Fury Fall 3-2 Despite Championship Effort
Published on November 15, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
HEMPSTEAD, NY - Ottawa Fury FC's tremendous record-breaking season came to a close with a 3-2 loss to the New York Cosmos in the 2015 NASL Championship Final on Sunday night. The Cosmos captured the 2015 NASL Championship with the victory in New York, despite Tom Heinemann scoring twice for a commendable 10-man Fury side.
"I am incredibly proud of this group of men," said head coach Marc Dos Santos following the match. "This is a team of champions. We played like champions tonight, but didn't get the result."
It was a battle of champions between Ottawa and New York. Ottawa Fury FC, the Fall Season champions, collided with the New York Cosmos, the Spring Season champions, to decide who would win the 2015 NASL Soccer Bowl.
With over 400 hundred of Fury supporters making the trip to New York and crowding the stands of James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, Fury FC were looking to make history by capturing the 2015 NASL Championship in the club's second season.
It was an intense start much like last Sunday's Championship Semifinal. Similarly to last weekend Ottawa conceded and early first goal as Gaston Cellerino tallied in the 8th minute to ignite the capacity crowd at Hofstra.
Ottawa tried to regain composure and equalize after the early setback, with a solid left-footed blast coming from Fury captain Richie Ryan, forcing Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer to go to ground to make a save. Fury defender Rafael Alves almost potted a ball in as well with a header off a free kick minutes later.
Down by only one goal at half, Ottawa went into the locker room looking for the equalizer in the Championship Final.
Trying to utilize their pace and skill, Ottawa's attack went to work in the second half with forward Tom Heinemann almost getting his head on a cross in the 50th minute. Ottawa would continue to try and break through the Cosmos defence with a strong delivery from midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic.
In the 68th minute, Fury defender Mason Trafford was given a red card much to the dismay of the Fury players and supporters after falling on top of a Cosmos player in what looked like a clear accident.
But that would not stop Fury FC. A 10-man Ottawa side would come out of adversity with Heinemann scoring a brilliant left-footed goal from an Andrew Wiedeman pass to level the game in the 70th minute and send the hundreds of Fury faithful in attendance into exhilaration.
The match would not remain level for long as the Cosmos restored their lead in the 72nd minute as Cellerino's second of the night was knocked in at the back post.
Peiser would make a brilliant diving stop in the 80th minute, but the Cosmos would go up 3-1 in the 85th minute, as Cellerino would collect complete the hat-trick after he chipped the ball over a sprawling Peiser who came out to make a challenge.
Ottawa would score in the 92nd minute to give the club some life, as Heinemann put in a rebound from a Rafael Alves shot. That however, was as close as Ottawa would come.
Ottawa Fury FC complete their second NASL season that saw the club lose just twice in 27-matches. The 400+ traveling supporters and a jammed packed Heart and Crown on Preston show the passion that has been born in two shorts seasons.
North American Soccer League Stories from November 15, 2015
- New York Cosmos Win 2015 NASL Championship - New York Cosmos
- Fury Fall 3-2 Despite Championship Effort - Ottawa Fury FC
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