USL United Soccer League Championship

Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC at Nashville SC | Aper=C3=A7u

June 21, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release


OTTAWA - Adding one more result to its unbeaten streak last weekend, Ottawa Fury FC will travel to Nashville to face the Music City club for the second time this season on Saturday night (8 p.m., OttawaFuryFC.com). With Nashville having claimed the opening matching this year, Fury FC will look for a complete performance from its core group.

STORYLINES

With the 0-0 draw earned over the weekend, Fury FC remains one of the top defensive set-ups in the Eastern Conference with only 11 goals against in 13 games.

Callum Irving followed up a PK save that earned him the Fan's Choice Save of the Week in week 14 with a solid performance over the weekend to take clean sheet number 4 this season

Fury FC fell one game short of the club record of eight consecutive games with at least a goal scored, but the team is still on an unbeaten streak going back to April 20, sitting in 7th place in the Eastern Conference with 6 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses.

High possession remains a staple for this Fury team this season with yet another great performance that saw the team hold an impressive 67% possession.

Charlie Ward continues to be the main man in the passing department for Fury FC. He's coming off another stellar performance where he orchestrated 118 passes with 92% passing accuracy. He is still the league leader with 966 passes in 13 matches (average of 74 passes per 90 minutes).

The team kept true to its playstyle by completing an outstanding 608 passes on the night against Memphis 901 FC last weekend, a number comparable to top European league teams.

This is the second matchup between the two clubs this season; Nashville stole a 3-0 win in Fury FC's home opener on April 6 despite Ottawa holding 65% of possession.

SCOUTING NASHVILLE SC

The inconsistency that plague Nashville SC in 2018 should be a thing of the past this season. Making its first moves on the path to joining Major League Soccer in 2020, NSC added 2018 Championship Golden Boot Cameron Lancaster and fellow All-League First Team selection Daniel Rios as its first MLS signings, and supplemented those arrivals with defenders Ken Tribbett and Darnell King, goalkeeper Connor Sparrow and forward Kharlton Belmar, all of whom bring excellent Championship pedigree.

Add in a lengthy list of returnees that includes goalkeeper Matt Pickens, defenders Liam Doyle and Justin Davis, midfielders Michael Reed, Matt LaGrassa and Bolu Akinyode and forwards Lebo Moloto, Ropapa Mensah and Tucker Hume, and Nashville is one of the clear favorites to end Louisville's reign as USL Cup holder. If it does, it will become the first side to claim a championship in the lower divisions before a move to MLS the following year, a feat that predecessors like Seattle Sounders FC, the Portland Timbers, Orlando City SC and FC Cincinnati were unable to accomplish. (via USL Championship).

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Head Coach Nikola Popovic

"I think our focus will be important, I remember that we had a very good game (last time against Nashville) all the way up to the 30th minute. We were very good and composed doing the things that we had to do. However, a lack of concentration allowed them to score the first goal and then everything changed."

"I think this is the message that we need to get across to our players. These type of teams tend to have two quality players for each position. I think that Nashville's second team set up is quality enough to reach the playoffs of the USL, so they are a very strong team. You have to avoid these lapse of concentration at all costs against these type of teams. You have to be at 100 percent focus during the whole 90 minutes plus. I think if we achieve that, we are going to have a really good performance and we can bring points back from our trip to Nashville."

Defender Dakota Barnathan

"I think the first game (against Nashville) we had a couple of key mistakes that led to some big goals for them and I think during this game it will be all about paying attention to all the details and making sure that we're switched on from the first whistle to the last and then just sticking to our game plan. The past eight games it has gone pretty well for us. It doesn't matter if we're home or away, we just need to go out there and get points and stick to the plan."

"I think we've definitely picked up some sort of identity as a whole unit and it all starts from the back line with Callum ((Irving) setting the tone and then the guys up front really putting the pressure on the other team so that there are times where we don't have to do much and that the front half of the team is putting in a lot of work. I think as an eleven we have been a good solid unit defensively and it's been a big thing for us in order to get some goals."

HOW TO WATCH

LIVE STREAM: OttawaFuryFC.com

TWITTER: Follow @OTTAWAFURYFC for LIVE updates #NSHvOTT #ForTheFury

VIEWING PARTY: ByTown Boys SC are hosting a viewing party at The Senate Tavern (1156 Bank St), all are welcome.

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