Match Preview: All-Canadian Rivalry Heats up Sunday in Top-Of-The-Table Clash in Fort McMurray
July 31, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON (July 31, 2015) - The bourgeoning rivalry between Ottawa Fury FC and FC Edmonton is about to get serious. Sunday's top-of-the-table clash marks the first time an NASL match between these two Canadian sides has had such tremendous significance.
"Edmonton and Ottawa is the best rivalry in the NASL," head coach Marc Dos Santos told media earlier in the week. "These are two clubs with a winning mentality and great fighting spirit. Two teams that know each other well that are always ready for a challenge."
"We know that we will have to be at our best to win against Edmonton on Sunday."
Despite Ottawa's brief history in the league, these teams have met eight times already with four of those games coming in the Amway Canadian Championship that has also fueled the rivalry.
While Ottawa has an opportunity to run their unbeaten streak to 11-games and grow their lead atop the League standings, perhaps the biggest motivation for the team comes from their disappointing departure in the Amway Canadian Championship in April following a pair of 3-1 defeats at the hands of the Eddies.
Those losses also marked a major turning point for the second-year club who have conceded just 5 goals in the 11 games since including a 0-0 draw with Edmonton back on May 29 at TD Place marking the first time that any team had held the Eddies scoreless - a feat that has only happened twice to the Alberta-based club this season.
FC Edmonton might be coming off a home loss to Atlanta last weekend, but they opened the Fall campaign with a home win and taking five out of nine points on a road trip where they were vastly shorthanded due to injuries and players at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. With their roster inching towards full health, MVP candidate Lance Laing returning from Gold Cup action and new signing Dustin Corea expected to make his Eddie debut this match has all the ingredients to blow this rivalry into another stratosphere.
After taking all nine points available from three games in an eight day period, Fury FC could not have ask for more from their three-game home stand. This streak and their 4W-1D-0L start to the Fall Season has vaulted Ottawa to the top of the standings. Nearly every player in the squad has factor into the club's recent success. After Tom Heinemann found his scoring groove, Captain Richie Ryan showed his prowess on set pieces follow by striker Carl Haworth finding his nose for clutch goals and newcomer Aly Alberto Hassan has also cemented his name on the scoresheet.
While Ottawa's offensive spark has turn the draws that began this unbeaten streak in the Spring Season into wins in the Fall Season the consistent factor from each of their last ten games is the difficulty the opposition has breaking them down. Fury FC do not give away too many quality chances and when all else fails Romauld Peiser continues to make his case to be considered the top goalkeeper in the NASL.
Sinisa Ubiparipovic missed the last match as a precaution after being diagnosed with a concussion in training, but the Bosnian-born midfielder is set to return for this crucial match that could go a long way in helping both clubs achieve their post-season ambitions.
"We're only halfway through the season. There are 15 games remaining. Anything can happen," said NASL Player of the Week Carl Haworth. "The League is full of great teams and we need to take it game-by-game and focus on our end result."
Fury FC are unbeaten in their last three road games (0W-3D-0L) and have conceded just three goals in their last five games away from TD Place.
Fury FC travel to Indianapolis to tackle Indy Eleven on August 8 before returning home for another three game home stand to close out the month of August facing Minnesota (August 15), New York (August 26) and Tampa Bay (August 29). Tickets to these and all Fall Season matches are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Robert Schaap
Assistants: Michael Barwegen and Christian Palavicino
Fourth Official: David Gantar
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North American Soccer League Stories from July 31, 2015
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- Canadian Derby Between League's Top Two Teams Headlines Week 5 Matchups - NASL
- Match Preview: All-Canadian Rivalry Heats up Sunday in Top-Of-The-Table Clash in Fort McMurray - Ottawa Fury FC
- Silverbacks Surge into Indy for August 1 Showdown - Atlanta Silverbacks
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