PREVIEW | Stefano Pinho, Strikers Look To Continue Red-Hot Form In Ottawa

After a record-setting 7-1 victory followed by a bye week, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers return to action on Saturday against the Fall Season leader, Ottawa Fury FC. Fort Lauderdale will be looking to extend its four match unbeaten streak against a side that has yet to defeat them.

History was made a number of times in the Strikers’ last match as coach Günter Kronsteiner recorded his 20th victory in grand fashion. The seven goals scored were the most in a league game for Fort Lauderdale, while the margin of victory was the most in club history. Stefano Pinho’s hat trick included the Strikers’ 200th goal in the NASL Modern Era.

Stefano scooped all the league’s weekly awards (Player of the Week, Team of the Week, Play of the Week) in addition to moving atop the NASL scoring chart with 12 goals. Compatriots Marlon Freitas and PC joined him on Team of the Week, while Stefano was named the NASL Player of the Month after tallying six goals and an assist in five August matches.

While Ottawa tops the table, Fort Lauderdale maintains a slight historical edge. Of the current NASL teams, Fury FC remains the only side to whom the Strikers have never lost. Since Ottawa’s introduction to the league in 2014, the Strikers have gone 3W-1D-0L. Both previous trips to Ottawa have resulted in maximum points for the Red & Gold, including a 3-1 victory in April 2015.

Fury FC defeated a shorthanded San Antonio Scorpions side by a score of 1-0 in their last outing. Oliver struck the lone goal and goalkeeper Romauld Peiser recorded his tenth shutout of the season as Ottawa extended their Fall Season lead to five points

In the last meeting between the sides, Jose Angulo scored on either side of a Freitas wonder strike, while Lionel Brown performed admirably in net after Joe Nasco suffered a broken fibula early in the match.

A Strikers win Saturday would set the club record for number of consecutive victories (4).