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USL Ottawa Fury FC

Match Preview | Ottawa Fury FC V Tampa Bay Rowdies

August 2, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release


OTTAWA - Ottawa Fury FC will be looking for a strong showing at TD Place on Friday, fighting for every available point and setting themselves up for the away trip coming up. Friday night's match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies will be Fury FC's fifth consecutive home game in USL action, a home stint the club was eager to make the most of.

This game will also be a great opportunity for Fury FC to showcase the steady improvement that they have shown from the start of the season until now. The Ottawa side had met Tampa Bay in only their second match this season which didn't go Fury FC's way, falling 5-0 at Al Lang Stadium. However, that result was not a reflection of the skills and character that Fury FC embody, and the players will be keen to show it on the pitch in this rematch.

If the Ottawa side is coming off a 3-0 loss against Louisville City FC last week, the scoreline doesn't tell the complete story. While the goals conceded by Ottawa were off set plays - a corner, a free kick and a goal-mouth scramble - Fury FC created quite a few chances and had more shots on goal in that game than their opponents, who was more opportunistic on the night.

Fury FC Head Coach Nikola Popovic has always asked for consistent performances from his players, and this Friday's match will be no different. A strong performance in this game would see Fury FC continue their push for a playoff spot, a fight that they will have to face every single week.

Another boost for Fury FC will be Tampa Bay's away record. In their nine games on the road so far this season, they have won just two with a 2W-1D-6L record. Ottawa will look to flip the historical script on the Rowdies in the two clubs' 14th meeting, going back to NASL days.

Fury FC will be eager to get three points from this tie and set off on their road trip on a high note. The cheering of faithful fans will be added inspiration for the players. Fans are encouraged to turn out in large numbers and support this truly Canadian soccer team; tickets are still available at OttawaFuryFC.com/tickets or by contacting the TD Place Box Office.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Head Coach Nikola Popovic

"This feels like a long rest for us because we were used to play two games every week. So I hope that with these days of practicing that we have, and the days between the games, will give us a little bit more energy and will bring us to the levels that we were used to play at before."

"Every three points is three points. We, as a club, as a culture, as a team, we have the ambition to win the three points at every game. And at the end we'll make the calculation and we will see [if it is enough to make the playoffs]. But if we have this philosophy, that every game is three points, and that we have to win every single game, I think that the end of the year will come and we will be in the first eight positions."

Midfielder Kevin Oliveira

"Personally, I just want to get better day by day. Every day I work hard. And if the team is doing well, then you are doing well too. The month of July has been good for me, I've been scoring goals and helping my team push for the playoffs. I just have to keep working, and hopefully I can keep my form until the end of the year so we can reach our goals [as a team] and I can get my goals. But the most important is for the team to get where we want, to be in the playoffs and to as far as possible."

"We trust the process. We trust the coach. We've been working since the beginning of the season, it wasn't easy for us, but we keep working and putting it all on the pitch. And now we can see, we're playing better and better, we're just a point off a playoff spot, we've been training good. Things have been going well, we just need to keep pushing each other, push the team, and hopefully we can get more [good] performances."

"In the beginning of the season, we were so far from a playoff spot, but we never stop believing. It's all in our hands. We put all the work on the pitch and the guys have been amazing. We've been working and helping each other. It's all in our hands and we just have to keep doing what we're doing and I'm pretty sure we'll be in a good position at the end of the season."

Forward Jimmy Sanon

"The group's structure has helped me develop a lot. Things are going better and better for me, and the structure has been put in place to help me feel good when I get on the field. Now it's up to me to leave my mark any time I have the opportunity."

"[Being a "super-sub"] is a bit of a knife with two blades: every time I get on the field, I must prove myself, and if I don't, I failed on my mission. Most of the time, when I'm being subbed-in, we are either trailing or looking for goals, and that's my role, to create goals for the team, and I must come in and make a difference. When I do it, it's good, that's job done, but even if I try to be as perfect as possible, I'm not always able to do it."

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: David BARRIE

Assistants: Marie-Han GAGNON CHRÉTIEN & Andre PICKLER

Fourth Official: Matt SOUARÉ

MATCH DAY INFO

Ottawa Fury FC v Tampa Bay Rowdies

Kickoff: Friday, August 3 - 7:00 p.m. - TD Place

BROADCAST INFO

LIVE STREAM: OttawaFuryFC.com/Fury-Live | USL Match Centre

RADIO: TSN 1200 or TSN1200.ca (EN) | fm1047.ca (FR)

TWITTER: Follow @OTTAWAFURYFC for LIVE updates

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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