Photo by Ottawa Fury FC/NASL
By AARON CRANFORD
For the third consecutive week, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers bagged at least two goals, and while their scoring exploits weren’t enough in last week’s loss to FC Edmonton, the Strikers’ consistency in attack paid off on Saturday when they faced Ottawa Fury FC.
Jose Angulo collected his first brace of the 2015 Spring Season and Marlon Freitas scored the game-winner with a beautiful right-footed curler from outside the box to give the Strikers the scoring they needed to take all three points in a 3-1 win in front of 3,023 fans at TD Place.
Rafael Alves made things interesting late on, as the Fury FC defender cut the lead to one after heading in his first goal of the season on a corner kick.
However, with time winding down and the Canadian side pushing men forward, Angulo caught Ottawa on the counterattack, adding his second of the day during stoppage time to seal the result.
Regular Strikers goalkeeper David Meves missed Saturday’s match, and nine minutes into the game replacement Joe Nasco came off with an injury, forcing third-stringer Lionel Brown in the game. Brown showed well, stopping six shots to make the Strikers’ lead stand.
The two sides played end-to-end from the very beginning, as Paulo Junior made things interesting in the second minute, curling a shot past Nasco before the crossbar denied him an early goal.
In the ninth minute, Tom Heinemann almost grabbed the opener, but Nasco came out and made himself big. The former Colorado Rapids keeper was injured on the play, forcing Brown into the match.
Leo Moura chipped in a beautiful ball in the 15th minute, but Victor “PC” Giro’s chance went straight at Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Desire Peiser.
At the other end, Brown’s first two saves of the game came in quick succession off the feet of Junior in the 24th and 26th minute.
One of Peiser’s best saves of the game came in the 40th minute after Freitas put a blast on frame. Angulo scored on the ensuing corner kick to give Fort Lauderdale the 1-0 advantage.
In the second half, the Strikers controlled the tempo and created more chances. Freitas sent a curler around Peiser to make it 2-0, and minutes later, the Brown came up with another big save when Heinemann put a shot on frame in the 67th minute.
Fury FC finally beat Brown in the 78th minute as Alves rose high on a corner kick, giving the hosts hope for a late equalizer. However, Angulo broke free in extra time after Fury FC sent many men forward, and the striker netted his second of the day.
The Strikers head home after spending the last two weeks in Canada; they’ll host the Atlanta Silverbacks next Saturday. Fury FC will face the New York Cosmos on the same day.
What did you think of the result? Can the Strikers keep their scoring spree going?
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