Fury Collect Vital Point in Scoreless Draw against Strikers
September 12, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
Romuald Peiser of Ottawa Fury FC Saves a Shot from Stefano Pinho of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
(Ottawa Fury FC, Credit: Steve Kingsman - Steve Kingsman Photography)
OTTAWA, ON (September 12, 2015) - In the first of a home-and-home series between the two clubs, Ottawa Fury FC played Fort Lauderdale Strikers to a very lively scoreless draw on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon at TD Place in front of 6327 - the fourth straight home match with a crowd over 6000. The point grows Ottawa's lead atop the NASL Fall Season standings to six points, with Minnesota and New York still to play later this evening.
"Overall I think the tie is fair. It was a game of moments from both teams," said Ottawa Fury FC head coach Marc Dos Santos. "I think overall it wasn't the result we wanted, because we wanted to win, but it was a fair result. It was a fair tie."
The Strikers marched into the Nation's Capital boasting an impressive in-form attack. However, they were no match for Ottawa's in-form defence, as Fury's defensive quartet of Mason Trafford, Colin Falvey, Rafael Alves and Ryan Richter helped silence Stefano Pinho and the rest of the Fort Lauderdale attack. And when more was needed, Fury FC goalkeeper Romuald Peiser came up with some spectacular saves en route to his league-leading eleventh shutout of the season.
Fury FC earned the first quality chance on the afternoon off a corner kick from Sinisa Ubiparipovic that saw Tom Heinemann's shot clip the underside of the crossbar and Colin Falvey rebound try go over the bar.
Fort Lauderdale responded with a pair a dangerous attempts in quick succession from the NASL's leading goal-getter Stefano Pinho. The best chance of the pair saw the Brazilian break towards the Ottawa goal and despite getting the ball passed Peiser, the Fury keeper got enough of the ball to slow it down allowing defender Rafael Alves to make the goal-line clearance to keep the match scoreless.
Oliver was denied scoring in a third straight match when Josh Ford made a diving save denying his effort at the back post. Minutes later Tom Heinemann fired wide from inside the 18-yard box and moments later the hulking striker was at it again and was brought down inside the box by Jordan Graye, but no call came.
After going down late in the opening half after a clash of heads, Colin Falvey returned to the pitch and almost headed Ottawa into the lead of an Ubiparipovic free-kick, but it too missed wide at the back post.
The teams would head to the dressing room scoreless despite numerous chances at both ends of the pitch. It was quite clear that the first goal would be a crucial one, especially with Ottawa's impressive form when scoring first (9W-3D-0L).
Halftime changed nothing as the scoring chance kept coming early into the second half. Oliver and Paulo Junior looked to threaten early, but the Strikers has the most dangerous opportunity but Gabriel's shot missed wide at the back post.
In the 60th minute on the Fort Lauderdale counter attack. Pinho found some space and sent a hard shot that Peiser heroically turned aside. Peiser was at it again in the 80th minute when he made his best save of the night on a shot destined for the top corner by Strikers midfielder Dani Sanchez.
Fury forward Aly Alberto Hassan's header in the final moments of the game would go just wide of the net as Ottawa would have to settle for a scoreless draw in a valiant effort.
"There are two teams that are going to want to make the playoffs and are going to fight for it, so you can expect that it is going to be a tough and very physical game like today," said Dos Santos about next week's rematch in Fort Lauderdale as the two sides are set to meet again.
After facing the Strikers next Saturday, Fury FC return to action three days later against the Cosmos in New York on September 22 and close out a grueling eight-day road trip on September 26 in Carolina. Ottawa will return home on October 4 when the club hosts FC Edmonton in a Canadian derby classic. Tickets to the match against FC Edmonton and Ottawa's final home match of the regular season on October 14 are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
Images from this story
 Romuald Peiser of Ottawa Fury FC Saves a Shot from Stefano Pinho of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (Steve Kingsman - Steve Kingsman Photography) |
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North American Soccer League Stories from September 12, 2015
- Castillo Double Leads Scorpions to 2-0 Win over Indy Eleven - San Antonio Scorpions
- Raúl's Match-Winner Lifts Cosmos over Armada - New York Cosmos
- RailHawks Fall 3-1 in Minnesota - North Carolina FC
- Minnesota, New York Claim Wins to Make up Ground in Fall Season Race - NASL
- Minnesota United Rallies for Impressive 3-1 Victory over Carolina - Minnesota United FC
- Armada Hold Tough in 1-0 Loss to Cosmos - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Fury Collect Vital Point in Scoreless Draw against Strikers - Ottawa Fury FC
- Strikers Play Fury to Scoreless Road Draw - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- FCE Match Preview vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies - FC Edmonton
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