NASL Week 17 Recap: Strikers Strike Back, Carolina Cruises
Week 17 of the NASL season saw action in three locations over the weekend. On Saturday, Cary, North Carolina hosted the RailHawks as they added another win halting the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0 in a storm-shortened game. In Fort Lauderdale, the Strikers rebounded to officially put FC Edmonton in a slump with a 3-0 slapdown. Sunday afternoon the Montreal Impact recorded their first win since June 4th. That’s 2 months since the Impact have been on the winning end of a game.
Carolina RailHawks 1-0 Atlanta Silverbacks
A crowd of over 5,000 at WakeMed Soccer Park endured three weather delays Saturday night in Cary before the RailHawks match was abandoned at the 50 minute mark. And although they didn’t see a full match, they did get to enjoy another RailHawks victory, which raises Carolina’s season record to 14-2-2 and a whopping 15 point lead over 2nd place Puerto Rico in the standings.
The RailHawks got the only goal they needed in the 8th minute of the match, as Etienne Barbara notched his remarkable 18th goal of the season. Barbara, assisted by fellow attacker Nick Zimmerman, brought the RailHawks’ NASL-leading goal total to 39 on the season when he got by two Silverbacks’ defenders and beat goalkeeper Felipe Quintero.
The big story of the contest, however, was the weather. The game was delayed at the 22nd minute for almost 45 minutes as severe weather interfered. The game continued for nine minutes before another weather delay occurred, and when the players returned they were able to complete the first half, and began the second half after intermission. Unfortunately, Mother Nature was in no mood to cooperate and after five minutes had gone in the second half, the match was abandoned with rain drenching the field.
“It was an unusual game,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “It was disappointing, the fact that it was stop and start. We couldn’t get a rhythm in the game. I felt like we were playing quite well when the first break came. We were up 1-0, and after that, it was stop-start. We knew the way the weather was, it was important to be winning at halftime. Overall, I’m happy. It’s another three points and it keeps us in good forward momentum.”
The Silverbacks’ loss ended a two-game unbeaten streak and dropped them to nine points behind the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the last NASL playoff spot.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 3-0 FC Edmonton
After an emotional 3-1 loss in Puerto Rico last time out, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers rebounded in style to author one of their best games of the season, a 3-0 result over slumping FC Edmonton. The Eddies have now fallen to a game under the .500 mark after such an outstanding start to the season, and Harry Sinkgraven will need to re-energize his young squad as they suffered their third consecutive loss, having allowed nine goals while only scoring twice during those three contests.
Former North Carolina Tar Heel Brian Shriver was the Strikers’ star, as he scored twice on the evening, his second brace of the season. The play of veteran forward Abe Thompson was also a factor, as he added his third goal of the season, along with an assist. Matt Glaeser shared the clean sheet with Nic Platter.
Despite having 11 shots on goal, FC Edmonton did not find much luck in wearing the throw-back old NASL Edmonton Drillers uniforms Saturday night. Down 2-0 at halftime, Shriver added his second goal of the match in the 75th minute to seal the Eddies’ fate.
“It’s an important 3 points, but it’s only one game,” said Head Coach Daryl Shore. “We’ve got 10 games left, and like we said earlier in the week, our goal is to finish in first place after those games.” Shore added, “Shriver was active tonight and we were able to finish our chances. Bryan Arguez did a great job in the middle tonight. Having Gerson (Mayen) back from Chivas USA is an added bonus. Walter Restrepo and Mike Palacio were good tonight as well.”
Mayen and Restrepo played their first 2011 matches for the Strikers. Restrepo, 23, is a California native who previously played in Colombia’s first division.
Montreal Impact 1-0 Puerto Rico Islanders
The Montreal Impact needed a win if they were to have any hopes of making a comeback and worming their way back into the NASL playoffs. They had only 2 wins in 17 games as they hosted one of the hottest teams in the NASL, the Puerto Rico Islanders, who were on a streak of 7 games without a loss.
Eduardo Sebrango showed why the Impact brought the 38-year-old striker out of retirement. He scored a goal in the 73rd minute that ended up the game winner for Montreal. It was Sebrango’s 3rd goal in 4 games since he was coaxed by Nick De Santis and Montreal to come back and make an “Impact” on the team. The goal was his 48th career goal with Montreal.
