Strikers play Atlanta to scoreless draw at home
FORT LAUDERDALE — The difference between losing and winning soccer matches is decided by luck and finishing chances.
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers got neither against the Atlanta Silverbacks in their home match before 5,295 fans at Lockhart Stadium on Saturday.
In the end the 0-0 draw should have been much more.
The Strikers repeatedly threatened the Silverbacks’ goal and in the 71st minute forward Stefano Pinho’s header hit the left post then went off the chest of forward Jose Angulo, before harmlessly rolling over the back line. It would have been Angulo’s third goal in the last two goals.
The Strikers (2-2-1, 7 points) kept pushing and pushing forward, which turned to be the best defense against Atlanta (1-0-4, 7 points).
With the New York Cosmos’ victory over Ottawa on Saturday, the Strikers remain tied for third place, three points behind the Cosmos.
“We played against a very good team,” Strikers coach Marcelo Neveleff said. “They were well organized and undefeated.
“I think we dominated and had the opportunities. It was a great effort by our guys.”
The Strikers came into the match tied with San Antonio with a league leading seven goals. Atlanta was tied for second in the league with three goals allowed.
“I think Atlanta is very good defensively,” said Strikers forward Many Gonzalez. “We tried to break them down, but obviously we couldn’t. It was a good effort from us. We created chances, but it was matter of putting them in.”
The Strikers finished with 11 shots, four on target and had 10 corner kicks to Atlanta’s four.
Despite controlling the majority of the play throughout the first half, the Strikers had nothing to show for it.
Offensively, the Strikers moved the ball well with crisp passing, but when it came to possession in the final third they struggled for a clean shot at goal.
There were some opportunities though that were good enough for a goal.
Strikers forward Dani Sánchez had a shot at goal from 30 yards that nearly caught Silverbacks keeper Steward Ceus off his line. Despite colliding into the left post, he was able to make the save.
“We had the chance to score tonight,” Sanchez said. “Unfortunately we didn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”
“I think our defensive unit did a great job today,” Ceus said. “We held some tight lines and made the plays when they counted.”
Ceus finished the night with four saves.
In the 24th minute the Strikers wasted their best chance of the first half when Gonzalez went off the hands of Ceus to the waiting feet of Sanchez. His follow up shot went wide of the right post.
Meves returns
Strikers goalkeeper David Meves returned to the starting lineup after missing last Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Fury due to a leg injury.
Meves, who was selected by the Portland Timber of Major League Soccer in the 2013 supplemental draft, was making his fourth start of the season.
He joined the Strikers in July 2014 and resigned with the club in January. He made only one appearance last season, coming against Edmonton in a 2-1 loss.
Joe Nasco, who started for Meves last week before being injured in the ninth minute, attended the match against Atlanta on Saturday in a wheel chair.