News

The Basics:
FC Tampa Bay at Fort Lauderdale Strikers

Saturday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The match can be seen live online at www.fctampabay.com

Records (W-T-L):
FC Tampa Bay: 8-7-7, 31 points, 3rd place
Ft. Lauderdale: 6-10-6, 28 points, 6th place

2011 Series (W-T-L):
FC Tampa Bay leads 1-1-0

What’s at Stake:
FC Tampa Bay heads to Fort Lauderdale to open a season-long four-game road trip, playing the Strikers for the third time this season. In their first meeting the two teams played to a 1-1 tie on June 29 at Lockhart Stadium in a game that was originally scheduled for May 14 but was postponed because of inclement weather. Just five days later FC Tampa Bay scored four goals, tied for its season-high, in a 4-2 victory over the Strikers at Al Lang Stadium as part of Light Up The Bay 7.4. FC Tampa Bay remains in third place in the NASL standings with 31 points while the Strikers are in sixth place, but just three points behind.

Notes:
FC Tampa Bay ranks first in the NASL with 333 shots this season and its 34 goals scored are tied with Puerto Rico for second-most in the league. Over its last 10 games, FCTB has scored 22 goals (2.2 per game) after averaging just one goal per game (12 total goals) in the first 12 matches of the season.

Eduardo Coudet leads Ft. Lauderdale's offensive attack with six goals this season. Overall, 16 different players have scored at least one goal this season for the Strikers.

FC Tampa Bay lost to the Puerto Rico Islanders 2-1 last Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium, ending its season-long four-match unbeaten streak. F Mike Ambersley gave FCTB a 1-0 lead with his team-leading 10th goal of the year (30’). The unassisted goal by Ambersley gave FCTB at least one first-half goal in its ninth consecutive match and moved him into sole possession of second place in the NASL goal rankings. Puerto Rico F Nick Addlery tied the match just three minutes later and F David Foley scored the game-winner in the 75th minute.

The Strikers were unable to extend their undefeated streak as they fell 2-0 to the NASL-leading Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary last Saturday.

Up Next:
FC Tampa Bay continues its season-long four-game road trip next Saturday, September 3 when it heads to Cary, North Carolina for a 7:00 p.m. ET match against the Carolina RailHawks.