The Fort Lauderdale Strikers earned a much needed victory on Friday.

The Strikers defeated the first-place San Antonio Scorpions in a dramatic 2-0 win at Lockhart Stadium.

Fafà scored his team leading eighth goal of the year to gave the Strikers a first-half lead, while a second-half free kick strike from Mark Anderson ensured the win. Anderson would later add his fourth goal of the season.

The Strikers dominated the early proceedings of the match, largely in part to a change of formation by Strikers coach Günter Kronsteiner.

Boosted by the return of several players from injury and suspension, the Austrian tactician fielded a strong attacking side in a classic 4-4-2 diamond midfield formation.

"The team really played unbelievably good game today." Kronsteiner said. "San Antonio is really a tough team to play, but we did a great job against them. We didn't allow them too many opportunities. It was a very well deserved team. I made some changes in our midfield and it worked, it opened it much more."

Led by the attacking trio of Jenison Brito, Fafà, and Aly Hassan, the Strikers forced Scorpions goalkeeper Josh Saunders to make seven saves in the first 45 minutes of action. He made 11 saves on the night.

Saunders' goal was finally breached just minutes before halftime. Former Scorpion Walter Ramirez played Fafà with just a defender and the goalkeeper to beat. A deft touch allowed Fafà to skip around defender Greg Janicki before sending a low shot off the post and into the back of the net to open the scoring.

A red card given to Hassan in the 64th minute of the match reduced the Strikers to 10 men for the closing stages.

Despite the man disadvantage, the Strikers added an insurance goal to make it 2-0. Anderson scored his fourth goal of the year by firing a free kick past Saunders to double the lead.

Fafà had two chances to score his first brace for the Strikers deep into injury time. Saunders came up big to deny the initial effort and the follow-up rebound.