It was a major comeback for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, following a dramatic 1-0 victory against Jacksonville Armada. The Strikers are now heading to the North American Soccer League (NASL) finals this Sunday, against top-seeded team, the New York Cosmos, at MCU Park in Brooklyn.
The Armada win was a much-needed victory for the Strikers, who were coming from behind with a recent loss against the Indy Eleven and a draw against the league’s bottom dweller, the San Antonio Scorpions. Fort Lauderdale entered the match needing a win or tie to advance to the Championship tournament for the fourth time in five years. But the win against the Armanda came down like a Hail Mary in the game’s 87th minute, when Brazilian mid-fielder Marlon Greitas slipped a goal past goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. Strikers’ goalkeeper was also on fire stopping four goals, making is forth no-goal game of the year.
Fort Lauderdale, who lost last year’s Championship Final 2-1 at San Antonio, qualified for postseason play for the fourth time in five NASL Modern Era seasons. The Strikers made the postseason in 2011, 2012 and 2014.
