MATCH RECAP: Fury Spoil Rowdies Post-Season Hope in Feisty Affair
October 22, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
Fury Spoil Rowdies Post-Season Hope in Feisty Affair
(Ottawa Fury FC, Credit: Tampa Bay Rowdies)
OTTAWA, ON - With a postseason berth on the line for the Rowdies, it was expected to be an intense match Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersberg, Florida, but it proved to be that and a whole lot more!
The feisty and vocal affair was filled with fouls, cards, a pair of goals as both teams finishing shorthanded - Ottawa with 10-men and Tampa Bay with just 9-men.
In the end, it was the scoreline that mattered most and it read 1-1 with Ottawa claiming a big road point to eliminate the Rowdies from postseason contention.
Head coach Paul Dalglish was pleased with the intensity his players showed.
"I was pleased to see the desire the guys showed to still compete even though it was a tough situation with us being out of the postseason. I've got to be happy with effort level of the players tonight, they fought hard, but unfortunately we didn't show enough quality in the final third once again."
The Rowdies came out hungry to start the match, but Eric Avila was unable to capitalize on a gift from Joe Cole. Not long after, Ryan Williams was brought down from behind on a breakaway by Darnell King. King was shown a straight red and Fury FC were spotted a free-kick from 20 yards out. Haworth's attempt was blocked by the wall, but Maxim Tissot's volley bounced through the way and through the hands of Rowdies' goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
Eric Avila would exit the match after suffering a severe ankle injury following a challenge with Onua Obasi. The intensity level of the match would build further from there and would reach an almost fever pitch when Eddie Edward met PC with a sliding challenge.
Before the half was out, Giuseppe Gentile would nearly spot Ottawa a two-goal lead, but his rocket of a shot was kept out by the crossbar and Ottawa held a 1-0 lead through the opening half.
Three minutes into the second half the Rowdies pulled level when Justin Chavez sent a perfect ball behind Ottawa's defence to a streaking Georgi Hristov who notched his 11th goal of the season.
Ottawa continued to produce chances through Williams, Haworth, Gentile and Lance Rozeboom, but were unable to find the go-ahead goal.
With their postseason hopes hanging in the balance the Rowdies pressed late and saw Ottawa reduced to 10-men when Eddie Edward was sent off with a questionable second yellow card.
Hristov had three chances in stoppage time to give the Rowdies the lead, but was unable to find the back of the net. His frustration maxed out and saw the Rowdies leading scorer ejected after arguing with the official. Ottawa held on in the final moments to maintain the 1-1 and spoil the Rowdies final home game of the regular season and their postseason hopes.
Fury FC return home on October 29 at 2 p.m. to take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Fan Appreciation Day at TD Place - the final game of the NASL Regular Season. Tickets for Fury FC home games are available by clicking here, calling 613.232.6767 x1 or in person at The Box Office at TD Place.
Starting XI:
Ottawa Fury FC(3-4-2-1): Peiser; Obasi, Alves (Roberts 76'), Edward;Tissot, Bailey (Stewart 84'), Rozeboom, Porter; Williams, Haworth; Gentile (Bruna 65')
Tampa Bay Rowdies (4-2-3-1): Pickens; King, Collins, Antonijevic (Preciado 75'), PC; Chavez, Guerra ; Avila (Savage 43'), Cole, Hristov; Heinemann
Fury FC:
Fall Season: 5W-7D-9L, 22 pts, 10th place
Overall Season : 7W-10D-14L, 31 pts, 10th place
Tampa Bay Rowdies:
Fall Season: 5 W-8D-8L, 23 pts, 8th place
Overall Season: 9W-12D-10L, 39 pts, 7th place
Scoring Summary:
27' OTT - Tissot
48' TBR - Hristov (Chavez)
Caution Summary:
43' OTT - Obasi
45+3' OTT - Edward
45+11' TBR - Pickens
70' OTT - Alves
89' OTT - Edward (second)
90+3' TBR - PC
Ejection Summary:
25' TBR- King
89' OTT - Edward (second yellow)
90+5' TBR - Hristov
Attendance: 7641
Next Match: Saturday, October 29 vs Fort Lauderdale Strikers - 2:00 PM
Next Home Match: Saturday, October 29 vs Fort Lauderdale Strikers - 2 :00 PM
Images from this story
 Fury Spoil Rowdies Post-Season Hope in Feisty Affair (Tampa Bay Rowdies) |
North American Soccer League Stories from October 22, 2016
- MATCH RECAP: Fury Spoil Rowdies Post-Season Hope in Feisty Affair - Ottawa Fury FC
- Match Recap: Carolina Tops Minnesota United 1-0 in Final Home Game of the Season - North Carolina FC
- Rayo OKC Forges Ahead in Postseason Race, Cosmos Break Record - NASL
- Cosmos Break NASL Record with Big Win over Miami - New York Cosmos
- MATCH RECAP: Rowdies Eliminated from Playoff Race After 1-1 Draw - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- NASL RECAP:Indy Eleven's 3-0 Win over Puerto Rico FC Caps Undefeated Home Regular Season Slate - Indy Eleven
- Strikers' Playoff Hopes Dashed by Loss to Rayo OKC - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- RECAP |Minnesota Falls Short in Carolina - Minnesota United FC
- RECAP | Tough Night Sees the Miami FC Fall to the Cosmos - Miami FC
- Carolina RailHawks Announce 2016 Team Awards - North Carolina FC
- FC Edmonton Academy's David Doe Selected to Canada U-17 Camp - FC Edmonton
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.
