Fury Claim Fall Title with Win in Jacksonville
October 21, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Ottawa Fury FC are the NASL Fall Season Champions!
The second-year club extended their impressive NASL record road unbeaten streak to 11 matches (7W-4D-0L) erasing a first half deficit to claim the Fall Season title. Rafael Alves, Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Andrew Wiedeman scored in the win ensuring postseason soccer comes to the Nation's Capital in November. Fury FC will host one of the Championship Semifinals November 8 at TD Place.
"This group has been absolutely fantastic!," said a jubilant Marc Dos Santos following the match.
"We were in first place for three months and totally deserve this title."
"I would like to thank the players, staff and OSEG for this incredible effort."
Tom Heinemann produced the first scoring opportunity of the match as his header towards the near post was deflected out for a corner. On the ensuing corner, Andrew Wiedeman volleyed his opportunity past Miguel Gallardo, but was in an offside position. The speedy Armada countered with an opportunity of their own as Akeil Barrett got in behind the Ottawa defence got around Romuald Peiser, but Rafael Alves made a crucial block to keep the match scoreless through the opening 15 minutes.
Fury FC produced another quality opportunity in the 20th minute when Ryan Richter found the target on the Ubiparipovic corner kick, but Gallardo denied him at the back post. A short time later Gallardo would again come up big on a set piece from close range punch the cross away denying Ottawa a sure scoring opportunity.
Ottawa continued to threaten on set pieces, this time it was Rafael Alves getting on the Ubiparipovic delivery, but his header was kept out by the crossbar.
After some good movement deep inside Ottawa's half, Jemal Johnson found space down the left inside the 18-yard box, but his effort was denied by a sliding block from Ryan Richter.
The Armada earned a free-kick from 35 yards out and Mechack Jerome hit a rocket of a free-kick beating a diving Romuald Peiser in the 38th minute for his first goal with the Armada. Jacksonville would carry the lead into halftime.
Fury FC had a promising start to the second half and Oliver and nearly pulled them level, but his shot to the back post was cleared off the line. After Tom Heinemann was denied from close range off another impressive save from Gallardo, Ubiparipovic won a free-kick from 20 yards out. Rafael Alves unleashed a heavy striker that took a deflection and beat Gallardo at the back post to pull Fury FC level in the 59th minute on the Brazilian's fourth goal of the season.
Ottawa built on the momentum of Alves' equalizer and four minutes later Ubiparipovic put them in front with an impressive touch of skill curling a shot from 20 yards out into the top corner at the back post. The goal was Ubiparipovic's fifth of the season.
Jacksonville speedster Akeil Barrett would make an elusive run in the 70th minute to earn an opportunity on goal, but Peiser came off his line to deny him of an equalizer.
Ottawa continued their second half dominance and in stoppage time Andrew Wiedeman solidified Ottawa's championship victory with an impressive finish sending Fury FC to the 3-1 victory.
The win also saw goalkeeper set another NASL goalkeeping record - most wins in a season with his 15th victory. Another notable milestone in the victory was the debut of Montreal Impact loanee Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare who came on for the final ten minutes of play.
Fury FC continue their impressive form that has seen them lose just once in their last 24 matches (14W-9D-1L).
Ottawa Fury FC now have 10-days to prepare for the regular season finale, October 31, in Atlanta.
Ottawa needs a win to clinch the overall title and earn the top seed heading into the postseason. Fans can purchase tickets to the Championship Semifinal and Final at OttawaFuryFC.com where they call also renew or buy Season Tickets for 2016.
North American Soccer League Stories from October 21, 2015
- Fury Claim Fall Title with Win in Jacksonville - Ottawa Fury FC
- Armada Not Able to Hold on to Early Lead, Drops 3-1 Decision to Fury FC - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Scorpions Shutout Strikers and Earn 0-0 Draw in Fort Lauderdale - San Antonio Scorpions
- Strikers Play Scorpions to Scoreless Tie in Home Finale - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Ottawa Fury FC Clinches Fall Season Championship with Win in Jacksonville - NASL
- Fury FC Claim NASL Fall Season Championship - Ottawa Fury FC
- New York Cosmos Hold First Talent Identication Center for Cosmos Academy - New York Cosmos
- Barrett, Millien Named to NASL Team of the Week - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Fury Game Changers Earn NASL Team of the Week Nod - Ottawa Fury FC
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