Restrepo, Agbossoumonde Playing Key Roles In Strikers' Open Cup Run
Diego Restrepo and Gale Agbossoumonde were both looking for a place to find playing time and regain their confidence. In Fort Lauderdale, they found a home in the Strikers’ defense.
Their play has also been a catalyst in Fort Lauderdale’s success in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club’s run continues against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
“I’m very happy with the team and myself,” Restrepo told NASL.com. “It was very hard after my injury in Tampa Bay. I felt that I had to prove myself. Not many people believed I would come back and play again and not many people opened the door for me.”
Restrepo, 28, has been the Strikers’ goalkeeper since taking over in the club’s fifth league game of the year. Agbossoumonde, who has dealt with injuries and limited minutes in recent years, has been motivated by the team’s effort week in and week out. He has played every minute for the team in central defense in 2016.
“The thing for me is the work ethic of this team is what pushes me,” he said. “I see the guy next to me and he’s going 100 miles per hour to try to cover the guy next to him trying to cover me. That gives me extra motivation.”
Both players will once again need to be at their best heading into the quarterfinal matchup with another Major League Soccer opponent. The Strikers’ run is currently the best in the club’s history. To take the next step and reach the semifinals, the Strikers will have to win on the road for a third straight time.
“We’re pretty confident, we’re good on the road because of our style of play,” Agbossoumonde said. “We’re very good defensively and on the counterattack. The team at home has to come out and play, so if you’re good defensively you always have a chance.”
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In all three of Fort Lauderdale’s games in the competition, none has been settled in 90 minutes. Two games went to a penalty shootout – against the Richmond Kickers and D.C. United – and the previous round ended with a 120th-minute goal from PC to defeat Orlando City.
Restrepo, who has been a standout in the shootouts, was happy to not have to face one in the last round, although he was prepared. He believes the team’s experience, collective and individual, has led to positive results.
“I think the experience we have as a team has been key,” he said. “That’s showing in these type of games.
“I think we like that adversity that these games can give playing away.”
Against Chicago, it will be a reunion of sorts for several players. Illinois native Victor Pineda returns home to face his former club, while Maicon Santos has also played for the Fire. It’s also a chance to face players encountered during different stops along a player’s journey.
“Going to Chicago, looking at the team, I’ve played with some of those guys, I know some of those guys,” Agbossoumonde said. “I played with Kennedy Igboananike. I played with him in Sweden, so I know how he plays and it will be fun to face him.”
On Wednesday, though, the Strikers will look to continue building on their success in the Open Cup.
“Our main focus going into every game is to not give up a goal,” Agbossoumonde said. “If we don’t give up a goal, we always have a chance to win. Everybody bought in. We fight until the end. If we work harder than the other team then we’ll get rewarded.”
After three tight games in previous rounds, Wednesday’s match should be another hard-fought 90 minutes, possibly more. A victory would put the Strikers one step closer to claiming the Cup and set up a semifinal with the winner of the New England Revolution-Philadelphia Union game.
“The D.C. game was the same intensity, the Orlando game was the same intensity, and even the Richmond game was,” Restrepo said. “When it comes down to single-elimination games, anything can happen. Look at Iceland in the Euros, you can’t underestimate anybody. Soccer nowadays anybody can win.”
Agbossoumonde added: “It’s something we can accomplish. We just have to come out and fight like we do every game.”
