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Tampa Bay Win, Fort Lauderdale Loss Sets up Dramatic Final Weekend

October 24, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL) News Release


NEW YORK (Oct. 24, 2015) -- The race for the final postseason berth in the North American Soccer League (NASL) comes down to a battle between two Florida rivals.

Tampa Bay's victory, 1-0 over the Carolina RailHawks, on Saturday night coupled with Fort Lauderdale's loss, 2-1 at the Indy Eleven, vaulted the Rowdies over their intrastate rival and into fourth place in the Combined Standings. Tampa Bay is now in the driver's seat for the No. 4 seed in The Championship, the league's four-team postseason tournament.

The Rowdies' win also extinguished the postseason aspirations of the Atlanta Silverbacks and the RailHawks.

Tampa Bay made an early goal by Richard Menjivar stand up as Matt Pickens earned the shutout and the Rowdies ran their unbeaten streak to three games, with only one loss in October.

Indy Eleven played a spoiler role for the second consecutive week, putting Fort Lauderdale's postseason hopes in danger. Goals by Jamaica's Don Smart and Brian Brown staked Indy to a lead that stood up as the Strikers cut the lead in half, but could cut no further. Last week, Indy ended Minnesota's chances of overtaking Ottawa Fury FC in the Fall Season Standings.

The Loons, who cannot improve upon their No. 3 seed in The Championship, used a goal within the game's first 10 minutes to blank visiting Atlanta.

Saturday's other scheduled match, New York at San Antonio, was shifted to Sunday afternoon because of a severe storm that struck much of south and west Texas on Saturday.

Indy Eleven 2, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1

The loss dropped the Strikers into fifth place in the Combined Standings, a point behind Florida rival Tampa Bay with a game to play in the regular season. Don Smart gave Indy Eleven (5-5-9 20 Fall; 8-9-12 33 Combined), which closed out its home season before 9,213 at Carroll Stadium, the lead when he scored from the top of the arc in the 19th minute. Smart collected a pass from Marvin Ceballos about 30 yards from the goal and quickly got into position for a measured, right-footed shot that beat Fort Lauderdale (7-6-7, 27 Fall; 10-8-11, 38 Combined) goalkeeper David Meves along the slick turf.

In the 43rd minute, Brian Brown scored in his second straight game, his fifth goal of the season, when his header from a Dylan Mares free kick beat Meves. The Strikers' second-half substitute Jose Angulo cut the lead in the half in the 59th minute, trapping a failed clearance and striking a left-footed volley over and past goalkeeper Kristian Nicht. But it wasn't enough as the Strikers failed to notch the equalizer.

Tampa Bay Rowdies 1, Carolina RailHawks 0

Tampa Bay (5-5-9, 20 Fall; 10-9-10, 39 Combined) broke on top in the 12th minute before 6,973 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla, and the result put the club in the No. 4 spot in the Combined Standings with one match to play in the regular season. An attempted clearance by the Carolina (5-3-11, 18 Fall; 8-8-13, 32 Combined) defense was settled about 35 yards from the goal by Richard Menjivar. The El Salvador international quickly smacked a curling shot that slipped inside the far post and past goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap.

Minnesota United FC 1, Atlanta Silverbacks 0

Minnesota (10-5-3, 35 Fall; 13-10-5, 49 Combined) took a 1-0 lead only nine minutes into the game before 9,212 at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn. Kalif Alhassan was tripped in the penalty area by defender Simon Mensing of Atlanta (6-6-6, 24 Fall, 7-11-10, 32 Combined), winning a penalty kick that was converted by Christian Ramirez. It was the 12th goal of the year for Ramirez, last year's Golden Boot winner. The Loons' victory should give them some momentum heading into their semifinal clash in either New York or Ottawa in two weeks.



North American Soccer League Stories from October 24, 2015


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