TEAM OF THE WEEK | Fall Season Week 14
Fort Lauderdale Strikers forward Stefano Pinho, Minnesota United forward Christian Ramirez, and Ottawa Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser helped their teams to victories in Week 14. For their strong performances, they earned a place on the latest edition of the NASL’s Team of the Week.
See who else is a member of the Team of the Week below:
GK: Romuald Peiser (Ottawa Fury FC) –The veteran French shot-stopper added to his league-leading clean sheet tally (13) in a key clash with Canadian rival FC Edmonton. Pesier made important saves, particularly on Lance Laing’s low, driven free kick, to help Ottawa to a 2-0 win as the team clinched a postseason berth.
DEF: Stefan Antonijevic (Tampa Bay Rowdies) – The Illinois native marshalled the Rowdies’ back line over two matches in Week 14. He helped Tampa Bay to a 1-1 draw against Indy, and put in a strong performance despite the Rowdies’ 1-0 loss at Minnesota.
DEF: Cory Miller (Indy Eleven) – The Eleven went on a road trip to Florida and left with two 1-1 draws – against the Rowdies and Jacksonville Armada FC. The Illinois native put in a strong 180 minutes over the two matches, playing with a different center back partner in both, to help stunt opposition attacks.
DEF: Kevin Venegas (Minnesota United) – Despite being an outside back, the native of California has been dynamic in attack. He whipped in a dangerous cross that eventually fell to the feet of Christian Ramirez for the lone goal in the match. Venegas was also solid again in his defensive responsibilities as the Loons posted a shutout in the win over the Rowdies.
MID: PC (Fort Lauderdale Strikers) – The Brazilian midfielder linked up well with his compatriots once more in another attacking outburst for the Strikers. PC assisted on two of the four goals in Fort Lauderdale’s 4-2 win over host San Antonio Scorpions.
MID: Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Ottawa Fury FC) – The Bosnian midfielder added another two goals for Ottawa as the side continued its blistering form. He completed a devasting counterattack when he firedt home at the near post and then showed perseverance with the second after picking out the top corner after his initial shot was blocked. In the win over FC Edmonton, Ubiparipovic added more than just goals with an overall strong performance in Ottawa's postseason-clinching match.
MID: Andrés Flores (New York Cosmos) – The Salvadoran international put in another strong display in the Cosmos’ midfield. Flores was involved in several dangerous attacks, and it was his shot that led to the corner that was turned into Atlanta’s net for an own goal.
MID: Jaime Castrillón (Jacksonville Armada FC) – The Colombian midfielder helped control the tempo of the match for the Armada FC in its draw with Indy Eleven. Castrillón also scored Jacksonville’s goal, soaring above the Indy defense to nod home Pascal Millien’s cross from close range.
MID: Michal Mravec (Atlanta Silverbacks) – The native of Slovakia was on the end of Junior Burgos’ free kick and nodded home the Silverbacks’ tally in the draw with the Cosmos. Mravec also contributed in a strong overall defensive effort to limit New York’s attack.
FWD: Stefano Pinho (Fort Lauderdale Strikers) – The Brazilian forward helped move the Strikers back into a postseason spot with his second hat trick of the season, increasing his league-leading goal tally to 15. Pinho showed his combination of strength and composed finishing again as Fort Lauderdale picked up three key points on the road. Pinho was also named Player of the Week.
FWD: Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United) – Last season’s Golden Boot winner has rekindled his scoring touch in the Fall Season and that continued against the Rowdies. Ramirez found himself in the right place at the right time to slot the ball into an empty net in the Loons’ victory for his 11th goal of the year.
