Fury FC Defender Attakora Earns Third USL Team of the Week Selection
August 7, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA - Ottawa Fury FC centreback Nana Attakora has been selected on the USL Team of the Week for Week 21, his third selection already this season. Attakora put home a strong finish in the second half and recorded five clearances and three recoveries, as Fury FC shut out the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a 2-0 victory on Friday night.
In his first season with Fury FC, Attakora has proved to be a crucial piece of the puzzle for Ottawa. In his 11 games played, all as starter, and 900 minutes of play so far this season, the fearless defender has tallied 69 clearances, 11 interceptions and six blocks, in addition to maintaining a 55.6 tackle success rate. He also has two goals to his name as a Fury FC player in 2018.
The experienced defender joined Fury FC ahead of the 2018 season, coming from NASL side San Francisco Deltas with whom he won the Soccer Bowl in 2017. This North York native trained with English Premier League club Everton in 2007 before being picked up by MLS side Toronto FC. He played with them for four seasons, starting with the MLS reserve Division and going on to become a mainstay of the Toronto defence. It was during this time that he played alongside Fury General Manager Julian de Guzman for three seasons. He was then traded to the San Jose Earthquakes in 2011 and then switched countries and played for FC Haka in Finland for one season. In 2013 he returned to the Earthquakes, followed by a one-season spell with D.C. United. In 2015, Attakora began his NASL stint during which he played for San Antonio Scorpions, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the Deltas.
Ottawa Fury FC will count on their solid defending group once more tonight as they resume their encounter with Atlanta United 2 (6 p.m.) before making their way to face Nashville at First Tennessee Park on Friday night.
USL Team of the Week
GK - Ricardo Ferrino, Las Vegas Lights FC: Ferrino recorded a seven-save shutout to keep Lights FC in the game before the hosts scored a late winner to defeat Rio Grande Valley FC.
D - Darnell King, San Antonio FC: King's first goal of the season was part of a good all-around display that saw him record two interceptions, three clearances and one tackle in SAFC's victory against the LA Galaxy II.
D - Hugh Roberts, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Roberts won 21 of 25 duels and recorded five tackles, five interceptions and nine clearances, as the Hounds claimed a pair of shutout victories over the week.
D - Olivier Mbaizo, Bethlehem Steel FC: The 20-year-old Cameroonian recorded a pair of assists and made nine possession recoveries in Steel FC's 3-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers.
D - Nana Attakora, Ottawa Fury FC: Attakora put home a strong finish in the second half and recorded five clearances and three recoveries, as Ottawa shut out the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a 2-0 victory on Friday night.
M - Jordan Burt, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Burt recorded the assist on Tobenna Uzo's opening goal, one of three key passes for the game, and won five of seven duels in the Switchbacks' crucial victory.
M - Villyan Bijev, Sacramento Republic FC: Bijev scored the game-winning goal and recorded four key passes, as Republic FC claimed a 1-0 victory against Fresno FC in the Highway 99 Derby.
M - Darwin Jones, Orange County SC: Jones scored a pair of goals, as Orange County further bolstered its playoff credentials with a 2-1 victory against the Swope Park Rangers on Saturday night.
F - Chris Cortez, Phoenix Rising FC: Cortez had two goals and an assist to lead Phoenix to an emphatic 4-1 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 on Sunday afternoon.
F - Jack McInerney, Indy Eleven: McInerney scored a pair of goals, as the Eleven earned a 2-2 draw on the road against defending USL Cup champion Louisville City FC.
F - Neco Brett, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Brett scored three goals over two games to lead the Hounds to a pair of victories and back into second place in the Eastern Conference.
Bench: GK: Dan Lynd (PGH), Austin Ledbetter (STL), Frank Lopez (LA), Aodhan Quinn (OC), Tucker Hume (NSH), Tobenna Uzo (COS), Ilija Ilic (LOU)
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 7, 2018
- Atlanta United 2 and Ottawa Fury FC Play to 1-1 Draw - Atlanta United 2
- Fury FC Leave Atlanta with One Point - Ottawa Fury FC
- USL's Week Ahead - August 7-12, 2018 - USL
- Lights FC Goalkeeper Ricardo Ferrino Named to USL Team of the Week Following 7-Save Shutout Saturday Night - Las Vegas Lights FC
- Brett, Hounds Fill out USL Team of the Week - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Jordan Burt Named to USL Team of the Week - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Indy Eleven's McInerney Named to USL Team of the Week in Week 21 - Indy Eleven
- Fury FC Defender Attakora Earns Third USL Team of the Week Selection - Ottawa Fury FC
- Pittsburgh's Brett Voted USL Player of the Week - USL
- San Antonio FC Defender Darnell King Named to USL Team of the Week - San Antonio FC
- Steel FC Rolls into Charlotte Looking to Build Upon Momentum - Philadelphia Union II
- Battery, Rowdies Meet in USL Game of the Week - Charleston Battery
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