Fury FC Loses Heartbreaker in PKs as Season Comes to a Close
October 23, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA - A thrilling USL Championship playoff game on Wednesday saw Ottawa Fury FC fall just short of advancing in the post-season as they fell 1(4)-1(5) on penalty kicks to the Charleston Battery.
Fury dominated at times in this one, owning the possession game and looking poised to give the Battery all they could handle in the post-season play-in game. Despite plenty of action, each team would manage just a goal apiece through 90 minutes before being held scoreless in extra time, sending the game to penalty kicks. There, it was close once again, with Charleston outscoring Fury 5-4, with Mour Samb's attempt clanking off the crossbar.
Both goals came in the first half, with Kotaro Higashi getting the visitors on the board first as he was sent in with a clear path to goal and finished off the opportunity. Samb would tie things up for Fury late in the first half as Onua Obasi took some heavy contact to send him the ball and Samb made no mistake firing it into the back of the net.
With the loss, Fury's season comes to end, having clinched a post-season berth with a 14-10-10 record in the USL Championship regular season.
Storylines
This was the first game in Ottawa Fury FC history to be decided by penalty kicks.
Mour Samb, who became a father for the first time on Saturday, scored in his first Fury FC playoff appearance on Wednesday.
Wednesday's match was the first playoff appearance for Fury FC since joining the USL.
Fury outshout the Battery 12-6 through 90 minutes.
Ottawa owned 60.7% possession through full time, compared to 39.3% for Charleston.
POST-GAME COMMENTS
Head Coach Nikola Popovic
"I am very proud of the players, the staff and the organization. Everybody worked very hard for the club. Charleston was really strong for the first 15 minutes of the game. Then, I feel like we were dominant for the rest of the game. We tried until the end and had many chances, but we didn't hit the back of the net. I feel like this was the story of our season. We were able to create many chances, but couldn't score. At the end of the day, we tried our best and when it comes to penalty kicks, anybody can win."
Forward Mour Samb:
I was very proud to be able to score and dedicate this goal to my little girl.
Unfortunately, we weren't lucky, but we gave everything we had. Yes, it's sad that we lose like that, but we have to raise our heads and come back stronger.
MATCH REPORT
Starting XI
Ottawa Fury FC (4-3-3): Irving ; Obasi (120+2' - Gagnon-Lapare), Attakora, Meilleur-Giguère, Haworth © ; Fall, Ward, Manella (79' - Thiago); Barry, Francois (71' - Oliveira), Samb
Charleston Battery (4-3-2-1): Kuzminsky; Paterson, van Schaik, Mueller, Nelson; Higashi (90' - Piggott), Kelly-Rosales (121+1 - Svantesson), Rittmeyer (89' - Candela); Daley (76' - Marini), Lewis; Bosua
Scoring Summary
27' - CHS Higashi
40 - OTT Samb
Caution Summary
116' - CHS Marini
117' - OTT Samb
Expulsion Summary
N/A
Attendance
2,427
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 23, 2019
- Fury FC Loses Heartbreaker in PKs as Season Comes to a Close - Ottawa Fury FC
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