STATS CORNER | Fall Season Forward Additions Finding Goals

Photo credit: Michael Nouri/Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Several teams have gotten offesnive boosts from new additions for the Fall Season from Fort Lauderdale's Amauri to Carolina's Omar Bravo. Puerto Rico FC's Héctor Ramos continues to take the league by storm with his attacking contributions.

Here's a look at some key statistics heading into Week 9: 

Amauri Lift

The Italian international has hit the ground running for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and has scored three times In his first three games. He has found the back of the net at a clip of a goal every 41.33 minutes. His latest goal was a stunning bicycle in the 3-1 victory over Ottawa Fury FC, which has given Fort Lauderdale seven points in their last three games. The Strikers had just one win in eight previous games before Amauri’s introduction.

During the forward’s three games, the club has scored six times compared to 16 goals in the first 17 games of the year (an average of 0.9 goals per game). While the forward’s presence has been a boon for the team, no other player than Jose Angulo may be benefitting more. The forward, who has been used more as a winger this season, has a goal and two assists – both to Amauri – during the Strikers’ recent hot streak.

Everybody Loves Ramos

Puerto Rico FC forward Héctor Ramos has given himself an outside shot at the league’s Golden Boot award after just 10 games. The Puerto Rican international just continues to score, picking up his seventh goal in a 2-1 loss to the New York Cosmos. He is currently six goals off of Christian Ramirez’s league lead.

Ramos has scored a goal every 128.57 minutes, but he has done more than just finishing chances. He has created 12 of them, which is second on the team – only Paulo Mendes has more (15) – and has one assist.

When Matt Met Omar

The Carolina RailHawks’ attack has been firing on all cylinders and much of it has to do with the Matt Fondy-Omar Bravo tandem. Since Bravo made his debut in a 3-3 draw against Miami FC on July 22, both players have found the back of net four times apiece, amounting for nearly all of the RailHawks’ goals (10) during that span. Interestingly enough, Fondy has scored in every game that Bravo has, which has resulted in four high-scoring contests – three draws and one win. Fondy has created 11 chances, while Bravo has created eight. Another player benefitting from the pair’s surge is Tiyi Shipalane, who has three assists in the last six games.

Leaving It Late

In Week 8 of the Fall Season, there were three stoppage-time winners – Andrés Flores in 2-1 win for the Cosmos; Ariel Martinez in Miami FC’s 2-1 win; and Bravo’s tally to lift Carolina to a 3-2 win over Indy Eleven. Overall, six goals were scored in the final 15 minutes (or stoppage time), including both of Miami’s goals in its come-from-behind win. Fort Lauderdale also had two goals in the final 15 minutes – Amauri’s bicycle kick and an Ottawa own goal. The six goals were just under half of the goals scored during the weekend games (16), while 20 goals were scored overall when accounting for Wednesday night’s action. During the six weekend matchups, nine of the 16 goals were scored in the second half.

Other Notes

Mendes created five chances for Puerto Rico against New York which was the most in Week 8. Jacksonville Armada FC defender Mechack Jérôme attempted 101 passes in a 1-1 draw with the Strikers and completed 94 of them. It was the first game all year that someone attempted over 100 passes in a single game. Jérôme attempted 98 in a 1-0 loss to Rayo OKC in the Spring Season. Rayo OKC’s Futty Danso had eight clearances in the side’s 2-1 loss to Miami. Danso leads the league with 130 and has made double-digit clearances five times, while no other player has more than two games with 10 or more clearances. Minnesota United's Jeb Brovsky attempted seven tackles in the scoreless draw with Jacksonville, winning all of them. It was the fourth time a player has attempted and won every tackle with seven attempts.