Strikers' Playoff Hopes Dashed by Loss to Rayo OKC

Published on October 22, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release


Lauderhill, FL (Saturday) -- The Fort Lauderdale Strikers late-season push for the postseason comes to an end after a 2-0 defeat to Rayo Oklahoma City in the season home finale at the Central Broward Stadium.

The result eliminates the Strikers as well as Florida rivals Tampa Bay and Miami from postseason consideration. Rayo OKC now sits in pole position to claim the final NASL postseason spot with one match remaining.

The Strikers' chances for a fifth NASL playoff appearance didn't end without a fight, but the Red and Gold side was unable to overcome Oklahoma City's second half goals from Sebastien Ibeagha in the 49th minute and substitute and former Strikers standout Pecka in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

There were plenty of chances in both halves for the Strikers, but the finishing touch eluded the team despite playing with a much needed sense of urgency.

Dalton has the first good attempt on goal just eight minutes into the game, but his shot sailed high. Junior Sandoval made a good run into the penalty area to meet a low pass from the right side, but guided the ball just wide of the far post in the 25th minute.

In the 43rd minute, the Strikers had a run and combination between Amauri, Junior Sandoval and Geison Moura on the left flank that was finished by Geison with a shot from around the edge of the box missing the target.

Fort Lauderdale goalkeeper Bruno made two quality saves in the 20th and 22nd minutes, with the second one making himself big as he came out to close the angle on a counterattack opportunity by Devon Sandoval, who shot the ball wide left.

Shortly after the break, the Strikers needed to force the issue and made relatively early substitutions by inserting three attacking players -- Jose Angulo (50'), Ramon Nunez (60') and Maicon Santos (75').

The effort was there as the Strikers piled on the pressure, but the finishing touch lacked some precision in the second half.

Italian forward Amauri came close in the 55th minute when his re-direct of a pass on the shortside rolled on the outside of the post. Amauri also had a good header nine minutes later as it was blocked from making its way into the net by a Rayo OKC defender.

Nunez found himself in the box as well, but only managed to hit the post from close range after 67 minutes. Geison also was set up nicely by Amauri seven minutes from time, but the Brazilian's attempt sailed over the crossbar.

Fort Lauderdale concludes its 2016 NASL campaign in Ottawa next Saturday.

Coach Caio Zanardi says:

"We fought hard through adversity (all season) and had a great run in the US Open Cup including a win in Orlando. We will work to build on the momentum from this season as we prepare for next year. We still have a game in Ottawa next week in which we will compete hard."

Additional Notes: .

Pecka who played for the Strikers from 2011 to 2014 scored the second Rayo OKC goal.

Geison has started four successive games and had scored the winning goal in each of the previous two matches. The Brazilian winger had started just one match in the month of September, a 1-1 draw at Rayo OKC on September 18.

Junior Sandoval has played in all seven matches since signing with Fort Lauderdale on September 23.

Fort Lauderdale won the first two games of this three game homestand, before losing tonight.

The Strikers were the only non-MLS club to advance to the US Open Cup quarterfinals this season. Included in Fort Lauderdale's cup run was a historic 2-1 victory over in-state rival Orlando City SC.

Bruno made his 16th successive start in goal for the Strikers and has kept six clean sheet in that period.

The Strikers will continue to wear pink kits for the remainder of October as part of the #DrivePink Campaign in cooperation with AutoNation and the Breast Cancer Research foundation.

Scoring Summary

1st 2nd FT

FTL 0 0 0

OKC 0 2 2

Scoring Summary

OKC 49' Ibeagha

OKC 90+4' Pecka (Michel)

Stats

FTL-OKC

Shots: 14-17

Shots on Target: 2-7

Blocked Shots: 5-4

Total Passes: 352-335

Pass Accuracy Percentage: 77.3-76.7

Possession: 53.1-46.9

Yellow Cards: 5-1

Red Cards: 0-0

Lineups

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (4-2-3-1) - Bruno; James, Agbossoumonde(C), Dalton (Angulo 50), Corrales; Sandoval (Maicon 75), Fernandes (Nunez 60); Pineda, Moura, Paulo Jr, Amauri

Unused Substitutes: Reynares, Attakora, Kleberson, Millien

Rayo OKC (4-2-3-1) - Byars; Michel(C), Ibeagha, Danso, Kimura; Velasquez (Pecka 60), Yuma, Menjivar (Hernandez 82), Van Schaik; Forbes (Samaras 77), Sandoval

Unused Substitutes: Fernandes, Gibson, Chavez

Booking Summary

18' FTL Victor Pineda YC

36' FTL Amauri YC

37' OKC Sebastian Velasquez YC

53' FTL Junior Sandoval YC

70' FTL Ramon Nunez YC

84' FTL Julius James YC

About the Fort Lauderdale Strikers

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are part of the 13-team North American Soccer League (NASL). Fort Lauderdale has made the postseason four times in five NASL Modern Era seasons. The club's history dates back to 1977 and the original NASL. The Strikers play at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium. For more information, visit Strikers.com or follow @FTLStrikers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram .

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North American Soccer League Stories from October 22, 2016


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