PREVIEW | Strikers vs. Silverbacks

Having secured three points from the trip to Ottawa, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers return home to Lockhart Stadium occupying third place in the NASL Spring Standings. Saturday’s opponent, Atlanta Silverbacks, are level on points with the Strikers (6) and unbeaten in four matches (1-3-0) to start the 2015 campaign.

Fort Lauderdale picked up its road win road in 2015 with a 3-1 victory over Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday afternoon. Goalkeeper Joe Nasco – making his first start in place of the injured David Meves – suffered a broken fibula early in the match. Lionel Brown replaced Nasco and went on to make six saves.

Forward José Angulo opened the scoring shortly before the halftime, and Marlon Freitas extended the lead after the break. Rafael Alves pulled one back for the hosts, but a comeback wasn’t in the cards as Angulo scored his second goal of the afternoon in stoppage time.

Angulo and Freitas were named to the NASL Team of the Week. Freitas’ goal was nominated for Play of the Week

The Silverbacks enter Saturday’s contest following a scoreless draw with the league-leading New York Cosmos. Goalkeeper Steward Ceus made seven saves to shut out New York and earn a point for Atlanta. His effort was rewarded with a spot on the NASL Team of the Week.

Both sides will be looking to maintain their place near the top of the standings with a win Saturday night. The Strikers are unbeaten in their last five meetings against the Silverbacks (3-2-0), though the all-time series between the sides couldn’t be more even: 5-5-5 since 2011.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FTL- Jose Angulo

Confidence is high for the forward who notched his first two goals for the club in just his second start of the season. Known for his nose for the goal, Angulo’s first against Ottawa was a case of “right place, right time”, while his second was stroked in on a breakaway. It won’t be easy for the Strikers to break down Atlanta’s stingy defense, but Angulo will be the man the Strikers will look to feed the ball to in dangerous attacking positions.

FTL- Marlon Freitas

A mainstay in the center of the pitch for the Strikers, Freitas has had four different midfield partners in the opening four matches of the season: Ryan Adeleye, James Marcelin, PC, and Manny Gonzalez. Regardless of who his partner will be Saturday, one thing is certain: Marlon Freitas needs to be on the field. The 20-year-old Brazilian has excelled in his first season with the Strikers with his defensive and passing ability and prowess in transitioning to attack. Freitas scored a cracker this past weekend after tallying his first assist the previous game at FC Edmonton.

ATL- Steward Ceus

After returning from injury, Ceus made his debut for the Silverbacks on Saturday against the league leaders. He made seven saves against the New York Cosmos attack, and earned a spot on the NASL Team of the Week. With MLS and international experience with the Haitian National Team, Ceus has the experience and pedigree to marshal an Atlanta backline that has only shut out the Strikers once at Lockhart since 2011.

ATL- Shaka Bangura

The forward from Sierra Leone has had a flying start to the season with two goals and an assist in his first four matches. In a game where the Strikers can be expected to dominate possession, Atlanta may look to use Bangura’s pace as an outlet on the counterattack.

 QUOTABLE

 “I expect a very competitive match. Atlanta is a very good team – very well organized. Obviously (they are) well coached by a coach that won an MLS Cup, so it’s going to be a big challenge for us. The guys are working to be up to the task and to do our best.” – Strikers head coach Marcelo Neveleff