Ottawa Look to Hometown Support in Opener of Crucial Home-And-Home Series against Fort Lauderdale
September 11, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON (September 4, 2015) - All season long Fury FC head coach Marc Dos Santos has preached that the club's focus is one game at a time. There is no bigger 'next game' than Saturday's match at TD Place when Ottawa hosts the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in their lone home match in the month of September.
With the season quickly winding down and Ottawa inching closer to securing their first-ever post-season berth, picking up results at home will be vital with only three of their remaining nine matches coming at TD Place.
"This game has very significant importance. Both of our teams are fighting for a spot in the post-season. We know that we haven't accomplished anything yet and the next matches will be crucial in our hopes to qualify in the top 4," said Dos Santos whose side will travel to Fort Lauderdale next Saturday (September 19) to complete the home-and-home series with the Strikers.
"Fort Lauderdale has been growing as a team and we need to be focused and organized if we want to succeed. Our guys are ready and will definitely answer in a positive way."
While Ottawa is sporting the best record in the NASL since May, the Fort Lauderdale Strikes have put a tidy run together to close out the month of August. After a 3-3 draw against the New York Cosmos, the Strikers have remained unbeaten reeling off three straight victories outscoring the opposition 11-2 in the process.
Their impressive play of late has pulled the Strikers to within three points of the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the fourth and final spot in the NASL post-season and hold a game in hand on their state rivals. With six goals in his last three games, Brazilian striker Stefano Pinho was named NASL Player of the Month for August and will be a key player to watch for Ottawa along with his compatriot in midfield PC.
After collecting a crucial three points in San Antonio last Saturday, Ottawa grew their lead in the race for the Fall Season Championship to 5-points over Minnesota and New York who both dropped points last weekend. The win returned Fury FC to the win column and extended their road unbeaten streak to six games.
The attendance and atmosphere at TD Place has been on the rise in 2015 and one could argue a direct correlation to the team's on-field success.
"Home field advantage is absolutely massive. I like to think that TD Place has become a fortress for us this season and the fan support has been unbelievable and is continuing to grow," said the club's leading scorer, Tom Heinemann. "We feel the push from the fans when we're on the field - they are a very important part of our team"
With a home record of 6W-4D-2L it is fair to dub TD Place a fortress and if Fury FC maintain their lead atop the fall table, Ottawa will have the advantage of hosting the NASL Championship Semifinal calling upon the Fury Faithful and the fortress of TD Place to help send them to the Soccer Bowl.
Ottawa will again be without defender Drew Beckie and forward Ugur Albayrak and midfielder Julian De Guzman will return to action for the return match in Fort Lauderdale next weekend.
The toughest stretch of games of the season starts for Fury FC next Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale. They will play three days later against the Cosmos in New York (Sept. 22) and close out the three-game eight-day road trip on September 26 in Carolina. Ottawa will return home October 4 for another chapter in the All-Canadian derby facing FC Edmonton. Tickets to the match against FC Edmonton and their final home match of the regular season (October 14) are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Mathieu Bourdeau
Assistants: Christian Palavicino and Peter Pendli
Fourth Official: Chris Grabas
North American Soccer League Stories from September 11, 2015
- Match Notes: San Antonio Scorpions vs Indy Eleven: September 12, 2015 - San Antonio Scorpions
- Minnesota United Looks to Extend Streaks on Saturday - Minnesota United FC
- Match Preview: RailHawks Continue Playoff Push against Minnesota - North Carolina FC
- Ottawa Look to Hometown Support in Opener of Crucial Home-And-Home Series against Fort Lauderdale - Ottawa Fury FC
- Minnesota United Signs Talented Midfielder Alejandro Vela - Minnesota United FC
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