Fort Lauderdale Holds Off Indy To Earn Three Points At Home

Photo: Jon Van Woerden

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers extended their unbeaten streak to six games in a 2-1 victory over Indy Eleven at Central Broward Stadium on Saturday night. Indy Eleven, the NASL’s Spring Season Champion, is now winless in its last five.

Paulo Júnior gave Fort Lauderdale (4-4-5, 16 Fall; 8-7-8, 31 Combined) the lead in the 19th minute when he took a pass from Ramón Núñez and carried the ball more than 30 yards down the right flank. He then sped past the Indy Eleven (6-3-5, 21 Fall; 10-9-5, 39 Combined) defense and slotted a shot past goalkeeper Jon Busch low and inside the far post.

The Strikers made it 2-0 in the 67th minute on a brilliant individual effort from Maicon Santos after collecting a pass from Paulo Júnior. He collected the ball at the top of the Indy penalty area, slipped it through the legs of a defender and slotted a right-footed shot along the ground and inside the far post. The Strikers’ bid for a third straight shutout was thwarted when Indy’s Justin Braun, just back from injury, planted a header inside the far post in the 88th minute from a cross from Lovel Palmer. It was Braun’s fifth goal of the year.

For more on the game, head over to strikers.com and indyeleven.com.