USL Ottawa Fury FC

Fury FC Earn Big 3 Points, Putting Them Back in Playoff Picture

Published on August 3, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release


OTTAWA - In front of a boisterous Friday night crowd, Fury FC capitalized on applying high pressure on Tampa Bay early out of the gates. Tony Taylor notched the earliest goal in Fury FC history in the 23rd second of the match, while Nana Attakora added the insurance marker in the 7th minute of the second half to earn Fury FC a 2-0 victory.

The shutout win for Fury FC meant that Maxime Crépeau earned his 10th clean sheet of the season putting him in a tie for first place in the USL. The three points also lifted Fury FC across the playoff bar into 7th place, just one point behind 6th place Indy Eleven.

After a disappointing loss last weekend against Louisville City FC, it didn't take long for Fury FC to find the back of the net on Friday night.

Just 23 seconds in, Tony Taylor, making his 12th straight appearance, fed a routine left footed strike on net which was fumbled by the hands of Tampa Bay Rowdies keeper Cody Mizell who was left shaking his head as he picked up the ball from the back of his net. Taylor's goal at 23 seconds shattered the previous record which was held by Sito Saone's 39th second marker during the 2017 Canadian Championship against FC Edmonton. Number 99's goal was also clocked at the 5th quickest goal in USL.

The best chance for a 2-0 lead came in the 38th minute as Fury FC's midfield maestro Kevin Oliveira set up a nice drop pass for Adonijah Reid down the left hand flank, who then drove to the edge of the box and peppered the mits of a diving Cory Mizell. Reid would then eventually gather a rebound from ensuing corner and blast another effort which sent Mizell diving again, just shaving the top of the crossbar.

Fury FC closed out the half with their 1-0 lead, attempting a total of 8 shots on target.

Fury FC continued the trend of excellent play early in the initial stages of their halves. It was Kevin Oliveira pulling the strings off a set-piece, gifting Nana Attakora with a beautiful delivery into the box, who's deft touch off a volley guided the ball past a helpless Tampa Bay keeper. Attakora has also been a work-horse of late, featuring in 14 of the last 16 games in all competitions.

There was no let-off from Fury FC, as they continued applying pressure past the hour mark, earning four corner kicks in a row in the 62nd minute of play, seeing Christian Portilla's curling deliveries force Rowdies keeper Cory Mizell to tip the ball over his own crossbar on a couple occasions.

In his 20th straight start for Fury FC, Maxime Crépeau denied any efforts to spoil his 10th clean sheet of the season, as he lead his team in closing out the 2-0 victory which caps off a 5-game homestand. Fury FC will now head out on the road for two matches beginning in Atlanta on Tuesday night to resume a suspended June match, before visiting Nashville on Friday.

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Head Coach Nikola Popovic

"I think we have to focus on performance... I think it's too early to be worried about the standings. I really believe that perhaps at 10 or 5 games left in the season, it's going to be the moment where we are more concerned, however, I think that we as a staff have to be concerned more about the performance than the scoreboard. We have to be more concerned of how we play than the standings. Of course, it is important to qualify for the playoffs, but at this moment I'm much more concerned about seeing good football, players developing, and a lot of Canadian talent on the pitch."

Defender Nana Attakora

"I joke with these guys all the time - if I was a striker, I would be the leading scorer! We've had a ton of set pieces that Kevin [Oliveira] and Portilla have been delivering good balls but we just haven't been on the end of them, so it was good today that we caused Tampa Bay a lot of problems."

On the first goal... "We kept telling Tony [Taylor], you're working hard, just keep hitting it, we're bound to get a bounce go our way... For example today, I don't even know when he scored but he just hits it and we get a lucky bounce."

Defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère

On the normal week leading to this match... "It's good for sure, that was a good week of training. It's good to remember what we're supposed to do normally because when you're in game mode you forget some of the basic stuff, but now we put everything together and it was a good game."

MATCH REPORT

Starting XI

Ottawa Fury FC (4-3-3) Crépeau; Obasi, Meilleur-Giguère, Attakora, Edward; Dixon ©, Portilla (74' Ganon-Laparé), Oliveira; Reid (67' Haber), Dos Santos (64' Mannella), Taylor

Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-3-1): Mizell; Lachowecki, Diakité, Mkandawire © (72' Fernandes), Gorskie; Poku, Oduro; Hristov (73' Taylor), Nanchoff (55' Morrell), Flemmings; Bonomo

Scoring Summary

1' - Taylor (Dos Santos) *This becomes the fastest goal in Fury FC club history (0:23)

53' - Attakora (Oliveira)

Caution Summary

45+1' - Reid

79' - Gorskie

83' - Diakité

Attendance

4,226

Next Match: Tuesday, August 7 @ Atlanta United 2 - 6:00 p.m. - Fifth Third Bank Stadium

Next Home Match: Wednesday, August 15 v Richmond Kickers - 7:00 p.m. - TD Place

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 3, 2018


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