10-Man Fury FC Fall 2-1 to New York Cosmos
Published on July 2, 2016 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON - Ottawa Fury FC gave the New York Cosmos a scare in the dying moments of Saturday's Fall Season opener when Paulo Junior scored to cut the Ottawa deficit in half, but the mountain proved too big to climb for a shorthanded Ottawa side who were reduced to 10-men just four minutes into the match in New York when Romuald Peiser was served a straight red as the Cosmos claimed the 2-1 victory.
"You can't ask any more from the second half performance," said head coach Paul Dalglish who watched from the press box Saturday night serving his one-match suspension while Martin Nash was at the helm of Fury FC. "I'm very proud of the team tonight. To win the second half with ten men, and even nine men at the very end, I can't really ask for more. We want to focus on that."
"We made it very difficult for ourselves at the beginning with a penalty and a red card, but the guys kept fighting and I have to be proud of them. We have to build on that going forward against Oklahoma next week."
The match quickly shifted in the 4th minute when Ottawa's goalkeeper Romuald Peiser was sent off following a questionable tackle on Lucky Mkosana. Not only were Fury FC reduced to 10-men, but the Cosmos were awarded a penalty kick.
Marcel DeBellis, who just came on to replace the ejected Peiser, had to face Adam Moffat from the spot. Moffat converted to give new York the early lead. DeBellis, who earned his first NASL appearance this season, made some big saves before the end of the half to keep his team in the game. With halftime looming a booming ball from David Ochieng found Lucky Mkosana who split the Ottawa defence and beat DeBellis to give the home side a two-goal advantage heading into the break.
Ottawa created several quality opportunities in the second half with many coming on set pieces. Carl Haworth headed over the bar on a glorious cross from Eddie Edward who made his Fury FC debut Saturday night which also marked his 100th career NASL appearance.
After Edward had to go off injury and all three subs used, Ottawa had to close out the match with 9-men. Fury FC would give New York a scare when Paulo Junior put home the Fernando Timbo rebound in stoppage time (91st minute) to give Ottawa some life. With six minutes of stoppage time Fury FC pressed for an equalizer, but the Cosmos managed to see the additional time through to claim the win.
Fury FC return home to face Rayo OKC in their Fall Season Home Opener Sunday, July 10 at 12 noon in a rematch of the Spring Season finale that ended in a 1-1 draw.
North American Soccer League Stories from July 2, 2016
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- Late Equalizers Headline Exciting Night of Fall Season Openers - NASL
- Carolina Suffers Loss at Minnesota United FC in Fall Season Home Opener - North Carolina FC
- Rowdies Settle for 1-1 Draw in Front of Record Crowd - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Winning Start to Cosmos' Fall Season - New York Cosmos
- Ramirez Hat Trick Leads Minnesota to 5-1 Win - Minnesota United FC
- Armada Gets Crucial Road Point in Fall Opener - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Strikers Play Local Rival Miami FC to 1-1 Draw in Fall Season Opener - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- 10-Man Fury FC Fall 2-1 to New York Cosmos - Ottawa Fury FC
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