Match Preview: Ottawa Carries Unbeaten Streak into San Antonio for NASL Spring Season Finale
June 12, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON (June 12, 2015) - The NASL Spring Season draws to a close this Saturday and while Marc Dos Santos' squad would like to be much higher in the standings, the club goes into it the first half finale with plenty of positives - their current four-game unbeaten streak being one of them.
After earning a 0-0 draw in the scorching Florida heat last Sunday in Jacksonville, Fury FC will have another heated affair of a different variety against the San Antonio Scorpions. While there temperature is expected to be in the low 30's, it is the on-field intensity between these two teams that should add to the entertainment with both eager to end the Spring Season on a winning note and a higher spot in the NASL standings.
"Last season, the games between Ottawa and San Antonio were always very competitive," Head Coach Marc Dos Santos said ahead of Saturday's Spring Season finale. "It's a very difficult place to play and we know exactly what to expect from a game like this one. All of us want to end the Spring Season on a high note and we will need another focused and determined performance on the road to come away with three points."
With an opportunity to finish the first half of the NASL season in the top five, Ottawa not only require a must-win mentality in San Antonio, but a must score mentality - perhaps the more vital factor above all others. The Scorpions have the worst goal difference in the NASL (-4) but their defensive game has been much improved with just six goals given up in their last five games, compared to the nine they surrendered in their opening four games.
While the club's defensive record has enabled them to collect points in each of their last four matches (1-3-0), they have mustered just a single goal in that run. But, if scoring is an evident problem, they certainly provide themselves an opportunity to win every night with a defense that hasn't conceded a goal in 436 minutes putting Romuald Peiser and his team in the modern day NASL record books for longest shutout streak since the League returned in 2011.
Another close and feisty affair is expected Saturday in the Lone Star State as the Scorpions have also had their struggles scoring with just two goals in their last three games (1-1-1) and just four goals in four home games this season. To the Scorpions credit, however, they have Omar Cummings in the line-up who has is tied for the league lead in goal with 5 - the same number of goals Fury FC have scored in 2015 to date.
Tom Heinemann will return from injury as will Phil Davies who has missed the entire Spring Season after suffering a severe arm break in pre-season. Both Oliver and Richie Ryan remain sidelined to injury, but are expect to be ready for the Fall Season opener July 5. Ottawa is also without Julian De Guzman who was called in to the Canadian Men's National team for their World Cup Qualifiers against Dominica (June 11 and 16).
The New York Cosmos will claim the NASL Spring Season Championship with a single point or any points dropped by Tampa Bay, but the race for a top for finish remains within the near grasp of several teams as every point again proves vital in a very competitive first half of the 2015 NASL Season. Through 50 games in the NASL this season, 20 have ended in a draw, 20 have been decided by one goal and 10 have been decided by two or more goals.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Mark Kadlecik
Assistants: Jeffrey Greeson and Christian Gordon
Fourth Official: Mike Arrington
Following a three week break, Fury FC will host Jacksonville Armada FC in the Fall Season opener July 5 at TD Place. Tickets to this match and all Fall Season matches are available atOttawaFuryFC.com OttawaFuryFC.com.
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North American Soccer League Stories from June 12, 2015
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- Armada FC Announce International Friendly Match against Argentinian Club Boca Juniors - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Preview: Match Day 11 - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Match Preview: Ottawa Carries Unbeaten Streak into San Antonio for NASL Spring Season Finale - Ottawa Fury FC
- Cosmos Renew Partnership with Peak Performance - New York Cosmos
- FC Edmonton Match Preview: vs Indy Eleven (June 13, 2015) - FC Edmonton
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