Match Preview: Ottawa Ready for a Battle in Atlanta
Published on April 10, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
ATLANTA SILVERBACKS -v- OTTAWA FURY FC
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April 10, 2015 (Atlanta, GA) - Ottawa Fury FC continue their season opening road trip Saturday night in Atlanta where they look to rebound from a frustrating loss in Carolina last Saturday.
While the Silverbacks did collect a point in their season opener last weekend against Indy Eleven, they were in a position to take all three points, if not for a stoppage time equalizer from the Eleven's Don Smart. Atlanta, like Ottawa, will come into Saturday's affair hungry to improve on their opening game of the 2015 NASL season.
"We have put last week behind us and go to Atlanta focused and determined to get a good result," said Fury FC head coach Marc Dos Santos. "This week we focused on what we needed to do better and also took the positives from the Carolina game."
Some of those positives includes some crucial saves from goalkeeper Romuald Peiser, an impressive debut for several newcomers include Brandon Poltronieri who netted the club's first goal of the season within a minute of coming on as a substitute. Ottawa also held more possession and produced several quality scoring opportunities.
While Dos Santos believes his team is ready for this match and is expecting a battle at Silverbacks Park. "Saturday's match will be a battle in a difficult field to play on and we will need to be very strong mentally if we want to succeed. We worked hard this week and we are all focused on getting a good result in Atlanta."
The Silverbacks prove to be one of the biggest squads in the NASL, in terms of size. Their Starting XI last week versus Indy saw nine of the eleven starters standing over six feet. Height is one weapon that makes the Silverbacks dangerous on set plays and they also boast a collection of players that have made a career of finding the back of the net including Dutch striker Hans Denissen, Shaka Bangura who tallied in their season opener, Jaime Chavez who led the team in scoring in 2014 and former DC United and Canadian International striker Kyle Porter, to name a few.
While Paterson, Oliver and Eustaquio all return to the line-up from suspension, the club will again be without the services of captain Richie Ryan and fellow midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic who are stilling returning to match fitness following pre-season injuries. Paulo Junior is also sidelined with an injury and the club will continue to be without Phil Davies for another 6-8 weeks after the versatile midfielder broke his arm in a pre-season friendly against Syracuse. Fury FC will also be without midfielder Julian De Guzman who will serve a one-match suspension after picking up a pair of yellow cards (resulting in a red) in last Saturday's opener.
Despite falling 2-1 in Atlanta in their first meeting, Ottawa won the season series last season thanks to a 3-0 road win at Silverbacks Park and followed that up with a 2-0 win at TD Place - the club's first-ever win at their new home.
Saturday's match marks the return of Mike Randolph and Brandon Poltronieri to Atlanta. Poltronieri spent half of the 2014 season with the Silverbacks, while Randolph spent three seasons in Atlanta helping them reach the Soccer Bowl in 2013 and serving as their captain in 2014.
Fury FC return home to host the 2014 NASL Regular Season Champions Minnesota United FC in their home opener at TD Place on April 18 before hosting FC Edmonton in the first leg of the preliminary round of the Amway Canadian Championship on April 22. Tickets available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from April 10, 2015
- Preview: Minnesota United Opens 2015 NASL Campaign Saturday in Tampa Bay - Minnesota United FC
- Fury FC Players and Staff Safe Following Incident on Flight to Atlanta - Ottawa Fury FC
- Rowdies' Home Opener against United Headlines Week 2 Matchups - NASL
- Match Preview: FC Edmonton Host Carolina RailHawks - North Carolina FC
- Match Preview: Ottawa Ready for a Battle in Atlanta - Ottawa Fury FC
- FCE Match Preview: vs Carolina RailHawks - FC Edmonton
- Preview: Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Ottawa Fury FC - Atlanta Silverbacks
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