NASL Ottawa Fury FC

Match Preview: Fury FC Look to Extend Road Unbeaten Streak in the Lone Star State

September 4, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release


OTTAWA, ON (September 4, 2015) - Saturday marks the biggest game of the season for Fury FC ... until the next one.

Ten games remain in the NASL regular season. Halfway through the Fall Season, Fury FC sit atop fall standings holding a two-point edge on Spring Season champions New York. Through the first two-thirds of full season Fury FC hold down third in the combined standings, level on points with second place Minnesota.

And with ten games to go, Marc Dos Santos and his staff are preparing the players to play in ten very important 'Finals' facing them one at a time.

"The next 10 games will all be important 'Finals' and will require the very best out of us. We need to stay focused, organized and committed if we want to succeed," said Dos Santos.

"The road that will lead us towards the post-season will be very difficult. We know there are still many points to be won and many challenges ahead. San Antonio is not an easy place to play and they are also looking for a spot in the top four."

The road that Ottawa must take to the post-season will see them log ample air miles with seven of their remaining ten games coming away from TD Place starting Saturday night in San Antonio with their final game of the regular season on October 31 in Atlanta.

While the defending Soccer Bowl Champions find themselves sitting in the bottom of the NASL standings with just one win in their last seven fixtures (1W-3D-3L) only six points separate the Scorpions from the fourth place Fort Lauderdale Strikers who, if the post-season began today, hold the final spot.

Struggling to find consistency on defence, the Scorpions have conceded the second most goals in the NASL this season, but forwards Omar Cummings and Billy Forbes along with midfielder Rafael Castillo have scored for 18 of San Antonio's 26 goals with Cummings sitting second in league scoring (10 goals) and Forbes among the NASL assists leaders (6 assists).

While Ottawa earned a pair of crucial points last week in their quest for the post-season - with draws against both New York and Tampa Bay - players know that it is going to take much more from each of them in these final ten games.

"We have worked very hard to achieve our goal of making the post-season. We're not there yet, but we've proved to the teams in our League who the Ottawa Fury are," said Captain Richie Ryan.

"These remaining ten matches are massive for the club, but we must approach it one game at a time starting with Saturday night against a good Scorpions side. Each player on this team has played a role in our success this season and each of us needs to continue bringing the best of ourselves each day."

Dos Santos stressed prior to the start of the season that a two keys to the club reaching the post-season was making TD Place a fortress, which they have done with an impressive 6W-4D-2L record at home, and earning points on the road that has also been achieved and highlighted by a five-game road unbeaten streak (2W-3D-0L) that stretches back to the Spring Season. In fact, Ottawa has not lost on the road since May 2 in New York.

Midfielder Julian De Guzman will miss the club's next two matches as he helps Canada past Belize in a pair of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (September 4 and 11). Fury FC will also be without striker Ugur Albayrak and defender Drew Beckie, both expected to be out for at least the next two weeks.

Next up for Fury FC is a home-and-away series against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Ottawa is home September 12 as part of #IHeartSoccer weekend, before they travel to South Florida for the start of a three-game, eight-day road trip. Tickets to the match against Fort Lauderdale and all remaining Fall Season matches are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Nima Saghafi

Assistants: Christian Gordon and Jesus Moya

Fourth Official: Christopher Mercado



North American Soccer League Stories from September 4, 2015


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.

OurSports Central