Yesterday saw both the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Charleston Battery lose their respective Division II matches in NASL and USL-PRO League action.
Of the two losses, the defeat suffered by the Charleston Battery is the more pitiful of the two, as the Battery delivered USL-PRO expansion side FC New York its first-ever franchise victory, a 1 - 0 outcome that was secured despite that fact that the Battery outshot New York 10 shots to three. The loss was the Charleston Battery's first loss at Blackbaud Stadium since the 2009 season.
For the Strikers, Friday's 4 - 2 loss agaisnt the Carolina Railhawks is especially bad timing, as the team prepares for the re-inauguration of the Florida Derby against cross-state rivals FC Tampa Bay, AKA 'The Team that Should Be Called The Rowdies." The Strikers took the early lead in the eighth minute with a fine right-footed goal by Patrick Otto, but then the defense collapsed again as the Strikers surrendered three consecutive goals to give the Railhawks a 3 - 1 lead. The Strikers' David Santamaria then scored another goal in second-half stoppage time, but Carolina added one more goal to end it, with the final line of 4 - 2.
So, needless to say, it wasn't the outcome the Strikers would have hoped for, going into today's renewal of the ancient rivalry, but if they can just beat Tampa Bay, all will be forgiven.
“LIKE A JEDI KNIGHT— no, better than that— A TEMPLAR KNIGHT. This is a FLASH OF PURE INSPIRATION, and let me tip my hat to the genesis of this goal: Ibarra. Lionel only absolutely LIGHTS IT UP here, he LIFTS OFF IT, FLAMETHROWERS IT PAST poor Reny Vega. It’s just as well Reny didn’t get a hand to that because it would have TAKEN IT OFF HIS WRIST. Superlative football and an out of this world BERNINI SCULPTURE of a finish." GOL TV Commentator Ray Hudson
