RECAP | Strikers 2, Silverbacks 2

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers remain unbeaten early in the NASL Fall Season after scoring late to save a point in a 2-2 draw with the Atlanta Silverbacks at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday night.

Walter Ramirez converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute after the midfielder was taken down in the box by Kosuke Kimura. Ramirez slotted the ball past goalkeeper CJ Cochran’s left side and off the post to knot the score at two. It was Ramirez’s second goal in two games.

Fort Lauderdale is undefeated in four league matches dating back to the NASL Spring Season finale on June 13. The club has three draws to start the Fall Season under head coach Günter Kronsteiner.

“I’m still happy that we ended up with the draw at the end,” Kronsteiner said. “However, I also have the feeling that we were the better team tonight. Soccer is about who scores the most goals, and we have to work on this.”

Fort Lauderdale outshot Atlanta 17-3, with five shots on target to the visitors’ two. The Strikers had six shots in the scoreless first half, while the Silverbacks failed to take a shot.

After tying the match at two, the Strikers pushed for the winner and nearly got it. José Angulo, who came on as a substitute in the 68th minute, put the ball in the back of the net with a header two minutes into added time. The goal was not allowed after referee Bernhard Hosu ruled that Angulo committed a foul while jumping for the ball.

Angulo also had an opportunity with another header two minutes later, one that Cochran covered on the ground.

In the fifth minute of added time, Freitas had a solid shot from 20 yards out that Cochran juggled while diving on the ground before securing the ball.

Marlon Freitas put the Strikers on the board first in the 55th minute when his one-time volley found the back of the net. PC set up Freitas with a solid cross from the right flank for his second assist of the year.

Atlanta tied it at one and took the lead in a span of 12 minutes. Jaime Chavez scored with an overhead kick in the 64th and substitutes Pedro Mendes and Junior Burgos combined for the second goal. Mendes tapped home in the 76th minute following a low cross from the right by Burgos.