RECAP | Strikers 3, United 2

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers wrapped up the North American Soccer League Spring Season with a spirited win at Minnesota United on Saturday at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minn.  The win was the Strikers first since April 25 and moves their Spring Season record to 3-2-5 (W-T-L).  

The victory comes in the coaching debut for interim coach Iván Guerrero. The third-year Strikers defender took the helm after head coach Marcelo Neveleff and top assistant Ricardo Lopes left the team six days ago.  

Strikers’ forward Stefano Pinho sealed the victory with a goal in in the 81st minute.  The back-end of Stefano’s brace came after he controlled a pass on the counter and slotted it home with his left foot.

The game-winning goal came fewer than two minutes after Fort Lauderdale tied the match at 2-2 in the 79th minute when substitute José Angulo headed in a Léo Moura cross to the far post.  Angulo rose high to nod in the aerial pass and earn his third goal of the season.

Making the win all the more impressive, Fort Lauderdale closed out the match playing the final six minutes plus more than four minutes of stoppage time with 10 men after Angulo was sent off with a red card.

Goalkeeper Josh Ford made five stops on the night, including three critical saves in the match’s final seven minutes in which he thwarted three close-range attempts.  Ford, on loan from MLS’ Orlando City Soccer Club, made his second straight start for the Red & Gold.

Stefano opened the scoring when he netted his third goal in as many matches in just the third minute of the match. The Brazilian sent a lob over Minnesota United goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt after controlling a knock-on header from James Marcelin.  Stefano’s third-minute strike was the earliest goal in 2015 for Fort Lauderdale.

The Strikers' visit to Minnesota on Saturday was the first since Fort Lauderdale earned a semifinal victory in the 2014 postseason by topping the Loons, 5-4, in a penalty kick shootout after playing to a 1-1 draw. The win earned the Strikers a berth in last year’s NASL Championship Final. In NASL regular season matches, the Strikers had lost six of seven to Minnesota United before Saturday’s win.

Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra didn’t go quietly in his last NASL match for Minnesota United.  The United States men’s national team midfielder, who is moving on to play for Mexican League stalwart Club León after four seasons with the Loons, tied the match at one in the 18th minute on a penalty kick.  The equalizer came after Strikers defender Frankie Sanfilippo was whistled for his sliding tackle on Ibson in the box.

The home team took its first lead in the 38th minute when Aaron Pitchkolan powered a header past Strikers goalkeeper Josh Ford after the Loons drew out the Strikers’ defense following a corner kick.