Strikers Close 2016 NASL Season with Win Versus Ottawa Fury FC

NASL match between the Ottawa Fury FC and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, ON. Canada on Oct. 29, 2016. (Steve Kingsman/Freestyle Photography)

They may not be going to the NASL playoffs, but the Fort Lauderdale Strikers closed their 2016 NASL Season with a strong showing in Ottawa where the visitors defeated Fury FC 1-0.

Junior Sandoval got the Strikers off on the right foot in the third minute when the Honduran midfielder was able to bend a curving shot to the lower corner of goalkeeper Romuald Peiser’s goal but was deflected.

Fort Lauderdale pressured early and often.

In the sixth minute, it was Italian forward Amauri who headed a ball on goal but was saved by Peiser.

Strikers goalkeeper, Bruno Cardoso, had one of his busiest games on goal for Fort Lauderdale as the Brazilian was able to defend 17 total shots, of which 6 were on target.

Fury FC caught new life in the middle of the first half after a laser shot by Lance Rozeboom was cleared by Bruno, the home team went to threaten the Strikers defense three more times before the half, with its best opportunity coming in the 44th minute when Lance Haworth broke through the Strikers defense and found himself one on one with the keeper, but his shot went just wide.

Fort Lauderdale found the breakthrough in the 66th minute when substitute, Kleberson was able to send a perfectly-placed free kick that found the head of Amauri, who this time, was able to head it home for his fifth of the season.

Despite trailing 1-0, Fury FC continued to dominate possession, while the Strikers tried to take their best chances off the counterattack. Ottawa led the possession game 64 percent to Fort Lauderdale’s 37 percent.

Ottawa continued to attack but Bruno was able to preserve the clean sheet, his sixth of the season.

With the win, the Strikers equals its all-time record of 41 points in an NASL season.

Despite not making the playoffs, head coach Caio Zanardi had nothing but praises for his team, who not only equaled last season’s total points but also went to the quarterfinals of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the furthest the club has ever gone.

“We had a great win today and equaled a team record 41 points for the season. I thank all my players and technical staff for a fantastic season. We had the best point total even in the spring for this club (15) and the deepest run in club history in the US Open Cup. We beat two MLS teams on our way to being the only non-MLS team in the quarterfinals. “