After thoroughly handling the Eddies last week, the juggernauts of the NASL come to town in the form of the Carolina Railhawks. This is gonna be a very tough match.
There's DR fulfilling the role of thread starter! No doubt this is going to be a tough match, but I expect a close one as well. Just like the last game looked like a turning point in the season for the team, I think this one carries a little different label - legitimizer. The Strikers have been a yo-yo club all year. After impressively handling Edmonton last week, the Strikers have a huge opportunity this weekend to prove to their fans and the league that they are going to be a factor the rest of the way this season. I would love to see most of the same starting lineup as last game again this week. Personally I prefer Granado over Palacio in MF because I think he creates more problems for opposing defenses, but either way, I think the Coach has a reason and an opportunity to be consistent for once with his lineup. If Shriver and Abe can work some more magic up front this game, I think we have an excellent shot at winning. I also hope Matt is ok and will be back in this week as well. Wunderground.com puts the rain chance at 30%-40% for tomorrow evening and night. Let's all pray for the remnants of Emily to stay mostly to our east, and I think we've got a chance for the Strikers work at the Barca game Wednesday night to pay off in a very nice crowd. If the rain stays away for the most part, and the Strikers could pull off a win, I think we'd be looking at bigger crowds the rest of the way! Go Strikers! Statement game! Everyone be there and let's make it a hostile environment for the Railhawks!!!
WC site has it at 85% @ 3PM & varying from 40% to 50% for the rest of the evening. I hope it is better than that.
The 3,109 fans that attended saw Strikers win 2-1 with 10 men in added time. Yes, the ref was a bit card happy. He showed may yellows, all but one to the Strikers, 2 of them to Abe Thompson who was sent off with about 20 minutes remaining. Totally unexpected last second goal by Martin Nunez to break a 1-1 tie win it. A very exciting match. Loved it.....
Now THAT was entertainment!!! Last minute heroics, Darth Vader in a ref uniform, wild crowd...what else could you want?! We're seeing a team that seems to be putting the pieces together at the right time...Restrepo and Mayen have been great additions to a team that looks more confident up top and in the back. Holbein? Coudet? Gordon? Granato? Sorry guys, but if it ain't broke, we're not gonna fix it. This sets up a really big showdown with the team formerly-known-as-but-not-yet-legally-able-to-be-called-the-Rowdies!!! Let's pack Lockhart on the 26th!
Coudet's our top scorer, you gotta throw him in. Other than that... Freakin' AMAZING game. Just when you thought we'd have to settle for one in a team that they were the better side for 90 minutes and the "One additional minute" following two minutes of stoppage time. Will this make up for Philadelphia and New York both laying a giant effing egg on their games... likely not. But It was truly INCREDIBLE! I'll miss this team, but I'll be back in the spring - see you guys there, hopefully!!
WONDERFUL finish to this one eh fellas? That ref was way to quick on the yellows, he was giving them out like they were going out of style. We were clearly the better team until Abe was sent off. Then when it seemed we were destined for another tie, Nuñez and Co. find the will to pull off the dramatic win. Simply magical. As for Chacho, yeah he's our leading scorer but 5 are on PKs and 1 is on a free kick. If we keep up this form I would not put him back in the starting 11, but that's just me. On to a big road trip leading up to the showdown with Tampa Bay on the 27th. Only 4 points back of 3rd place Minnesota who we play Wedndesday night, and within striking distance of 2nd place and a bye in the playoffs if the boys can keep the winning up. Some very exciting football to be played!
I can say that was the most satisfying win I have ever witnessed from this team...going back to 2006. We were outplaying the best team in the league, with the ref against us, then we lost a man. I think many of us were settled on getting a tie out of the match once they scored, but the Strikers fought well and managed to squeeze out another score. It was freakin' great. I was just incredulous after the game---add to that, several players coming to the parking lot to hang with us, and you could say it was the ultimate win. Loved it!
Didn't know we had so many PKs I don't think Glaesar had to make more than two-three saves today... excellent job by the back 4. And Man, that was a GOLAZO by Restrepo! Nifty play from the Midfield all day and we had a really impressive amount of possession with the way the Railhawks have been playing. Let's hope we can keep this up on the road!!
Yes. We discussed it at the half & it looked to be about 3K in the stands and wandering around the grounds.... The weather looked horrid before the game started & Central Broward had 2" of rain earlier in the afternoon. That probably held the attendance down a bit.
This is the first time this season (i've been to 6 games now) where I still have a scratchy throat the morning after from yelling so much. What an amazing game and gutty performance by the lads. And one of the worst performances by a ref i've ever witnessed in person. Will be in the Bahamas for the TB game....but I expect to see double last night's crowd as I try to watch online and i'll be at Lockhart in Sept!!!!
He showed 8 yellows. All but one to the Strikers, and, of course, 2 to Abe. The only yellow he showed to Carolina was late in the game. Carolina is difficult enough to play when they have 11 on the field. Having a 12th man last night made the task that much more difficult, but the end result sweeter... BTW, the NASL site has all 3 goals from last night's game posted. 2 of them are gems...
Congratulations to you guys. You outplayed us last night and deserved to win. Just don't expect it to happen again .
Fair enough. You'll not underestimate the Strikers next time. If you do, you now know what can happen... Your record tells us all we need to know about the 'hawks. But please understand that that puts a target on their backs. Everyone in the league wants to beat them, and it causes great joy when they do...
