Strikers Secure Big Win in Ottawa
April 25, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Fort Lauderdale Strikers Celebrate Goal vs. Ottawa Fury FC
(Fort Lauderdale Strikers)
Ottawa, Ontario (Saturday, April 25, 2015) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers defeated Ottawa Fury FC 3-1 Saturday afternoon at TD Place Stadium.
Goals from Jose Angulo and Marlon Freitas had the Strikers comfortably ahead 2-0 before a late Rafael Alves goal set up a dramatic finale. A stoppage-time strike from Angulo secured three valuable points on the road for Fort Lauderdale.
The win, in front of a crowd of 3,023, extends the Strikers unbeaten streak over Ottawa to four games (3-1-0) since Fury FC entered the league for the 2014 season. The win, the first on the road, came in the second match away from Fort Lauderdale. It also evens the Strikers record to 2-0-2 on the North American Soccer League (NASL) Spring Season.
"I felt that we had it under control at some points, and then we let it go" said Strikers head coach Marcelo Neveleff. "We suffered when we shouldn't have been suffering that much, but the guys got the job done. They played excellent. They were organized. It was a great win today."
The team was struck a big blow when Strikers goalkeeper Joe Nasco left the game in the 12th minute with a lower leg injury after slipping on the turf while making a save on a close-range shot by Ottawa's Tom Heienemann. Nasco was making his first start of the season since David Meves was ruled out with a shin ailment. Nasco was carted off on a stretcher and taken to Ottawa's Civic Hospital where it was determined that he suffered a fractured fibula.
Lionel Brown came on in relief and played well for the Red & Gold, making six saves. The match was just Brown's third league appearance for the Strikers since joining the club in 2012. Saturday's game marked the season debut for both Nasco and Brown.
"It was awesome," said Neveleff of Brown's performance. "I mean, great personality and thank goodness he doesn't feel that pressure."
Strikers forward Angulo opened the scoring in the 41st minute when he took a PC right side corner kick at the far post of the goal and deftly sent the ball past Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser. The goal is Angulo's first of the year and comes in his second start in the NASL Spring Season.
The Strikers took a 1-0 lead into halftime after maintaining possession 60 percent of the time in the first 45 minutes.
Nineteen minutes into the second half, midfielder Freitas doubled the Red & Gold lead when he bent a shot into the top corner of the far post after a give-and-go with substitute Stefano Pinho. The goal is the Brazilian's first of the year.
The match was poised for a dramatic finish when Ottawa pulled a goal back in the 78th minute through Rafael Alves. The Brazilian defender tallied the goal against his former team on a corner kick making it 2-1.
Ottawa piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer, but the Strikers defense held firm. The outcome was cemented deep in stoppage time when Angulo scored his second goal of the afternoon on a counter attack that left him one-on-one with the Fury FC goalkeeper.
The Strikers return to game action next Saturday (May 2) when they host the Atlanta Silverbacks at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Lockhart Stadium.
Images from this story
 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Celebrate Goal vs. Ottawa Fury FC |
• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...
North American Soccer League Stories from April 25, 2015
- Cosmos Held to Draw by Silverbacks in Atlanta - New York Cosmos
- RailHawks Draw at Indianapolis - North Carolina FC
- Three Sellout Crowds, Late Drama Make for Exciting Night of NASL - NASL
- Flores, Johnson Net Goals in 3-2 Loss to Rowdies - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Late Castillo Goal Earns Scorpions Points in Minnesota - San Antonio Scorpions
- Late Castillo Goal Earns Scorpions Points in Minnesota - San Antonio Scorpions
- Minnesota United and San Antonio Draw 2-2 in Front of Record Crowd of 9,233 - Minnesota United FC
- Tampa Bay Rowdies Beat Jacksonville Armada FC 3-2 in Coastal Cup Thriller - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Indy Eleven Forced to Settle for 1-1 Draw vs. Carolina RailHawks - Indy Eleven
- Strikers Secure Big Win in Ottawa - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Valiant Effort Not Enough as Strikers Down Fury FC - Ottawa Fury FC
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.
