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Rafael Alves' Stoppage Time Winner Sends Ottawa Past Edmonton 1-0

August 2, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release


Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate Rafael Alves' Stoppage Time Goal
Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate Rafael Alves' Stoppage Time Goal
(Ottawa Fury FC, Credit: FC Edmonton)

FORT MCMURRAY, AB (August 2, 2015) - The improbable unbeaten run of Ottawa Fury FC continued Sunday afternoon in Fort McMurray as Rafael Alves' 95th minute winner sent Ottawa past Edmonton 1-0 growing their lead atop the NASL standings. The game seemed destined to finish scoreless despite numerous opportunities from Fury FC on the afternoon, but the stoppage time winner extended the club's unbeaten streak to 11-games marking three months to the days since Ottawa last suffered defeat. Romuald Peiser collected his league-leading eight shutout of the season helping Ottawa win their fourth in a row and fifth in six games. It marks the second straight game that Fury FC have scored the match winner in the 95th minute.

"We knew what we had to do if we wanted to be successful here. We stayed in our principles and worked hard for each other," said Marc Dos Santos following another dramatic victory. "Ottawa Fury FC were the best team in the 90 minutes and totally deserved the win."

Ottawa and Edmonton have played to very close games in League play, but with FC Edmonton ousting Ottawa from the Amway Canadian Championship 6-2 on aggregate back in April, Fury FC were a determined group to exact some revenge. Oliver produced the first great chance of the match after a nifty flick from Tom Heinemann off a cross from Mason Trafford, but he was robbed by Matt VanOekel. FC Edmonton newcomer Dustin Corea had the best chance of the opening half for the Eddies moments later, but his rocket from 22 yards was turned aside by an acrobatic save from Peiser.

Oliver and Tom Heinemann would both produce a bulk of the changes for Ottawa in the opening 45 minutes, but neither were able to bury their chances as the two sides played to a scoreless first half.

FC Edmonton owned more of the possession to start the second half, but struggled to breakdown Ottawa's backline that kept all Edmonton shots from outside the 18-yard box all afternoon. As the half wore on, Ottawa took more control of the match and always produced a threatening opportunity on set pieces, especially on corner kicks.

Tom Heinemann had a golden opportunity cleared off the goal line midway through the second half and Julian De Guzman would suffer the same fate as his goal-bound shot clipped Daryl Fordyce's heel and stayed out.

Despite their ability to produce chances, the match seemed destined to end scoreless. Ottawa pressed on the counter-attack in stoppage time earning themselves a corner. Rafael Alves, who headed over the bar on an earlier corner kick, made up for it on the second attempt heading the Sinisa Ubiparipovic corner off the back post and in to send giving Ottawa the lead in the 95th minute. The final whistle came seconds after the restart marking the club's first road win of the season.

Ottawa will train at TD Place this week before traveling to Indianapolis to face Indy Eleven on Saturday night. Fury FC return home for another three game home stand to close out the month of August facing Minnesota (August 15), New York (August 26) and Tampa Bay (August 29). Tickets to these and all Fall Season matches are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.




Images from this story

Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate Rafael Alves' Stoppage Time Goal
Ottawa Fury FC Celebrate Rafael Alves' Stoppage Time Goal

(FC Edmonton)
  

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