Strikers, aided by new attackers, to host Rowdies

Their future in turmoil, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers take on intrastate rival Tampa Bay tonight, and they’re bringing reinforcements as they host at Central Broward Stadium.

The Strikers early this week signed winger Pascal Millien and midfielder Junior Sandoval after the pair were released by the Jacksonville Armada. The NASLveterans should help shore up the attacking third of the field.

The Strikers are performing well during a sevenunbeaten streak that has them in contention for the fall season playoffs.

With 32 points in the combined standings and four points behind fourthplace Minnesota United FC, Fort Lauderdale is in a three-way tie for fifth place with Miami FC and the Rowdies, who are riding a four-match unbeaten streak.

The game marks the return to southeastern Florida for Victor “PC” Giro and Diego Restrepo, who led the Strikers to their improbable and historic run to the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup over the summer.

Since Restrepo’s departure, Bruno Cardoso has posted a 0.67 goals-against average for Fort Lauderdale, the second-best in the league behind FC Edmonton’s Matt VanOekel. The Brazilian has started the past nine games and gone 4-4-1, five times.

Gale Agbossoumonde, the catalyst of the Strikers’ defense all season, is likely to return versus the Rowdies, though he may not start and will see limited minutes. The Strikers defender went down in the 31st minute against the Cosmos on Sept. 3 but was back at practice thisweek.

Julius James, who took over for the injured Agbossoumonde, is also back after serving a one-game red-card suspension. conceding just