RECAP | Strikers 2, Eddies 0

Fort Lauderdale played stingy team defense while Stefano Pinho did all of the scoring with two second-half goals to give the Strikers a 2-0 win over FC Edmonton in NASL action Sunday afternoon at Clarke Stadium.

After a scoreless first half in which each team had just two shots on goal, Stefano opened the scoring in the 58th minute with a clinical shot on a penalty kick. The Brazilian’s left-foot attempt sailed into the netting in the right-hand corner after Eddies goalkeeper Tyson Farago dove left.

The penalty came after Edmonton defender Kareem Moses was whistled for a foul after making contact with Stefano on a late challenge.

The 24-year-old forward put the game away and secured a brace some 25 minutes later when he took a centering pass from Shawn Chin and placed it into the back of the net after an initial tap. His stellar performance comes after receiving NASL Team of Week honors and his goal in the win against Tampa Bay was voted NASL Play of the Week.

Goalkeeper Josh Ford earned his first clean sheet for the Strikers while making three saves. Ford’s clean sheet gives the Strikers their second this year, the first coming on May 2 when Fort Lauderdale played Atlanta to a 0-0 draw on May 2 with David Meves in net.

Following the match, Strikers head coach Günter Kronsteiner stated that the opening goal was a key to victory: “When you are lucky enough to score the first goal, it somehow will affect the other team. It worked out well for us.”

Sunday’s win moves the Strikers to 9W-6D-4L all-time against the Eddies and improves their record in Edmonton to 4-3-3, avenging a loss to the Canadian side on April 19. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw last month at Lockhart Stadium.

Fort Lauderdale’s win extended its unbeaten streak to three matches while it snapped a three-game unbeaten streak for Edmonton.