Match Preview: Ottawa Looks to Extend Unbeaten Streak to Four Games against Jacksonville on Sunday
June 5, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON (June 5, 2015) - If the sports adage 'defence wins championships' than Marc Dos Santos and his squad should have all the confidence in the world heading into a two-game road trip to close out the NASL Spring Season starting Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville.
After surrendering 9 goals in three games within one week that saw them eliminated from the Amway Canadian Championship, Ottawa Fury FC have found a near perfect record on defence having conceded just once in the four games since. Fury FC find themselves unbeaten in their last three games (1-2-0) and haven't surrendered a goal in 344 minutes.
"Our last three matches were positive and we wish to continue with the same attitude against the Armada on Sunday," said Head Coach Marc Dos Santos. "We know Jacksonville is a very difficult place to play and we are all aware of what it will take from us to succeed there."
After winning three of their first five games in their inaugural NASL season, Jacksonville has gone winless in their last three (0-1-2) and have been outscored 8-3 during their winless skid that does not include a 3-0 defeat to the Richmond Kickers who ousted them from the US Open Cup. Despite their lack of scoring in the month of May, the Armada boast a pair of veteran snipers in Jemal Johnson and Alhassane Keita who have scored half of the goals for Jacksonville this season.
Ottawa finished the 9-game Spring Season of 2014 with a record of 3-1-5 (W-D-L) good for 9 points and a 6th place finish. Through eight games this season, Fury FC have equaled the number of points and can beat their 2014 result with at least a point in Jacksonville on Sunday. What is noticeably different is in the goals for and against department. In 2014 their scored 14 while conceding 13. Thus far in 2015, Ottawa has scored 5, but have only surrendered 8.
Sunday will mark the final game of the Spring Season for midfielder Julian De Guzman who has been called in to the Canadian National Team for a pair of World Cup Qualifiers against Dominica.
While Phil Davies nears his return to the squad after a breaking his arm in pre-season, Richie Ryan and Tom Heinemann will again join Davies on the injury list for the second straight match. The captain has seen just two games in the Spring Season due to injury, but was part of a pair of 1-0 victories during his 25 minutes of action.
The New York Cosmos could clinch the NASL Spring Season Championship this weekend, but the race to be in the top four of the NASL standings remains tight through nine weeks of play. Fury FC find themselves four points out of second place and can leap frog fifth place Jacksonville with a win on Sunday. Through 45 games in the NASL this season, 18 have ended in a draw, 17 have been decided by one goal and 10 have been decided by two or more goals.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Mark Geiger
Assistants: Logan Brown and Mark Sauro
Fourth Official: Patrick O'Brien
Fury FC close out the NASL Spring campaign next Saturday in San Antonio. Tickets to the Fall Season opener July 5 and all Fall Season matches are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from June 5, 2015
- Minnesota Looks for Crucial Points on the Road in Carolina - Minnesota United FC
- Week 10 Features Must-Win Matches for Tampa Bay, Minnesota - NASL
- Millien Named to Haiti's Preliminary Gold Cup Roster - Jacksonville Armada FC
- Match Preview: Ottawa Looks to Extend Unbeaten Streak to Four Games against Jacksonville on Sunday - Ottawa Fury FC
- New York Cosmos Forward Raúl Earns NASL Player of the Month Honors - NASL
- Atlanta Hosts Defending Champions - Atlanta Silverbacks
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