Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC V Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Published on July 7, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA - Ottawa Fury FC players will be a happy bunch this weekend as they face Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC on Sunday. One reason for that will be the start of a five-game home stand after a grueling road trip. Fury FC played seven games in 22 days with six of them being away games, including two Canadian Championship games. The home pitch at TD Place will be a welcome sight for Fury FC.
Despite the tough schedule, the Ottawa side has gathered seven crucial points with a 2W-1D-2L performance in their last five games. They are coming off a tenacious 1-0 road win over Indy Eleven. Having taken the lead off an own goal in the 28th minute, Fury FC players showed great determination to block out the opposition and grab three vital points. This result gave the team, and goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, their eighth clean sheet of this season. Crépeau tops the USL in this statistic, sharing the honours with two other goalkeepers.
Fury FC should be a confident bunch after this victory. Indy was unbeaten in five games before this contest and battling for a Top 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
The next five games will provide Fury FC with a great opportunity to maximise their home pitch advantage and climb into a playoff position.
Their game this weekend will be against the team with currently the best defence in the USL. Pittsburgh have conceded just seven goals in their 16 games so far and have lost just one game. No other team in the USL has done better in either statistic. Riverhounds' goalkeeper Dan Lynd shares the top spot for the most shutouts this season with Fury FC's Maxime Crépeau, having posted eight clean sheets this season.
Pittsburgh, with an 8W-7D-1L performance, are second in the Eastern Conference and are unbeaten in their last five games. Fury FC will know what they are up against, having played against Pittsburgh earlier this season. That game ended in a 1-0 loss for the Ottawa side.
But this is a different setting. The Fury FC that took on Pittsburgh on the road in April had just been formed. The Fury FC of today are a team that is united, and they will be playing at home in front of their cheering fans.
Tickets for Fury FC's homecoming this Sunday are available at OttawaFuryFC.com/tickets, by calling 613.232.6767 X1 or in person at The Box Office at TD Place.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Head Coach Nikola Popovic
On the team's away performances... "In terms of performance, we have to be very satisfied with the two games that we played recently - Cincinnati and Indy. In the game against Cincinnati, the scoreboard wasn't in our favour but looking at the whole game we deserved more. Perhaps a draw would have been the best result for that game."
"The game against Indy was a very one for us. The accumulation of games that we had in our legs was starting to show. But we have to be proud of the way we played and all the effort put in. It was a very important three points for us."
On the growth in the team's character... "The team is growing. In this first year I am focusing more on creating a union between the players. It's about creating this culture and we are starting to feel this union. This brotherhood that is very, very necessary if you want to have success in this sport. And slowly you are starting to see that. But 100 per cent we are much better than we were at the beginning of the season."
On the opposition... "Pittsburgh is always a difficult game because of the way they play. They're a team that works a lot on the field. They play a compact game and we expect them to be putting pressure on us. We need to have a very good game here to get three points. But I think our team is playing some good football and if we can stay consistent then we can be very successful in this game."
Forward Jimmy Sanon
On his role within the team... "I didn't play a lot in the beginning of the season but now I am healthy and I'm getting more and more minutes in each and every game. I am trying to bring my energy every time I go onto the field."
On the team's progress so far... "I think everyone is now on the same page. It's a nice group. Everyone wants to help everyone and that's why we are able to win games."
Midfielder Cristian Portilla
On his return from injury... "I feel really good. I am excited to be back. I got back on the field during the game against Cincinnati and it was a good feeling. I am almost at 100 per cent now."
On playing at home... "We are really excited to come back to TD Place. We have played many games on the road. They were tough games and now we are playing at home and we hope to get good results. The players are really happy to be back here with our fans."
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Yusri RUDOLF
Assistants: Daniel BELLEAU and Melissa SNEDDEN
Fourth Official: Myriam MARCOTTE
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 7, 2018
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- Indy Eleven Claim Three Points against Charlotte Independence, 2-1 - Indy Eleven
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- Orange and Blue post fourth shutout in last four league games - FC Cincinnati
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- City Earns First League Win Since May with Resolute 2-1 Victory over the Tampa Bay Rowdies - Louisville City FC
- Independence Fall to Indy Eleven - Charlotte Independence
- Wild Finish Ends in 1-1 Draw with Charleston Battery - North Carolina FC
- Battery, NCFC Split Points in Cary - Charleston Battery
- Sounders FC 2 Midfielder Francisco Narbon Undergoes Successful Surgery - Tacoma Defiance
- Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC V Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC - Ottawa Fury FC
- Kickers Travels to Penn FC for Second Time this Season - Richmond Kickers
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