalkeeper to open the scoring.
Hlavaty picked up his second assist with a cross into the box that Maicon Santos struck expertly on a full volley. The goalkeeper had no chance as the Brazilian forward's effort had both power and precision as it flashed across goal before nestling in the corner of the net.
With a 2-0 lead at the half, Zanardi made wholesale changes to his squad. Only four players remained on the field: defenders Blandon, Nana Attakora and Gale Agbossoumonde, and midfielder Jean Alexandre, who assumed the captaincy for the second period.
The second-half team pressed high up the field, forcing turnovers, and monopolizing possession in the opponent's half.
Scoring chances came fast and furious. Attakora flashed a header over, and both Luis Felipe Fernandes and Jean Alexandre went close after being set up by Manny Gonzalez.
Angulo finished his chance when his opportunity from Gonzalez came. A short corner taken by left back Luis Zapata--who pressed high up the pitch to earn the spot kick--was looped into the box by Gonzalez and directly onto the head of Angulo, who directed a precision header past the goalkeeper.
Just four minutes later, in the 65th minute, Angulo tallied a brace with a powerful effort after receiving a square pass from Victor Pineda inside the box.
Alexandre made it 5-0 in the 86th minute with a strike from the top of the box. Fernandes later picked out Giuseppe Gentile who slotted past the goalkeeper to round out the scoring.
The Strikers preseason tour of China continues with a friendly against Chengdu Qianbao on Tuesday, March 8. The club will face one more Chinese opponent before returning to the United States on March 14.
Fort Lauderdale opens the 2016 North American Soccer League season on April 2 against newcomers and regional rivals Miami FC. Tickets are on sale now on Strikers.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from March 6, 2016
- Offence Shines for Fury FC in Win over RSL Academy - Ottawa Fury FC
- Strikers Open China Preseason Tour against Shandong Luneng - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
