Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC V North Carolina FC
Published on April 20, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA - Ottawa Fury FC will play their first home game of the season this weekend when they face North Carolina FC at TD Place. After three consecutive away games, Fury FC will be glad to play on their home turf. The results haven't gone their way so far and the Ottawa side will be hoping for a positive result in front of their supportive home fans.
During their last game against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Fury FC put in a much better defensive display as compared to their first two games. A late goal conceded in the 85th minute meant that they had to return empty-handed but Head Coach Nikola Popovic was happy with the attitude shown by the Fury FC players on the field.
North Carolina FC are familiar foes for Fury FC. Even though this is the first time these two sides will meet in USL, they have met nine times before in NASL. Fury FC are ahead on wins (4-3) and will be looking to register another victory this weekend.
It will be a new-look Fury FC team that will take to the field this Saturday. They will be playing in their new home kit, one that has proven to be immensely popular with the fans. It'll also be a new-look team because there have been 11 new signings made before the start of this season, and then there are a few players who are returning to Fury FC colours. These players are eager to play their first home game and experience the support of the Fury FC faithful.
With Saturday's match, Fury FC is starting a short series of home matches, which will continue next Saturday, April 28 against FC Cincinnati (and the return of Ritchie Ryan), followed by the always exciting School Day Game on Wednesday, May 2 against New York Red Bulls II. For full schedule details and ticket information visit OttawaFuryFC.com.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Head Coach Nikola Popovic
"Nobody likes to lose. And it's no different here. But what matters is how you react when you lose. I think we have already shown a very good reaction against Pittsburgh. The players showed good attitude. This is what we want to see during the rest of the year. Every time the team steps on the field, they have to fight from the first until the last whistle. If you want to win something in your life, you have to give your best - every single second in the game. We saw this during the last game and that was a plus for us."
On his first home game... "I'm excited. It's my first game here at TD Place. Everybody has been telling me how fantastic the ambience is. And with the support that we have had from our fans until now, I am very, very excited to be here for the first home game."
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau
"Personally I am excited. It'll be my first time (home game) here - getting to meet the fans and feel the atmosphere. As for the team, we are ready. We know what we have done wrong in the last three games and now it's about getting a positive result at home. We need that because of the way the season has gone so far and because we need to be a fortress here (at TD Place)."
"Pittsburgh was a direct game. The guys were disciplined and did a great job in front of me. Overall there were just two shots on target. As a defending unit, we need to be really compact because over here (TD Place) it's a big field and there's lot of space so we got to be careful."
Forward Adonijah Reid
"I know the fans have been waiting for this new kit so I'm happy for them to see it. It's a really nice kit. It's the home opener and everyone is going to be excited for us to play. The three away games have been difficult for the team. With the home fans it's going to be a different game for us this weekend."
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Assistants: Richard Gamache and Sean Hornsby
Fourth Official: Matt Souare
MATCH DAY INFO
Ottawa Fury FC v North Carolina FC
Kickoff: Saturday, April 21 - 2:00 p.m. - TD Place
USL Standings: Click Here
BROADCAST INFO
LIVE STREAM: OttawaFuryFC.com/Fury-Live | USL Match Centre
RADIO: TSN 1200 (1200 AM, TSN1200.ca or iHeart Radio app) | 104,7 Outaouais (104,7 FM)
TWITTER: Follow @OTTAWAFURYFC for LIVE updates
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