Bethlehem Steel FC Looks to Continue Momentum at Ottawa
May 24, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Philadelphia Union II News Release
Bethlehem Steel FC celebrates a goal
(Philadelphia Union II)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem Steel FC looks to wrap up a busy May slate with another victory as the club heads north of the border to face off against Ottawa Fury FC on Friday, May 25. Kick off from TD Place Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Steel FC enters the Friday night affair having claimed all six points during last week's busy schedule. The busy stretch began with the club's first shutout of the season against New York Red Bulls II, winning 3-0, and was followed up with a 2-1 win on the road at Indy Eleven. The week saw five different goal scorers including first Steel FC goals from rookies Michee Ngalina and Prosper Chiluya, with Chiluya's strike from distance in the 74th minute proving the winner at Lucas Oil Stadium. Philadelphia Union midfielder Fabian Herbers was rewarded for his successful week by the USL, being named a member of the Week 10 USL Team of the Week after scoring a goal against New York and adding an assist against Indy Eleven.
"I thought in terms of the style of play, we were similar teams but I'm glad that ultimately our quality showed," Bethlehem Steel FC head coach Brendan Burke said. "If we can replicate that like we did against Red Bulls II, that same grit and fight and combine that with our style of play from the first few games then I think we'll be exactly where we want to be."
Friday night's contest will be the third all-time meeting between Steel FC and Ottawa Fury FC with Steel FC unbeaten against the Canadian club. After settling for a 1-1 draw against at Goodman Stadium last June, Steel FC went on the road and nabbed a 2-1 win. In the August contest, the visitors overcame an early own goal with strikes from Moar and Chris Nanco as Philadelphia Union Academy player Tomas Romero became the youngest goalkeeper to record a victory in USL history.
"You are playing in their environment which is difficult when you play anyone and Ottawa are in good form right now," Burke said of the upcoming contest. "They are similar to us and have put a few good performances together and not gotten results and now they have put some good performances together against good teams."
Those good performances for Ottawa have the squad unbeaten in May with eight points in four matches. Their biggest strength during their current run has been their defense which has picked up a clean sheet in each of their May contests. Fury FC began the month with a scoreless draw against New York Red Bulls II which was followed up by a 1-0 road win at Penn FC. Ottawa knocked off Atlanta United 2 by a 2-0 scoreline before going to Charleston and collecting a scoreless draw. Ottawa Fury FC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau has made a bid for the USL's Goalkeeper of the Month, making 12 saves during the team's May run. Offensively, Ottawa has scored five times, all from different players.
MATCH INFORMATION
2018 USL Regular Season
Date: May 25, 2018
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Bethlehem Steel FC: 4-4-2
Ottawa Fury FC: 2-4-3
Match Day Twitter: @BSteelFC
Game Day Hashtag: #OTTvBST
Match Center: bit.ly/2s3qNAm
Watch: es.pn/2IGY7re
Images from this story
 Bethlehem Steel FC celebrates a goal |
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