USL Ottawa Fury FC

Fury FC Waltzes to 9 Straight Unbeaten with Character-Building 3-3 Draw in Nashville

June 22, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release


OTTAWA - Adding one more result to its unbeaten streak in the previous weekend, Ottawa Fury FC travelled to Nashville to face the Music City club for the second time this season on Saturday night. Fury FC fought hard to secure a 3-3 draw, pushing its streak of unbeaten matches to nine, only three away from tying the club's record.

Nashville's leading goalscorer Daniel Rios put his side on top early in the match (10th minute) after an impressive build-up from the back. But Fury FC captain Carl Haworth pulled Ottawa back levelled just before halftime on a beautifully curled free-kick straight into the top right corner. Fury FC added to its tally quickly in the second period with a long-range strike from Christiano François to take the lead. Nashville crept back shortly after on a free kick headed in by Mensah and followed it up with a third goal in the 71st minute by substitute Lancaster. Ottawa's Wal Fall stunned the home crowd with a perfect strike to bring the score to 3-3 with less than 10 minutes to play, score that would hold until the end.

STORYLINES

Both goalkeepers, Nashville's Pickens and Ottawa's Irving, started the night in 8th position for clean sheets in the league with 4 each. Pickens had 23 saves entering the match, only one more than Irving.

In a goalkeeping showdown, it was Irving that stole the show with 3 spectacular saves off of 6 shots on target from Nashville.

Three Fury FC players highlighted the attack on Saturday: Carl Haworth with 1 goal, 2 shots on target and 4 key passes; Wal Fall with 1 goal, 5 shots including 2 on target and 2 key passes; and Christiano François with 1 goal, 1 shot on target and one key pass.

With tonight's equalizing goal, Wal Fall climbs to 5 goals so far this season, 1 behind Ottawa's leading scorer Mour Samb.

For a rare time this season, Fury FC was slightly out-passed (378 to Nashville's 388) and out-possessed (48% to Nashville's 52%), but turned in a very dynamic performance against one of the league's top contender loaded with future MLS talent.

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Head Coach Nikola Popovic

"The best word to describe what happened tonight is 'character'. We showed that we are a team that will fight until the end, that is difficult to beat. Perhaps we can run out of time, but we will always fight until the end."

"Coming to Nashville, who has perhaps, the strongest roster in the league, since we know they are going to MLS next year, and to be able to come back from behind two times, to possess the ball in crucial areas, to create our chances... having this character to fight until the end, we have to be very proud."

"We're very happy, but this is only momentary. We have to now to go home and get back to work as we play in three days against another difficult team. We're happy now but we haven't achieved anything yet in terms of our goals for this season."

MATCH REPORT

Starting XI

Ottawa Fury FC (4-3-3): Irving; Gagnon-Laparé, Barnathan, Attakora (28' Meilleur-Giguère), Haworth ©; Fall, Ward, Mannella (80' Dixon); Oliveira (86' Obasi), Samb, François

Nashville SC (3-4-3): Pickens; Davis, Doyle (46' Bourgeois), King; Washington, Reed ©, LaGrassa, Kimura (83' Belmar); Rios, Moloto, Mensah (70' Lancaster)

Scoring Summary

10' - NSH Rios (Moloto)

45' - OTT Haworth

51' - OTT François (Barnathan)

55' - NSH Mensah (Davis)

71' - NSH Lancaster (Rios)

81' - OTT Fall (Ward)

Caution Summary

38' - OTT Mannella

40' - OTT Samb

Attendance

6,697

Next home match: Wednesday, June 26 v Charleston Battery



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 22, 2019


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