Fury FC in Tough against Penn FC
August 25, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA - Ottawa Fury FC couldn't find their way through the Penn FC backline and fell 2-0 Saturday evening at TD Place Stadium. The visitors scored late in each half and were able to hold the Ottawa attackers at bay.
Fury FC got the first chance very early in the match. Kevin Oliveira drove a free kick into the box and off the head of David Edgar. The tall defender didn't see the ball until the last moment and sent his header over the bar.
Ottawa's next opportunity came off another set piece. Christian Portilla tried a swerving shot from a tight angle was punched away by Penn FC keeper Romuald Peiser.
In the 28th minute, Penn FC's Paulo Junior ran at the Fury goal and had a shot, but Eddie Edward lunged to block it. Edward was one of seven Canadians in Ottawa's starting lineup, and one of ten Canucks to feature during the match.
The visitors took the lead on the stroke of halftime. Paulo Junior fired a long range shot past Maxime Crépeau to give his team a 1-0 lead after the first 45.
Ottawa could have drawn level early in the second half thanks to a great individual effort from Carl Haworth. The captain maneuvered into the box and had a go with his left foot that was destined for the back of the net, but was cleared off the line by defender Kyle Venter.
Fury FC were really flying to start the second half, as Steevan Dos Santos had a long volley go just wide and a Kevin Oliveira attempt was blocked. Ottawa then had three consecutive corner kicks that were defended by Penn FC.
The visitors struck on a counter-attack ten minutes from time. Aaron Dennis found the back of the net to double Penn FC's lead.
Ottawa showed good pushback late and continued to try to claw their way back into the match right up to the final whistle. However, Penn FC fought off the late Fury FC assaults and left the Nation's Capital with all three points.
Ottawa will look to regroup against another team that is pushing for the playoffs in the USL Eastern Conference, New York Red Bulls II. That match goes Friday, August 31 (KO 7:00 p.m.) in Montclair, NJ. Fury FC will return home for the CapCity Cup against the Montreal Impact on Friday, September 7 (KO 7:00 p.m.).
POST-GAME COMMENTS
Head Coach Nikola Popovic
"In the second half we had chances to score. A technical mistake killed the game. We are proud of our players because we fought until the end. Nobody gave up and we kept trying to score."
"The fact is that we have had a lot of chances, but the ball just doesn't want to go in. We created chances and shot at the goal. Sometimes you hit to post, or like today where we hit a central defender. We are able to produce situations, but you have to have the quality to put the ball in the net."
Defender Onua Obasi
"The second goal was a bit of a shot at the end and really put us on the back foot, knowing that we needed two goals to get a point. We've made it tough on ourselves at this point. It just makes all the other games more important now. The season's far from over."
MATCH REPORT
Starting XI
Ottawa Fury FC (3-5-2) Crépeau; Obasi, Edgar, Attakora, Edward; Dixon, Portilla (85' Bayiha), Oliveira (67' Gagnon-Laparé); Reid (77' Haber), Dos Santos, Haworth ©
Penn FC (4-4-2): Peiser; Bond, Venter, Tribbett ©, Galvão; Paulo Jr. (68' Osae), Jaime, Menjivar, Ramirez (79' Prince); Mkosana, Dennis (82' Rivera)
Scoring Summary
45' - Paulo Jr. (Menjivar)
80' - Dennis (Osae)
Caution Summary
20' - Bond
72' - Dennis
76' - Attakora
Attendance
5,270
Next Match: Friday, August 31 v New York Red Bulls II - 7:00 p.m. - MSU Soccer Park
Next Home Match: Friday, September 7 v Montreal Impact (CapCity Cup) - 7:00 p.m. - TD Place
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