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NASL FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton Overcomes Deficit to Secure Point in Thrilling 2-2 Draw

September 2, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


Ottawa Fury took the early lead through Thomas Stewart, while Maxim Tissot doubled their lead. Daryl Fordyce helped the Eddies secure a point with a goal in each half to secure a brace. Between the posts Matt VanOekel kept the Eddies in the match with a pair of penalty kick saves.

Ottawa started the match on the front foot and opened the scoring in the opening five minutes after Thomas Stewart capitalized on an errand pass in the Eddies backline. Stewart kept his cool before firing past VanOekel to give the home side the 1-0 lead.

Fury continued to push for a second goal and the home side nearly did when the referee pointed to the spot after Albert Watson brought down his man inside the box. VanOekel made the initial save on Williams, but Ottawa were awarded a chance to retake the penalty due to an encroachment call. Williams stepped to the spot again, but VanOekel made the save to keep the Ottawa lead at 1-0.

Sainey Nyassi found himself in on goal on 23 minutes, but goalkeeper Romuald Peiser made the initial save before stopping Nyassi's second attempt. The ball would fall back to the winger, whose third attempt was cleared off the line by Timbo.

Ottawa doubled their lead on 36 minutes when Williams crossed the ball into a dangerous area. VanOekel made the save on Stewart before Tissot pounced on the rebound to make it 2-0 for the home side.

The visitors nearly pulled one back immediately after conceding when Tomi Ameobi flicked on a long ball towards Jake Keegan. The New York Native chipped the ball over Peiser and just high of the crossbar for a goal kick.

The Eddies continued to push forward and they were rewarded with a goal right before the halftime break. Nyassi curled an in-swinging cross from a corner kick that was met by the head of Fordyce, who found the back of the net to cut the lead in half heading into the break.

Edmonton nearly equalized 10 minutes into the second half through Eddies captain Watson. The native of Belfast got on the end of Dustin Corea's corner kick, but Watson's header would find the far post and bounce away for a goal kick.

The Eddies would eventually score their second goal of the match just after the hour mark when Edmonton right back found Fordyce with a ball behind the Fury defense. The veteran midfielder kept his cool and fired a shot past Peiser to tie the match at 2-2.

Ottawa's top chance of the second half came on 78 minutes. Stewart found teammate Bryan Olivera inside the box with a pass, who took a touch before firing from in-close, but his effort went over VanOekel's net.

The Eddies nearly secured all three points deep into stoppage time. Defender Adam Eckersley had a shot that was cleared off the line by the Fury defense. The cleared ball eventually fell to teammate Shawn Nicklaw who fired a volley on goal that went off the crossbar and out of play. Both teams would collect a point after a thrilling 2-2 draw.

"There was no panic in the group [after going down two goals]," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller stated. "We didn't lose the plot. We knew there was enough quality within the group to keep going and break down the Ottawa defense...I can't fault the players for their character, I thought they were excellent here tonight.

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