Strikers Open Season with 1-1 Draw Versus FC Edmonton

Strikers football is back.

After much anticipation, and excitement  the Fort Lauderdale Strikers kicked off their 2013 Spring Championship Season on Saturday versus FC Edmonton.

It felt as if the 5,201 screaming fans got to the Strikers early, as they gave up an early goal to FC Edmonton’s Wes Knight in the 15th minute.

“We started off sloppy,” said debutant David Foley. “We gave up a sloppy goal, but after that we settled down.”

The Strikers defense, something they put emphasis on this past offseason, was caught napping and watched as Shaun Saiko whipped in a cross from the left, and Wes Knight beat the Strikers defense to the ball for a header to open the score.

“We came out little nervous in the first half,” Strikers coach Daryl Shore said. “Following their goal, we showed more energy and initiative.”

After the goal, Fort Lauderdale settled down and started to play the type of soccer they wanted. Despite not finding the back of the net in the first half, the Strikers had shots on goal by Carlos Salazar, Stefan Dimitrov and Jemal Johnson, all from David Foley crosses.

“Once we started finding Carlos [Salazar], Stefan [Dimitrov] and Jemal

[Johnson] open we felt like we played better,” explained coach Shore.

Second half got underway and it was all Strikers from there. In the 55th minute Johnson nearly put one away for a goal taking a shot just outside the penalty box, hitting the cross bar.

During that same play, Foley went for the rebound and FC Edmonton’s keeper Lance Parker tripped him up. The referee called for a penalty kick, which brought the crowd to euphoria, but the sideline referee waived it off after saying Foley had been offside.

In the 65th minute, midfielder Walter Restrepo  made his season debut coming in to a rapturous applause for Rubens. Restrepo, who was named to the NASL Best 11 team last season as a result of his team leading 11 assists, was coming back following a season ending ACL injury.

Restrepo’s entrance into the game sparked the Strikers attack. In the 73rd minute, Foley scored his first goal as a member of the Strikers on an unassisted beauty as he worked his way past three defender producing a laser shot from just inside 18 yards.

“To be honest with you,” said Foley after the match. “I saw the ball going in the whole way. I got a great pass from Toni Ståhl and I was lucky enough to get a great touch since the defenders backed off.”

“It was a great individual effort by David on the goal,” said coach Shore. “It’s got to be goal of the week, if not goal of the year.”

“I thought we deserved the three points,” added coach Shore. “But for a first game we will take the tie.”

The Strikers play their next two games on the road against Atlanta and Carolina under returning home against cross-state rival Tampa Bay Rowdies on April 27.

&copy Copyright 2013Pedro Heizer, All rights Reserved. Written For: 90 Minutes Strong