Sebrango didn’t enter the game until the 62nd minute when he chested down a ball from his teammate Philippe Billy. He laid the ball down then blasted past Islanders goalkeeper Richard Martin on a low shot to his left.
The Impact had the better of opportunities throughout the match. Newcomers Cameron Knowles and Ryan Pore, who both played their first game as an Impact player, each had chances in the 1st and 2nd half. Pore first forced an arm save by Islanders keeper Richard Martin. Soon after, Martin was called on to stop a Cameron Knowles shot. The teams went into half time with a 0-0 score.
Knowles challenged Martin again in the second half and again Martin was up to the task.
The Islanders went down a man in the 65th minute, when Yaikel Perez was red carded for hitting Cameron Knowles. The man advantage helped Montreal and Sebrango to the win.
“Today’s victory is a reward for all the effort, the work and the solidarity shown by the players,” said Impact head coach and sporting director Nick De Santis. “We were in a good position during all the game and the opponent didn’t succeed in creating problems for us. The new players brought a new dynamic, energy and stability. I hope this win will give us some motivation and confidence to continue dictating the play at home.”
“We mixed our plays and created a lot of scoring opportunities. We played well in the second half, and most importantly, got the three points that we needed,” said Sebrango.
NASL News
There’s no midweek NASL action this week as all eight teams will play on Saturday. The Atlanta Silverbacks will attempt to get back on a positive streak against visiting FC Tampa Bay, while the Fort Lauderdale Strikers will try to build on this weekend’s win at home against the tough Carolina RailHawks. The Montreal Impact will host NSC Minnesota, while FC Edmonton will try to get their ship back on course at Foote Field against the Puerto Rico Islanders.
The Islanders play their second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League play-in match at home on Wednesday, August 3 in a do or die effort against Isidro Metapan. The Salvadoran side won the first leg 2-0, so the pressure is on La Tropa Naranja to play stingy defense and score goals.
In the goal scoring department, former Carolina RailHawks captain Brad Rusin is settling in well after transferring to the Danish Superligaen with HB Køge. Check out his recent Danish wonder goal – hopefully Rusin can ride his success in Scandanavia to an opportunity with the USMNT — something accomplished in recent years by Swedish-based players Charlie Davies and Alejandro Bedoya, along with fellow defender Clarence Goodson, who is also earning a check in the Superligaen after playing for IK Start in Norway.
Another 2011 NASL player, Atlanta Silverbacks’ left back Mario Perez, has been a starter for Estudiantes Tecos in both their 2011 Apertura FMF matches.
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FWIW, Clarence Goodson, not Goodman.
Thanks for the correction, MH. The articles are edited eventually, but usually not until after they’re posted.
Yikes! That’s living dangerously. I’d be happy to do some quick edits for you before you post.
Glad to see the Railhawks continuing to have nice crowds. The way they’ve played this year, they deserve the great support. Hopefully they hit a bump in the road with their onfield play come this Saturday at Lockhart!
Speaking of the Strikers, wow is what you’ve got to say. Saturday’s game was what Strikers Likers have been expecting from this team all year. It was very reminiscient of the last game they won 3 – 0 here against the Stars. They controlled play rather easily from whistle to whistle. Shriver and Thompson were great up front, and the additions of Mayen and Restrepo in the MF paid dividends right away. I was critical of the move by Coach Shore to put Stahl on the backline, mostly because I thought he had been playing quite well in a defensive MF role. But he had his best game of the year in the back on Saturday. Wouldn’t be surprised if he got some consideration for defensive player of the week. Even losing Glaeser in the second half to another injury didn’t prevent the clean sheet. If they play this well this Saturday, they can certainly give the Railhawks all they want and more!
Have we seen Montreal finally start to turn the corner too? If so, the Strikers are going to have to put together a winning streak to keep themselves separated from the Impact. Sebrango coming back seems to have helped them score a few goals, and their defense has been about as good as anyone’s the whole eyar despite their spot in the standings.
Good luck to the Islanders this week in the CCL as well.