Strikers Snap Winless Streak with 3-1 Win over League Leaders
Published on May 7, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Three goals in the first 45 minutes of action gave the Fort Lauderdale Strikers an insurmountable lead in a 3-1 victory over the first-place Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC.
Goals by Maicon Santos, Nana Attakora and Matheus Carvalho paved the way for the Strikers, and head coach and general manager Caio Zanardi, to claim their first win of the 2016 North American Soccer League Spring Season. It was Strikers first victory in Carolina in 11 attempts since first meeting 2011.
"We played an unbelievable first half to lead 3-0 -- unbelievable," said Zanardi. "I thought all around we played to our potential. Second half they were attacking, and we had to defend and counter, but even then we created opportunities. We attacked well, we defended well. It was a just result."
Zanardi fielded a largely unchanged side from the team that lost 1-0 to the Rowdies last weekend. Jean-Marc Alexandre returned from a one-match suspension to captain the Strikers, while Diego Restrepo made his debut in goal.
After a strong start to the match, it took just seven minutes for the Strikers to open the scoring. Maicon Santos got on the end of an early cross by Attakora to head home his third goal in just his third start for the club.
The provider would become the goalscorer in the 24th minute on a corner kick. Ramon Nuñez' in-swinging ball was met by the head of Attakora, who redirected the cross into far corner of the net to double the Strikers' advantage with his first goal for the club.
An injury forced Maicon Santos off the pitch after the second goal. His replacement, Matheus Carvalho, didn't need long to make an impact.
Following a counter attack down the right flank, Carvalho was the recipient of a precision cross from Nuñez. The substitute deftly placed the low ball past goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre with his first touch to notch his first goal for the Red & Gold as Nuñez collected his second assist on the night.
Fort Lauderdale carried the 3-0 advantage into the break.
Trailing by three, the RailHawks made an attacking change at the break to aid their goal search, with forward Billy Schuler replacing midfielder Ãlex Pérez.
Fort Lauderdale was content to defend their advantage and hit Carolina on the counter attack.
The RailHawks eventually broke through the disciplined Strikers' defense. Former Strikers forward Brian Shriver produced a diving header to inspire hope for the home side in the 67th minute of the game.
It was end-to-end action in the closing stages of the match. Jose Angulo clipped the post in the 72nd minute, before a quick break the other direction yielded the same outcome for Carolina.
The Strikers record is now 1-2-2 (W-T-L) on the season.
The Strikers return home for their penultimate home match of the Spring Season against Indy Eleven on Saturday, May 14, at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Tickets to the match are on sale now on Strikers.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from May 7, 2016
- Cosmos Roll to 3-0 Win in Miami - New York Cosmos
- New York Back on Top, Indy Still Unbeaten as Spring Season Action Heats Up - NASL
- Indy Eleven Stays Undefeated with 1-1 Draw vs. FC Edmonton - Indy Eleven
- RailHawks Fall at Home to Fort Lauderdale - North Carolina FC
- Eddies Draw Undefeated Indy Eleven 1-1 to Close out Road Trip - FC Edmonton
- Strikers Snap Winless Streak with 3-1 Win over League Leaders - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Armada Dominates Key Stats But Can't Convert in Loss to Rayo OKC - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Late-Game Heroics Keep Fury FC Unbeaten at Home - Ottawa Fury FC
- United Draws 2-2 with Fury, Remains Unbeaten in Four Straight Matches - Minnesota United FC
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