Recap: Late Penalty Lets Strikers Tie Silverbacks

Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 – 2 Atlanta Silverbacks

Goals:

55′ – Marlon Freitas (FTL)
64′ – Jaime Chávez (ATL)
76′ – Pedro Ferreira Mendes (ATL)
90′ – Walter Ramírez (FTL) (PK)

Major Themes

– The two teams played a physical and balanced first half where the only real goalscoring opportunity came from PC who hit the crossbar.

– The Strikers scored early in the 2nd half and managed to control the game from that point forward with several tense moments of the ball pinging around in Atlanta’s box.

– Atlanta’s first came off a bicycle kick from a corner and the second was scored on the counter.

– Fort Lauderdale’s Walter Ramirez went down lightly on the edge of the box in the 90th minute to earn a penalty. He hit the right goalpost but the ball deflected in to tie the match.

– Jose Angulo very nearly put the Strikers ahead with a header in injury time. However the goal was disallowed due as Angulo’s jump for the ball using Kosuke Kimura’s body was ruled a foul.

Atlanta’s Simon Mensing and the Strikers’ PC (Photo: Fort Lauderdale Strikers)

In Form:

– PC – Once again the dynamo moving the ball forward, PC had a great assist on the first FTL goal. Kept going despite being repeatedly roughed up on tackles.

– Simon Mensing – The big man was in fine physical form, anchoring ATL’s three man back line.

Liabilities:

– CJ Cochran – ATL’s backup was called into action with Steward Ceus off on international duty with Haiti. Cochran still looks quite raw.

You Won’t See On The Highlights

– Gunter Kronsteiner’s face when Atlanta’s second goal went in – The Austrian looked quietly (and understandably) livid. He didn’t look very happy after the game either.

Lessons Learned

– Atlanta continues to show resilience and an ability to poach goals on the counter. Their defense looks a little shakier than ideal but expect them to pull off a few upsets this season.

– The Strikers still haven’t found their je nais se quoi that brings in 3 points. Gunter Kronsteiner will be looking for a way to plug the stream of late goals that has meant dropped points.