Strikers Play Fury to Scoreless Road Draw
September 12, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. the Ottawa Fury
(Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Credit: Steve Kingsman - Steve Kingsman Photography)
OTTAWA, ONTARIO (September 12, 2015) - Despite several scoring opportunities for both sides, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Fall Season leaders Ottawa Fury FC played to a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon at TD Place. Fort Lauderdale extended its unbeaten streak to five matches (3-2-0 WTL) in earning the road point, while the Fury FC made it just one loss in their last 17 matches (8-8-1).
The draw and the point that comes with it improves the Red & Gold's record to 4-5-2 (W-T-L) in the Fall Season under the leadership of head coach Günter Kronsteiner. Fort Lauderdale maintains a strong position to challenge for a spot in the North American Soccer League's (NASL) four-team postseason tournament, The Championship.
The Strikers kept their unbeaten streak against Ottawa intact, moving to 3-2-0 all-time against the Canadian side, again denying the Fury FC points against the Red & Gold on their home turf. The majority of the contest was played in a light rain in the Canadian capital with 6,327 fans in attendance.
Fort Lauderdale netminder Josh Ford recorded his second clean sheet of the season and second in Canada this year. His first came in a 2-0 shutout in Edmonton on August 23. Meanwhile, Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser held firm to notch his league-best 11th shutout of the year.
Peiser was forced to work for his clean sheet. The Ottawa custodian impressed throughout the match and made several stops, including key second-half saves on a swift counter attacking move by Stefano Pinho and a close-range volley by substitute Dani Sánchez.
Ottawa's stingy defense was able to keep NASL Player of the Month Stefano scoreless. However, the league's scoring leader had his fair share of chances. The first came in the 11th minute when the Brazilian's scissor kick was off the mark. Another came in the second half when Stefano couldn't pinpoint a hard strike in 49th minute.
Stefano also had an effort cleared off the line by Rafael Alves after the forward slipped the ball through Peiser's legs.
The best chance of the night fell to Gabriel just minutes into the second half. Marlon Freitas deftly lifted a ball over the defense and through on goal for his compatriot, who could only fire wide as an onrushing Peiser closed down the angle.
Ottawa smacked the bar in the 8th minute and nearly stole all three points with their final touch of the match as former Strikers forward Aly Alberto Hassan headed just wide of goal after beating Ford to a cross deep in stoppage time.
The Strikers were without the services of captain Iván Guerrero and defensive midfield stalwart James Marcelin for the match. Kronsteiner dropped PC to left back and reinstated Walter Ramirez on left wing. Shawn Chin made his first start since mid-July in the center of midfield, but was forced off prematurely after suffering an ankle injury.
Frankie Sanfilippo wore the captain's armband in place of Guerrero, putting in another solid defensive performance as he skippered his side to a hard-fought point.
----
The Strikers return home for three-straight games, starting with Jacksonville Armada FC on Wednesday (September 16), before Saturday showdowns with Ottawa and Minnesota United FC.
Tickets are available for those three matches and all remaining Fort Lauderdale home games at Strikers.com.
First Half
1' Ottawa Fury FC takes the kickoff to start the match under rainy skies and 57-degree temperatures. The Strikers are donning their all-white kits.
7' Shawn Chin issued a yellow card
8' Fury header attempt following a corner kick hits the bottom of the crossbar, narrowly missing going in for a score. Heinemann's follow up sails safely over the crossbar.
11' An unmarked Stefano Pinho takes a long pass front and center, and his left footed scissor kick is off the mark
13' Another near miss by Stefano. This time, the Brazilian forward controls the pass with his chest and nutmegs Fury goalkeeper Romuald Peiser before Rafael Alves slides in to knock the ball away just before it bounces into the open net.
19' Marlon Freitas pass to the left is inadvertently knocked back by Fury defender Ryan Richter, one yard too far for Gabriel to punch it in
22' Oliver shot from inside the box stopped as Strikers' keeper Josh Ford stretches out far to his left to corral it
24' Heinemann left-footer misses just outside the right post
26' Heinemann is brought down by in the box, but referee calls it a 50/50 and play continues
31' Ottawa opportunity is derailed thanks to an offside call after a Strikers' turnover
37' Paulo Junior streaking up right side on the counterattack; his attempt is deftly knocked away by Fort Lauderdale defender Frankie Sanfilippo
45' Referee adds two minutes time to the first half
45+1' Heinemann header is controlled easily by Ford
45+2' Referee blows the whistle to conclude a scoreless a first half.
Second Half
46': The Strikers receive the ball to begin the second stanza.
47' Freitas sends a sweet pass over the top of the Ottawa line to Gabriel, but his attempt is just a bit wide as Peiser closes down the angle
47' Stefano and Freitas working the give and go, but the return pass from Freitas is too far out front and the league's leading scorer is whistled for offside
49' Stefano hard shot is wide and high
54' Stefano shakes loose in the box before being brought down. Referee signals the two teams to play on.
59' Sinisa Ubiparipovic free kick from the left side, 21-yards out is headed away by a stingy Strikers' backline
59' On the ensuing play, Strikers' counter concludes with a Stefano low liner shot that's snared by Peiser
63' First substitution of the match: Dani Sánchez comes on for Gabriel
64' Chin controls the ball at midfield before going to the turf with an apparent ankle issue
65' After coming off briefly, Chin returns to the pitch
68' Chin goes down again, holding the same left ankle
69' Manny Gonzalez comes on as Chin is helped off
76' Andrew Wiedeman comes on for Paulo Junior
80' Peiser comes up big in stopping a Sanchez shot from close range
80' Former Strikers' player Aly Alberto Hassan comes on replacing Heineman
83' PC is brought down by Mauro Eustaquio in front of the Fort Lauderdale bench The Ottawa midfielder is issued a yellow card for the play.
86' Carl Haworth replaces Oliver
88' Eustaquio earns the free kick from 25-yards away. Richie Ryan takes an attempt to the far post on a free kick from 25 yards away.. Ford jumps up to safely fend off the scoring threat.
90' The referee adds four minutes of extra time
90+ 4' Hassan heads just wide after beating Ford to a cross
90' The referee blows the whistle as the Strikers earn a hard-fought draw in Ottawa
Images from this story
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. the Ottawa Fury (Steve Kingsman - Steve Kingsman Photography) |
• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...
North American Soccer League Stories from September 12, 2015
- Castillo Double Leads Scorpions to 2-0 Win over Indy Eleven - San Antonio Scorpions
- Raúl's Match-Winner Lifts Cosmos over Armada - New York Cosmos
- RailHawks Fall 3-1 in Minnesota - North Carolina FC
- Minnesota, New York Claim Wins to Make up Ground in Fall Season Race - NASL
- Minnesota United Rallies for Impressive 3-1 Victory over Carolina - Minnesota United FC
- Armada Hold Tough in 1-0 Loss to Cosmos - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Fury Collect Vital Point in Scoreless Draw against Strikers - Ottawa Fury FC
- Strikers Play Fury to Scoreless Road Draw - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- FCE Match Preview vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies - FC Edmonton
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.