I was thinking the exact same thing with Chacho and his penalty kicks. When he's out there he seems to lack a lot of energy and stamina to keep everyone involved. I'm sure that has something to do with the age factor and the Strikers wanting more Argentinian fans in the stadium as well. The lineup was pretty nice and fresh outside of Arrieta being a bit lazy on making runs in the first 30 minutes of the game, but picked it up a bit later. The outcome of the game was awesome and has my son talking about it all weekend.
Ok, finally getting around to my post for this past Saturday's match. Incredible! The game, the fans (who took a chance gambling on the weather and were rewarded), and the team! I can say with no fear of bias, that the Strikers did in fact outplay the team that has been head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the league so far this year. They earned the victory, and as the crowd went wild there in extra time, they sure got it! Restrepo was all over the field all night, and I had a perfect view of that shot he took. You just won't see a better shot from distance by a player at any level. It was perfectly struck and bent right into that top corner. And what can you say about Nunez except clutch again! I know the Coach seems to have a systme where he rewards players with starts when they make big plays. But I'm telling you, Nunez creates a lot more opportunities with his speed when he comes in late in games against tired opponents. Every good team has players with roles. When the players focus on their role and play well in fulfilling it, that's how good teams win. Nunez's role should be to come into these close games late and be a difference maker. He's shown he can do it, and I hope the Coach keeps using him this way. Arguez, Mayen, Stahl, Lancaster, all had solid games defensively. Laing lacks a bit defending, but he often makes up for it with sheer speed. I saw someone mention Arrieta as being lazy. I wouldn't call it that as much as frustration. It's obvious in watching him he is always chomping at the bit to push forward, and when he feels he's open and should get the ball, is very demonstrative in his frustration when it doesn't come his way. He needs to stay more focused, and I think he will be fine. This is the second week in a row I'll go on record as saying I think Stahl deserves consideration for defensive player of the week. He's stepped into that center back role brilliantly. The refs. I'm still composing my scathing e-mail I'll be sending to the league. I've been watching professional soccer at all different levels for well over 30 years now. I've never, never seen a more poorly officiated professional soccer game. It was a total and complete disgrace. The commish came down pretty hard on Chacho for his actions after reviewing game tapes. I hope to God he has the integrity to hold thel eague officials to the same tough standards. That ref shouldn't be on the field for even one more match this season. In the end though, we had a huge win, and even though it was a disappointing crowd size wise, I don't think any other crowd this year was more into the game all the way through, and we've certainly never been more loud and raucous as we were when Martin scored. My God, I'm salivating even now at the prospect of a corwd twice the size, that into the game, and witnessing the Strikers take out the Rowdies on the 27th. Please! Everyone! Let's make this happen. Let's make a statement about supporting the Strikers come the 27th. Wear your Strikers gear all over town between now and then. (I still get asked about the team everytime I wear mine, without fail.) Light up Facebook with the excitement we had this past Saturday. Tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers, the crazy guy on the street corner that they all need to get to Lockhart for the next home game! It's the Rowdies for Pete's sake!!!! GO STRIKERS!!!!!!!!!!!
The Strikers have 5 minutes & 33 seconds of extended highlights up on the Striker site. The 2nd yellow/red to Abe is included. I played that portion of the highlights over 3 times & could not see a foul committed, let alone one for a caution. I thought the ref was a bit too card happy in the game, but on the others I at least could see a reason for a foul being called, cautionable or not. On the one that got Abe sent off there simply was not a foul committed that I could see, period. Poor officiating, IMO, especially from someone wearing a National Ref patch - at least I think that's what the yellow patch he's wearing is.... As ever, YMMV.
I think the ref thought he showed his studs in his challenge, but you're correct that the ref was on crack. That play was all aimed towards the ball and not with the studs out. Utterly ridiculous to assume like that.
The 2nd yellow to Abe was a reckless decision by the ref. Maybe if he hadn't been handing out yellows like hotcakes all night, he would have remembered that Abe was already on one caution, and would have been more hesitant to send him off for what was barely even a foul at all(if that). It was a total lack of awareness to the situation and a poor showing from the official. But leave it to Martin Nuñez to make it all better with a wonderful strike in the 92nd minute!
Abe made a move towards the ball, then pulled his foot back without making any contact. That is not a foul. Period. Very poor decision by the ref. Not worthy of a rookie Grade 8 or 9, let alone a Grade 4 or 3 National. Your much too kind. As was mentioned above, it was a decision you'd chastise a rookie for making, let alone an official as senior as he is. Nunez may have prevented a lynching... As it was he scored one of the sweetest goals of the year.
Best game BY FAR! Does say something for the ref though when the Hawks had 12 fouls to the Strikers 10 but 8 of those 10 were yellow cards.
Yes, it was a gem. Anyone that can't love the sport after watching it is made of stone. I've not been that pumped by a sporting event in ages - maybe the Red Sox winning the Baseball WS after the comeback against the Yankees & sweeping the Cards in 2004, the year after the Marlins beat the MF Yankees in Yankee Stadium to win it all in 2003, or the Dolphins finishing off the perfect season by stomping the Vikings would be somewhat close - but, that unbelievable, unexpected goal happened live, right before my aging baby blues. The others were seen via TV. As for the ref: wishing a bad case of the clap and diarrhea upon him to last for the next year seems like fair punishment for his 90 minute of stupidity & sin....