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NASL FC Edmonton

Eddies Fall 3-0 to Fury in First Leg of Amway Canadian Championship

May 12, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


EDMONTON, AB - FC Edmonton fell to Canadian rivals Ottawa Fury, 3-0 on May 11 in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship (ACC) at Clarke Field. With the tournament tiebreaker based on home and away goals, Wednesday's result puts Ottawa firmly in the driver seat for next week's second leg.

Fury's Fernando Sanfelice opened the scoring in the first half before Carl Haworth doubled the visitor's lead in the second. Shortly after Haworth's goal, second-half substitute Idan Vered secured the victory for the Fury with a goal of his own.

Eddies Jake Keegan and Sainey Nyassi came close to opening the score line on 10 minutes. Keegan found space behind the Fury defence before squaring the ball towards Nyassi, but Obasi came up big to prevent the Gambian international from capturing his first goal of 2016.

Moments after Obasi's defensive effort, Ottawa opened scoring in the match. Teammate James Bailey whipped in an in-swinging free kick that was met by the head of defender Sanfelice, whose glancing header was enough to beat Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel at his far post.

Edmonton responded well as the first half wore on, with Keegan testing Ottawa 'keeper Marcel DeBellis on 30 minutes with a looping header. Shortly after, DeBellis got a crucial touch on left back Adam Eckersley's in-swinging cross, which looked to be destined for the back of the net.

Midfielder Shamit Shome came closest to levelling the match before the half-time break as teammate Corea cut in from the right wing and delivered a cross into the box. Shome's header towards net was on target, but DeBellis came up with save to preserve Ottawa's 1-0 advantage heading into the break.

FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller brought on Tomi Ameobi and Gustavo early in the second half to positive results, with a pair of attempts on net from Gustavo within a few minutes of his arrival on the pitch. The midfielders first attempt from outside the box was well held by DeBellis, while his second looping shot had DeBellis scrambling before going wide.

Ottawa doubled their lead on 70 minutes, when Lance Rozeboom intercepted a VanOekel pass before setting up Haworth who tapped the ball into an open net. The Fury's offence wasn't done yet, as Canadian international Marcel De Jong whipped in a cross that second-half substitute Vered was able to bury for the 3-0 score.

Fury would hold onto their 3-0 lead and now take three crucial away goals back to TD place for the tournament's second leg next week.

"We started well in the second half and I thought we looked dangerous, but that second goal hurt us," Miller said following Wedneday's match. "We are far better than what we showed tonight and we have to regroup right away because we host the New York Cosmos, who are the best team in the league at the moment. "

The Eddies face a quick turnaround once again, returning to North American Soccer League (NASL) action, May 15 at Clarke Field against defending NASL Champion New York Cosmos. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m. M.T. For tickets and more information, please click HERE. For more information, please visit www.fcedmonton.com.

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