Match Preview: New Look Expansion Cousins Square off in Indy
April 8, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON - Two years removed from their respective debuts as NASL expansion sides back in 2014, Ottawa Fury FC and Indy Eleven meet once again Saturday, now well-established members of the league both looking to take that next step forward.
After both sides finished their inaugural seasons with 27 points following up and down campaigns to find themselves near the bottom of the league tables, Fury separated itself from its expansion cousin last year, riding an incredible fall season to second place on the overall standings, a Fall Season title and a spot in the NASL Championship Final. Indy, meanwhile, saw modest improvements over year one, finishing the year in ninth spot overall.
While Saturday's match marks the seventh time Ottawa and Indy will go head-to-head, both squads come into this one with new looks following busy off-seasons. With both teams featuring new coaches in Paul Dalglish and Tim Hankinson, they also have their share of new faces, though a few will be familiar to Ottawa supporters as former Fury players Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Nicki Paterson and Colin Falvey will be facing their former squad for the first time.
Though Fury FC didn't get the result they wanted in the club's season-opening match last Sunday in New York against the Cosmos, there were plenty of positives to take out of the loss to build on as the team looks to bounce back in Indy this weekend.
"If you look at the statistics from the game, we had as many shots as them, we had more corners, we had more crosses and for a large part of the game we were the better team," said head coach Paul Dalglish. "The difference is when you play a team at the level of the New York Cosmos, they will punish you for your mistakes and that's what they did. For us, to have played one of the best team in the league in our first game of the season, which gave us some things to work on, was hugely important for the long-term."
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Assistants: Anthony Vasoli and Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein
Fourth Official: Aaron Hernandez
• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...
North American Soccer League Stories from April 8, 2016
- Minnesota United to Face Eddies in Tough Road Test - Minnesota United FC
- Match Preview: Carolina RailHawks at Rayo OKC - North Carolina FC
- John Earle Named Assistant Coach of Strikers U-23 - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Match Preview: FC Edmonton vs. Minnesota United FC - FC Edmonton
- Match Preview: New Look Expansion Cousins Square off in Indy - Ottawa Fury FC
- Miami Meets Another Florida Foe, Ottawa Squares off against Familiar Faces In Indy - NASL
- RailHawks Add 17-Year-Old Midfielder Nick Taitague to Roster - North Carolina FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
