NASL Midweek Action: Strikers Streaking, Islanders in Solid Control of 2nd Place

Wednesday evening saw three NASL matches played in the shadows of the always-intense USA-Mexico friendly which marked the debut of USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann.  But the NASL clubs put on a good show, as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers increased their winning streak to three games by defeating NSC Minnesota 1-0, while the Puerto Rico Islanders recorded their second consecutive shutout by downing the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-0 in Bayamon.  In Montreal, the Impact and FC Tampa Bay played to a wild and wooly 3-3 draw at Saputo Stadium, after earlier announcing the installment of long-time MLS midfielder Jesse Marsch as head coach beginning in 2012.

NSC Minnesota Stars 0-1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Photo by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net

Have you ever noticed that sometimes young clubs play better in the absence of their much more experienced, talented leader?  After an emotional meltdown by Strikers’ star Eduardo Coudet in a match against Puerto Rico that resulted in his six-game suspension, the Strikers have doubled their season total in the following three matches.  Wednesday night in Minnesota, the Strikers handed the Stars only their second home loss of the season, earning a vital three points on the basis of their 1-0 win.

Coudet, 36, has had a very successful career in Argentina and Mexico, playing for such big clubs as River Plate.  Even at his age, Coudet has led the Strikers in goalscoring and is a lethal assassin in dead-ball situations. Despite his absence, though, the Strikers are getting results and fulfilling the promise expected by Striker Likers going into this season. Coudet is a fine player — but perhaps his young teammates were too reliant on the veteran to always lead the way.

NSC Minnesota led the way early in the match, as loanee Scott Lorenz (who played with the Stars last season) from Sporting Kansas City had a shot go just over the Strikers’ crossbar while Devin Del Do had a chance at the 20th minute and it looked like the Stars would keep their fine home record intact on the night.

It was the Strikers, though, who notched the game’s only goal after a scoreless first half, and as has been the case quite often lately, midfielder Brian Shriver contributed to creating the goal. He gained control of a through ball but passed up a shot to connect with Uruguayan Martin Nunez near the penalty spot, with Nunez placing the ball past Stars’ keeper Joe Warren for his fourth goal of the season. Manny Lagos’ Minnesota side tried to equalize, and Chris Clements forced Strikers’ goalie Matt Glaeser into a tough save, but Fort Lauderdale left with all three points in their pocket.  Glaeser, who has suffered some knocks in recent contests, recorded three saves along the way to earning his fourth clean sheet of the season while Warren made eight saves, including a few late as Shriver and David Santamaria looked to score on counters as the Stars pressed for the draw.

The win lifted Fort Lauderdale to fifth place, just a point behind FC Tampa Bay and the Stars.

Puerto Rico Islanders 2-0 Atlanta Silverbacks

It seems that the rest of the NASL is going to have to pay for the Islanders’ uncharacteristic early ouster from the CONCACAF Champions League.  The Islanders narrowed the first-place Carolina RailHawks’ lead to a still-comfortable nine points over Puerto Rico in the table, but at least look to give the Carolinians at least some challenge for the top spot with eight games to go in the regular season (Carolina have a game in hand.)

The Islanders were eliminated in the preliminary round of CONCACAF qualifying by the slimmest of margins.  Both Puerto Rico and Isidro Metapan scored three goals in the two-leg series, but the Salvadorans advanced because one of their goals was an away goal.  Since then, Colin Clarke’s team seems bent on taking revenge on its NASL opponents, posting back-to-back shutouts against FC Edmonton and now Atlanta.

The Silverbacks started out well in Bayamon Wednesday night, but their inability to cash in on good opportunities led to their demise.  Matt Horth took advantage of some Puerto Rico miscommunication and looked to score but was denied by a Ray Burse kick-save.  Midfielder Jordan Davis and defender Willie Hunt both hit the Islanders’ woodwork before the game, and before the half hour mark Puerto Rico had the lead. David Foley took charge, weaving through defenders to beat Atlanta’s Jimmy Maurer for what proved to be the game-winner. The goal was Foley’s fifth in 2011 NASL action.

La Tropa Naranja took command in the second half, with Kevon Villaroel adding an insurance goal. The Silverbacks appeared to at least get a consolation goal for Coach José Manuel Abundis, but Islanders’ loanee Junior Sandoval shot just wide of Burse’s goal before the game ended. Atlanta remain stuck at the bottom of the table, and after finding their goal-scoring boots weeks ago, have now misplaced them as they have been shutout in their last three outings.

Montreal Impact 3-3 FC Tampa Bay

Photo courtesy of Montreal Impact and Pépé

Montreal supplied the setting but FC Tampa Bay provided the late drama, coming back to split the points in front of over 9,000 weeknight fans at Saputo Stadium, leaving Montreal still sitting on the outside looking in at the NASL playoff picture, nine points behind the slumping FC Edmonton club.

FC Tampa Bay’s Shane Hill got the game’s first goal in the 38th minute that held to halftime, but Montreal took charge after intermission. Venerable striker Eduardo Sebrango gave Impact fans a reason to cheer as the second half opened, beating Tampa Bay rookie Evan Newton from an Ali Gerba assist.  Gerba, who entered the game at the start of the second half, played provider again as Ian Westlake gave Montreal a 2-1 lead eight minutes later. Sebrango, who’d retired in the offseason, scored his second goal of the evening and fifth of the season in the 75th minute, giving Montreal fans every reason to believe that they’d witness a rare 2011 Impact victory.  Canadian international Gerba again earned the assist.

But the soccer gods are often cruel. FC Tampa Bay forward Aaron King has been on fire lately, and he narrowed the Montreal advantage to 3-2 with five minutes left in regulation, assisted by veteran D2 defender Frankie Sanfilippo. But midfielder Mozzi Gyorio played leading man in FC Tampa Bay’s starry comeback. The Serbian-born Canadian’s free kick in the 90th minute beat Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton as the game ended 3-3.

“We knew that Montreal would come out with some purpose in the second half, and they scored the quick goal and then took advantage of some poor defending by us,” said FC Tampa Bay head coach Ricky Hill. “After we went down 3-1, we changed formations and the players that came off the bench really came onto the field with a purpose and played their part. It was fantastic; to come back from 3-1 down is a great achievement.”

Even though it only gained them a point, FC Tampa Bay seem to have their mojo working. Attempts on goal that earlier this season went missing are now finding the back of the net as the team looks confident and bent on proving that their slow start to the 2011 campaign is old news. Montreal, meanwhile, continue to just do enough to lose, and the frustration level has to be mountain-high.