Minnesota Drops Back to Back Matches against Fury
September 24, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release
BLAINE, Minn.-- Scoring early, but conceding late, United dropped three points for the second consecutive week against the Ottawa Fury Saturday. For Ottawa, tonight's win makes it seven straight matches unbeaten in league play. The Loons are on the wrong end of a three game slide, barely clinging to the fourth and final spot in the NASL race for the postseason.
An early mistake from Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser nearly resulted in an opening goal for Minnesota United just 30 seconds in. Kevin Venegas went deep with his throw and the Ottawa defenders let it bounce in the box. After Peiser missed his chance to punch the ball away, Lance Laing stepped up and attempted to nod it home at the far post. However, with pressure on his back and in front of him, Laing couldn't direct this opening shot on net.
With the Loons continuing to put pressure on the Ottawa goal, Ottawa focused on defending well and countering. A long ball played out of the back in the 15th minute to Giuseppe Gentile forced a save out of Sammy Ndjock early with the Fury's first chance of the night. Gentile cut inside and struck a shot hard at Ndjock from 12 yards out, but Ndjock was strong and managed to deflect the ball away from danger and keep the match even at zero.
It was Jamie Watson who found the back of the in the 20th minute for his second goal in as many weeks and opening scoring for the night. A ball over the top played into a dangerous area from Ben Speas fell to the feet of Christian Ramirez, who attempted to chip it over Peiser. His chip went only as far as Jamie Watson who beat two defenders sliding into the ball to get there first, then stood up to slot it home for a Loon 1-0 lead.
After United found the back of the net, Ottawa settled down and began to possess out of the back and look for long balls over the top. Keeping the ball became key for the Fury, while the Loons focused on remaining compact and not allowing space in the midfield. With Ottawa holding the ball in the back, their possession stats rose- finishing out the half with 58 percent possession, but just three shots to United's six.
Much the same as in the first, Laing got things started for United in the second half, hitting a hard left footed shot on net in the 52nd minute. Laing received the ball on the left side of the pitch with plenty of space to get his head up and pick out a spot on the Ottawa goal. Striking the ball well, Laing hit the shot with his left boot hard, but Peiser did well to get his body behind the shot and keep it out of the back of his net.
With Ottawa looking for a goal, Gentile took his second chance well and equalized things in the 56th minute. The Loons committed a foul at midfield, and with the center official talking to United captain Aaron Pitchkolan and the rest of the team waiting for a whistle, Ottawa took the free kick and pushed the pace up the pitch. Maxim Tissot played the ball into the box from the sideline, skipping the ball just over the top of Damion Lowe's head and into the feet of Gentile. Taking a good touch as he ran into the box, Gentile tucked his shot home at the near bar and evened the match at one.
The Loons continued to press forward looking to take the lead and to capture three points away from home, however it was Ottawa's night as they would find a breakthrough in the 82nd minute. It was an unlucky bounce that dropped at Ryan Williams' feet, after Carl Haworth attempted to play a through ball and it deflected off Brent Kallman's toe. Williams did well with a fair amount of space and hit the shot with his right foot into the far corner of the net, leaving no chance for Ndjock to make the save.
The floodgates open, Ottawa put the game to bed in the 86th minute with the Fury possessing the ball well in the final third. Jamar Dixon found the ball deep in the United half and played it back to Haworth who took a quick touch and played a beautiful pass into the feet of Lance Rozeboom. With no one around and just six yards out, Rozeboom had no trouble taking the ball and sliding it low into the back of the net for Ottawa's third goal of the night.
The Loons allowed just three shots in the second half, but all three Ottawa chances found the back of the net, as United travels home with zero points in back-to-back matches against the Fury. Now just one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Minnesota needs to begin its run into the postseason if it is to make the NASL playoffs.
Minnesota United Starting XI: GK Sammy Ndjock; D Justin Davis, Brent Kallman, Damion Lowe, Kevin Venegas; M Aaron Pitchkolan (J.C. Banks 85'), Ibson (Jack Blake 81'), Lance Laing, Ben Speas, Jamie Watson (Stefano Pinho 77'); F Christian Ramirez
MNU Unused Subs: GK Steward Ceus; D Tiago Calvano; M Danny Cruz, Juliano Vicentini
Ottawa Fury FC Starting XI: GK Romuald Peiser; D Eddie Edward, Rafael Alves, Fernando Timbo; M Jamar Dixon, James Bailey (Onua Obasi 62'), Lance Rozeboom, Maxim Tissot, Carl Haworth (Kyle Porter 90+'), Ryan Williams; F Giuseppe Gentile (Thomas Stewart 90+')
OTT Unused Subs: GK Marcel DeBellis; D Mallan Roberts; M Bryan Olivera, Mauro Eustaquio
Match Events
Goals 20' - Watson (unassisted) - MNU 56' - Gentile (Tissot) - OTT 82' - Williams (unassisted) - OTT 86' - Rozeboom (Haworth) - OTT
Discipline 45' - Edward (YC) - OTT 51' - Speas (YC) - MNU 57' - Watson (YC) - MNU
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- Minnesota Drops Back to Back Matches against Fury - Minnesota United FC
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