RECAP | Indy 2, Strikers 1

Photo Credit: Rosa Cavalcanti

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers concluded their last home match of the NASL Spring Season at Lockhart Stadium with a 2-1 defeat to Indy Eleven on Saturday night after giving up a goal four minutes into added time.

Victor Pineda blasted a match-winning goal into the back of the net from the top of the box after a failed clearance from the Strikers.

Pineda also scored the equalizer for Indy when he beat new Strikers goalkeeper Josh Ford low to the far post, also from the edge of the box. Dylan Mares set up Pineda with a short pass.

Ford was acquired on loan from Major League Soccer’s Orlando City SC the same day that the club learned David Meves suffered a fractured jaw in the U.S. Open Cup match at Charleston Battery on May 27.

“They (the losses) all hurt,” defender Fabian Kling said. “We just have to keep going out there and remember that the score is 0-0 when we start.”

Stefano Pinho scored the lone goal for the Strikers when his header skipped off the ground past Indy goalkeeper Kristian Nicht in the 23rd minute. It was Stefano’s second goal in as many games, while Daniel Sánchez picked up the assist with a cross from the right flank.

Fort Lauderdale lost to the Indy Eleven for the first time in four meetings (2-1-1) since the sides first squared off in 2014.

The Strikers had several solid opportunities to not only at least secure a tie, but claim a victory.

Strikers captain Leo Moura forced Nicht to make a critical save off a free kick in the 56th minute.

Stefano came close to scoring his second goal of the night three minutes later. The ball reached Stefano following a good combination by Moura, James Marcelin, and Shawn Chin.  However, Nicht again made the stop. Marcelin also was involved on a right side run in the 52nd minute when he found PC with a good low cross, but the shot was directed wide.

Stefano also had a fine scoring chance in the 49th minute, but once again Nicht denied him.

In the first half, Chin executed a corner kick from the left side in the 32nd minute, the ball reached Sánchez, who made a good redirect with his heel when Nicht again covered the ball to make the save on the goal line.

Marcelin tried his luck in the 30th minute with a quality shot from 30 yards out that sailed just over the bar.