Third Place at Stake When Strikers Face FC Tampa Bay
Published on September 23, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (SEPTEMBER 23, 2011) - The Fort Lauderdale Strikers (9-11-7, 38 points) face FC Tampa Bay (10-8-9, 38 points) at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday at 7:00p.m. with a chance to capture their highest regular season finish in team history. The Strikers can finish in third place by defeating FC Tampa Bay, a tie or a loss would leave them in fourth place heading into their first round playoff game on Saturday, Oct. 1.
"Tampa Bay's a good team, they're big, they're strong, they're physical," said head coach Daryl Shore. "We're going into the game with the mindset of getting three points. We would like to finish third in the league and finish the season with seven losses, the same as Carolina and Puerto Rico."
Fort Lauderdale and Tampa Bay have played three matches this season with Tampa Bay holding the edge with two victories. FC Tampa Bay is the only team the Strikers have not beaten this season. The Strikers are on a four-game undefeated streak, having won three of their last four games and tying with Atlanta last Saturday.
The Strikers last loss prior to their current unbeaten streak was to FC Tampa Bay on Aug. 27. Fort Lauderdale went on to post back to back shutout wins against Montreal and top seed Carolina. The Strikers have been tied for the best record in the league since losing on the road to Puerto Rico on July 20. The team is 6-2-2 with two wins against league-leading Carolina and two wins against potential first round playoff opponent FC Edmonton.
A part of the Strikers success over the final months of the season has been the team's ability to insert many different players from their roster and produce results. A total of 16 different Strikers have scored at least one goal for the team this season. The back line has seen nine different starters in games this season, with team minutes leader Martyn Lancaster being the exception by playing in 26 of the team's 27 games.
The Strikers will be without the services of defender Toni Stahl who is suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation. Strikers midfielder Bryan Arguez currently has four yellow cards and Eduardo Coudet has seven yellow cards on the season.
FC Tampa Bay is coming off a 1-0 loss at Puerto Rico. The Islanders scored in the fifth minute and were able to hold onto the lead to set the stage for the Strikers and Tampa Bay's battle for third place. There are several players on FC Tampa Bay in danger of yellow card suspension. Andres Arango, Frankie Sanfilippo, Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, and David Hayes all have four yellow cards this year. Forward Mike Ambersley has scored 11 goals and is tied for second place in the NASL. Ambersley is also tied for third in the league in assists with six. Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella leads the NASL in saves with 124 on the season.
"We feel like we know Tampa Bay well," said Shore. "We're trying to keep our momentum going. We want to finish as high as possible. Our next goal is to be playing well going into the playoffs and that means trying to get a result against Tampa Bay."
FC Tampa Bay and Fort Lauderdale are tied for third place in the NASL. A win for the Strikers would put them behind only the RailHawks and Islanders. A draw would give the Strikers fourth place and set their first round match on Saturday, Oct. 1 against FC Edmonton at Lockhart Stadium. Should Fort Lauderdale finish third, their first round opponent will be either Minnesota or Montreal.
Last Time Out
Fort Lauderdale tied 1-1 at home against the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Strikers clinched home field in the opening round of the playoffs with the tie.
After going down 1-0 in the 90th minute on a goal by Atlanta's Nico Colaluca, the Strikers responded by scoring the game tying goal in stoppage time. Forward David Santamaria attacked from the midfield and passed to a streaking Yoximar Granado, who had come on as a sub in the 85th minute. Granado dribbled toward the end line and sent a low pass across the front of goal where forward Brian Shriver was alone in front of the empty net, set up for the easy tap in to even the game and score his sixth goal of the season. Shriver is now tied with Eduardo Coudet for the team lead in goals.
2011 STAT LEADERS
Appearances: Martyn Lancaster (26)
Starts: Martyn Lancaster (25)
Minutes: Martyn Lancaster (2,153)
Goals: Brian Shriver, Eduardo Coudet (6)
Assists: Eduardo Coudet (4)
Shots: Brian Shriver (48)
Yellow cards: Eduardo Coudet (7)
Red cards: Lance Laing, Cristian Arrieta, Eduardo Coudet, Abe Thompson (1)
Saves: Matt Glaeser (69)
NEXT UP
The Strikers play their first playoff game since 2006 at home on Oct. 1 at 7:30p.m. at Lockhart Stadium.
All Strikers games are streamed live online at STRIKERS.com . Tickets are available by calling (954) 606-0400 or by going to STRIKERS.com . Follow the Strikers on facebook and twitter @FTLStrikers.
North American Soccer League Stories from September 23, 2011
- Third Place at Stake When Strikers Face FC Tampa Bay - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Impact Plays Last Game of the Season Saturday in Atlanta - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks Finish Regular Season Saturday - North Carolina FC
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