By: Pedro Heizer
Tying the largest margin of victory in the NASL this season, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers dominated FC Edmonton Saturday night at Lockhart Stadium in front of 3,378 Striker Likers in fashion.
Thanks to the dynamic duo of Abe Thompson and Brian Shriver, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are through to the NASL semi-finals.
Abe Thompson had a hat-trick (second of his career), while Brian Shriver scored twice to complete the 5-0 rout of FC Edmonton.
“To be honest I expected us to be good tonight, but I didn’t expect to win that way,” said Strikers head coach Daryl Shore. “Edmonton’s a good team and I think the second goal deflated them.”
Fort Lauderdale had the foot on the gas from the beginning of the game but simply couldn’t socre. But, right before the end of the half, Brian Shriver received a deflected pass and took on defender Paul Hamilton. After a single touch on his left foot, he slotted it home near post for the seventh of his season.
“I got the ball on my left foot, my weaker foot, and it rolled right in,” Shriver said. “This is the best we’ve played this year. We created chances and never gave up.”
Abe Thompson’s first goal came 26 seconds after the second half started. Thompson scored as he redirected a cross from Lance Laing. He beat the FC Edmonton defense to the far post and buried the cross.
The entire game the Strikers piled on the pressure on the FC Edmonton defense, pushing the ball forward. In the 54th minute, following a long ball, Mike Palacio stumbled, collected the pass, and fed Shriver, who was through on goal. Shriver kept his cool and finished far post on his left foot again, making it eight on the season.
Eight minutes later, the FC Edmonton defense was left open again for a counter-attack, and Scott Gordon capitalized on it. All alone on the right, Gordon fed the ball into the middle, where Thompson headed the ball past goalkeeper Rein Baart.
“We talked about finishing our chances in the second half and we did,” Thompson said. “The goal before halftime was big because they go in demoralized and we go in with confidence. Coming out in the second we picked up right where we left off.”
“The guys had a great week of training and it showed that they brought their success in training to the field,” said Shore.
Thompson finished off his hat-trick with a well-placed shot into the far post corner in the 77th minute to finish the five-goal rout.
The Strikers outshot Edmonton 18-7, including 13-1 with shots on goal.