RECAP | Eddies 3, Strikers 2

Goals from midfielders Ritchie Jones, Sainey Nyassi, and forward Tomi Ameobi gave FC Edmonton its first win in the 2015 NASL Spring Season after defeating the visiting Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 3-2, at Clarke Field on Sunday afternoon.

The victory extended the Eddies' unbeaten streak at home to nine matches.

The Eddies’ early lead would not last long. In the 20th minute, Marlon Freitas found Dani Sánchez inside the Eddies 18-yard box and shot the ball hard and high with his left foot to tie the game at 1-1. Five minutes later José Angulo volleyed a shot against the bar to almost give the Strikers the lead.

FC Edmonton had the opportunity to go in front right before halftime when Nyassi was fouled just inside the box. Frank Jonke shot the penalty to his left, but Meves saved it to keep the score tied at 1-1 after 45 minutes. 

"I still believe that we can go on to win this game,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said moments after the whistle. “We created a number of very good chances.”

The Strikers were able to take the lead 63 minutes in when Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel was unable to hold on to a shot from distance. This allowed Léo Moura to tap the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-1 for the visiting team.

The Eddies tied the match 2-2 in the 75th minute. Off of a FC Edmonton corner kick, Nyassi hit the ball into the net with a sharp strike to tie the game up and earn himself his first goal of the season.

It was not over for FC Edmonton. Five minutes later, Ameobi finished an excellent cross from Lance Laing on the left wing to give the Eddies the 3-2 lead and eventually the full three points.

“All three substitutions contributed to us winning the game,” Miller said. “It was a terrific team performance.”