Match Preview: Ottawa Begins Crucial Three Game Road Trip in South Florida against Strikers
September 18, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON (September 18, 2015) - Saturday will mark the 59th consecutive day that Fury FC have sat atop the NASL Fall Season standings. Capturing the Fall Season title not only secures the winner a spot in the post-season, but a home match in the NASL Championship Semifinals. In order to remain on their perch for the remaining 43 days of the regular season, Ottawa will need results from this three-match, eight-day road trip starting Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale.
"We know how important this game is. Both teams are fighting for a postseason position and will definitely leave everything out on the field," said head coach Marc Dos Santos. "Our mentality will have to be strong and I know we have the experience and maturity needed to deal with games like these one."
Heading into the home stretch of the NASL regular season, the standings couldn't be tighter. All eleven clubs remain in contention for the postseason and Ottawa's next two opponents (Fort Lauderdale and New York) currently occupy a spot that would see them through to the NASL Championship Semifinals if the postseason began today.
In the wake of last Saturday's edge-of-your-seat scoreless draw at TD Place, both coaches expressed pleasure with the opportunities their sides created, but asked for more focus and composure defensively and in midfield. Fury FC captain Richie Ryan echoed this sentiment.
"It's not like us to give up that many chances in a match and that will be a point of focus for us going into Fort Lauderdale. We have to be far better in possession - we were sloppy at times and it was the first time in the Fall Season that we haven't taken our chances and taking just one of those chances would have won us the game and a big three points."
In twelve Fall Season matches, Fury FC have only been shut-out twice - both scoreless draws (New York and Fort Lauderdale). Similarly, the Strikers have been blanked one two occasions in their fall campaign - a shut-out loss to the Cosmos and in last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fury FC.
Fort Lauderdale's unbeaten streak has hit a half dozen thanks to their 2-0 victory over Jacksonville Wednesday night at Lockhart Stadium. Perhaps an advantage for Fury FC with this Saturday's match marking the Strikers third match in eight days, but with their mid-week victory Fort Lauderdale now find themselves in the fourth and final postseason position and will be a motivate bunch to maintain the game over state-rivals Tampa Bay and narrow the gap with Fury FC.
Dos Santos will need all his players at their best for arguably their toughest tests of the season. Drew Beckie, Ugur Albayrak and Julian De Guzman have all made the trip and will return to the line-up during the road trip give the team some much needed depth.
Fury FC have handled themselves well away from the friendly confines of TD Place. 3-4-2 overall away from home and riding a six-match road unbeaten streak just adds another story line to why Saturday's match in South Florida has the makings to be one of the best as the NASL's best defence faces one of the most potent offences in the league in recent weeks.
Striker Tom Heinemann has been quoted several times this season saying that the game is "10% physical and 90% mental." Expect Ottawa's core leadership group to play a big role in this road trip, starting Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale. And if the hulking American striker can find the back of the net like he did to start the fall campaign, than Ottawa's road unbeaten run is sure to continue.
Ottawa's three-match road trip continues Tuesday night in New York against the Cosmos and will end next Saturday (September 26) in Carolina against the RailHawks. Fury FC will return home October 4 for another chapter in the All-Canadian derby facing FC Edmonton at 3pm. Tickets to this match and the final home match of the regular season (October 18) are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistants: Mark Cahen and Matthew Miscannon
Fourth Official: Daniel Gutierrez
• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...
North American Soccer League Stories from September 18, 2015
- Boakai Named to Canadian Men's Squad for Olympic Qualifiers - FC Edmonton
- Eustaquio Named to Canadian Men's Olympic Squad - Ottawa Fury FC
- Match Notes: San Antonio Scorpions at Tampa Bay Rowdies: September 19, 2015 - San Antonio Scorpions
- Silverbacks Welcome Carolina to "The Jungle" - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Top Four Teams Collide in Pair of Key Week 12 Clashes - NASL
- FCE Match Preview vs. Indy Eleven - FC Edmonton
- Match Preview: Ottawa Begins Crucial Three Game Road Trip in South Florida against Strikers - Ottawa Fury FC
- Battle of First and Second as United Faces the New York Cosmos on Saturday - Minnesota United FC
- Silverbacks Welcome RailHawks to "The Jungle" - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Match Preview: RailHawks Travel to Atlanta to Take on Silverbacks - North Carolina FC
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.
