Strikers Head To Indy And Could Clinch Final Postseason Spot

The race for the fourth and final postseason spot is reaching its boiling point as the Strikers take on Indy Eleven in the penultimate match of the 2015 Fall Season. Fort Lauderdale currently remains in control of the last remaining place in The Championship, the NASL's four-team postseason tournament, with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Carolina RailHawks, and Atlanta Silverbacks all alive, but chasing.

"We have it in our hands now with two games to go and a two-point lead already [over the Tampa Bay Rowdies]," head coach Günter Kronsteiner said. "We have to keep focused.”

The New York Cosmos, Ottawa Fury FC, and Minnesota United have all punched their postseason tickets.

A scoreless draw with the San Antonio Scorpions on Wednesday night at Lockhart Stadium opened up a two-point cushion over Tampa Bay. The Saturday before, the Red & Gold handed Carolina a 4-0 thumping to move into the coveted fourth spot.

While NASL Player of the Week Stefano Pinho added a goal and two assists to increase his lead in the Golden Boot race and strengthen his case for the Golden Ball (MVP) award on Saturday, the Scorpions defense managed to keep him quiet on Wednesday.

Indy Eleven had their slim postseason hopes dashed despite defeating Minnesota by a 3-1 scoreline last Saturday. Dylan Mares, Brian Brown, and Brad Ring all got on the scoresheet for the Boys in Blue, but the win wasn’t enough to lift Indy out of the Fall Season cellar.

The Eleven will be looking to play spoiler against the Strikers on Saturday, and won’t need to look far for motivation. The last meeting between the sides ended 7-1 in favor of the Red & Gold after a Brazilian goal storm rained down on Indy Eleven.

The sides have faced just once before in Indianapolis, a scoreless draw on August 8, 2014.

A Strikers win, coupled with a Rowdies loss, would secure Fort Lauderdale’s fourth postseason appearance in five seasons since the NASL resumed play in 2011.

Fort Lauderdale was without the services of instrumental playmaker PC on Wednesday, with the Brazilian midfielder suffering from a head injury. David Meves, back in goal after recovering from a fractured jaw suffered in late May, picked up his second consecutive shutout.