For a time on Sunday, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers were getting the better of FC Edmonton.

But the visiting squad wasn’t ready for the cavalry.

Tomi Ameobi made his season debut as a late substitution and scored the winning goal in the 80th minute of a thrilling 3-2 victory for the Eddies, who used a surge of momentum from their substitutions to rally from a second-half deficit and win for the first time in 2015, before 2,351 onlookers at Clarke Stadium.

“He came on and gave us exactly what we needed; his enthusiasm, his pace,” Eddies manager Colin Miller said of the six-foot-three British striker. “I believe if the big fella played with that consistency, he wouldn’t be in this league. He has the qualities to go to the next level, but he’s just one of the most humble, honest, hard-working guys and a gem to work with.”

Ritchie Jones, with his second goal of the year, and Sainey Nyassi also scored for the Eddies, who found themselves trailing two-thirds of the way through the second half after being stymied by a sensational bit of goalkeeping from Fort Lauderdale’s David Meves, who made several stunning saves, including one off a Frank Jonke penalty kick late in the first half.

Fort Lauderdale got goals from Leo Moura and Dani Sanchez, who scored in the 20th minute after a terrible giveaway by Eddies midfielder Christian Raudales.

“I actually said on TV at halftime that we would get chances, we would create chances, provided we defended well,” said Miller. “We gave away by our standards another soft goal which was disappointing, but the character that is in the group of players came out in abundance ... I could just see the game would change in the second half, provided we didn’t do anything daft and we kept on the front foot and I credit all the players and our fans for pushing us on.”

Ameobi was one of a trio of critical substitutions in the match for the Eddies, along with striker Sadi Jalali, and midfielder Tomas Granitto, who made his FCE debut in just the 31st minute, coming on to replace a struggling Raudales. The 21-year-old from El Salvador had an immediate impact, creating scoring opportunities and turning the tide in a game that had swung in the Strikers’ favour.

“I’m delighted with all three substitutions,” said Miller. “Christian Raudales wasn’t having a good day so I brought him off to the team’s benefit, in all honesty, and I thought Thomas Granitto has been hungry to play. Tomi Ameobi showed a lot of life and enthusiasm through training this week, and young Sadi Jalali has been terrific from the start of the pre-season.”

Jones, who leads the Eddies with two goals in 2015, scored in the seventh minute to give FCE its first lead of the season before Sanchez notched the equalizer. Moura put the Strikes ahead 2-1 in the 63rd minute, capitalizing after Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel badly mishandled the ball. Ameobi and Jalali entered the match in the 73rd minute, and two minutes later Nyassi scored to bring the Eddies level.

The win improves the Eddies to 1-1-1 three matches into the NASL spring season, and extends their franchise record home unbeaten streak to nine games.SMIDS ON LOAN TO MONTREAL

FC Edmonton’s depth at the goalkeeper position means the team can afford to part with the 2014 NASL Golden Glove winner for 10 days to allow the goalie a golden opportunity.

The Eddies announced that John Smits will join the Montreal Impact on loan for the MLS side’s two CONCACAF champions’ league final matches against Club America.

Smits will join the Impact on Monday as backup goalkeeper in Mexico’s legendary Azteca Stadium for the first leg on Wednesday and will remain with the club for the second leg at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on April 29.

“He’s over the moon about it and we are over the moon that we can support him,” Eddies coach Colin Miller said.

The recipient of the NASL’s top goalkeeper trophy last season, which is awarded based on goals against average, Smits is currently serving as backup to Matt VanOekel on the Eddies, who also have promising third-stringer Tyson Farago and 18-year-old rookie Christian Kaiswatum as goalkeepers on their roster.

Smits will miss a pair of matches for FCE, who play Ottawa Fury FC in the first round of the Amway Canadian Championship in the nation’s capital on Wednesday and at Clarke Stadium on April 29.

The Impact are the first Canadian team to reach the CONCACAF champions’ league final, and would become the first MLS team to win. Smits previously joined the Impact on short-term loan at the beginning of the month and backup Evan Bush during the second leg of the Champions League semifinal against Alajuelense in Costa Rica.

“I can expect the same hostile environment as in Costa Rica, so I won’t have to imagine what it will be like,” the 26-year-old Mississauga native said looking ahead to playing in Mexico’s national stadium, which boasts a capacity over 105,000.

Ironically, Smits played goal for the Eddies against Montreal in the Amway Championship semi-final stage last May, when FCE stunned the Impact with a 2-1 win in Edmonton before losing 4-2 on the road and being eliminated on aggregate.

“As much as it hurts in the end, because we would have loved to get past Montreal and succeeded with Edmonton as a club in the Amway, the only way I can look at it now moving forward is it’s a Canadian club in the biggest tournament in North and Central America.”

brian.swane@sunmedia.ca

GAME REVIEW

MAN OF THE MATCH

David Meves, FTL

The Strikers’ goalkeeper was brilliant, frustrating the Eddies to no end before FCE’s two late goals that Meves can’t be faulted for.

FCE GRADES

OVERALL B+

OFFENCE A

DEFENCE C+

MIDFIELD PLAY B+

GOALTENDING D

EFFORT A

the why

They could have packed it in after falling behind 2-1 on a ugly goal that Matt VanOekel will want back, but instead cranked it up a notch to break down the brick wall Meves had erected in the Strikers’ net.

big play

FCE’s Ritchie Jones made a tremendous run, beating his man to the outside and blasting the shot past Meves.

big save

Meves stopped Eddies forward Frank Jonke on a penalty kick late in the first half and kept the rebound out.

NEXT MATCH

The Eddies visit Ottawa Fury FC in their first match of the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.