USL Ottawa Fury FC

Ottawa's Canadian Championship Run Ends with Valiant Effort Against Toronto FC

May 31, 2017 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release


TORONTO, ON - Ottawa Fury FC saw their Canadian Championship run end Wednesday night at BMO Field as they fell 4-0 (5-2 on aggregate) to Toronto FC in the second leg of the Canadian Championship Semifinals in Toronto.

Despite an encouraging start to the match that saw Fury FC create the opening offensive chances, Toronto FC scored two goals a minute apart on the cusps of halftime to carry a lead into the break.

Toronto limited their second half opportunities, but Ottawa still pressed for an away goal that would force extra time. Substitute Marco Delgado ended Ottawa's hopes of a comeback in the 80th minute making it 3-0 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate. MLS Superstar Sebastian Giovinco would then seal the deal in the 85th minute, putting his side up 4-0.

All of TFC's big names were on display Wednesday night, less Jozy Altidore and captain Michael Bradley who were both away on International duty with the United States.

Ottawa picked up from where they left off last Tuesday, not looking one bit overwhelmed and full of confidence, creating scoring chances early in the match. It was Toronto FC who would struggle early on to figure out how to break through Ottawa's back wall.

Fury FC's man on fire would ask the first question of the match in the 19th minute as Sito, scorer of 5 goals in the last 5 games, found himself alone on goal. Tucker Hume supplied Sito with a wonderful flick over the TFC defenders, however, the effort would be thwarted by Clint Irwin as the TFC keeper was quick off his line to deny Sito of the Fury's first vital away goal.

Andrae Campbell would ask the next question in the 30th minute as the Jamaican international danced into the box and made a cross that found Sito who controlled the ball off his chest and powered a shot on net.

Again, the effort was denied by a challenge from TFC defender Eriq Zavaleta. The ensuing cross would see TFC forward Tosaint Ricketts, one of six Canadian starters on the field, leave the game prematurely with an apparent hamstring injury. All eyes were on the TFC sidelines as Sebastian Giovinco began warming up. The eventual substitution would see defender Steven Beitashour come in for the quick-footed Canadian.

In the 41st minute, Toronto FC would capitalize on their first quality breakthrough as TFC pieced together a wonderful string of passes. TFC forward Tsubasah Endoh made a wonderful run in behind the Ottawa defence and drove the ball low across goal. Unfortunately for Eddie Edward, who was making his 14th Canadian Championship appearance, the cross that was would bounce off his leg as he battled with Justin Morrow and into his own net, putting the home side up 1-0.

The goal energized Toronto FC and Tsubasah Endoh struck again within a minute. The play began with a string of passed by Canadian Jordan Hamilton and Victor Vazquez with the Spaniard delivering a perfectly-timed cross that found a streaking Endoh whose glancing header beat Callum Irving at the back post to spot the home side to a two-goal advantage heading into halftime.

As the second half kicked off, Hamilton would be replaced by Sebastian Giovinco - who was taking the pitch for the first time since a quad injury kept him out of play in recent games for Toronto FC. The former Juventus striker would flex the aforementioned quad in the 49th minute, blasting a shot towards the Fury net just missing the frame.

The score remaining 2-0 for TFC and 3-2 on aggregate. Fury FC would answer in the 57th minute, continuing to press offensively as Sito produced another chance to get his team's first goal of the evening. The effort just missed the target, but was nonetheless an encouraging sign in the early second half for the Fury.

Coach Dalglish would make wholesale changes in the 69th minute, getting fresh legs up front in efforts to get the one goal that would send the contest into extra time, as Gerardo Bruna and Sergio Manesio would come on for Ryan Williams and Sito respectively. The appearance would be Bruna's first since April 22nd.

Toronto FC Captain Benoit Cheyrou would orchestrate an exquisite run of play in the 80th minute as a through ball to Morrow on the left hand side led to a low curling cross behind all Fury defenders to Delgado who had beat his man and tucked the ball past Irving to all but end the Fury's hopes of moving into the Canadian Championship final against the Montreal Impact.

Sebastian Giovinco then signed, sealed, and delivered TFC's ticket to the Canadian Championship final in the 85th minute as the Italian international finished off another great run of play by the MLS-leaders, as he beat Andrae Campbell to another Victor Vazquez delivery and lazered a left footer past Callum Irving at the top of the box.

The loss is Ottawa's first on the road since April 8 in Tampa Bay. Fury FC will return home to the nation's capital to prepare for their match on Sunday that takes them south of the border for a date with the Bethlehem Steel. Following their June 4th road fixture, Ottawa will return home to face the Harrisburg City Islanders on June 10th at TD Place at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for that game and every other Fury FC home Game and Season tickets for the 2017 USL season are available at OttawaFuryFC.com, by calling 613.232.6767 X1 or in person at The Box Office at TD Place.

Post-game comments:

Fury FC GM and Head Coach Paul Dalglish:

"We gave everything and I couldn't be more proud of our guys. Toronto is a top team. Before the game I told the players to make sure that when we get back on the bus after the game we had no regrets and they gave absolutely everything."

"We look at Toronto's quality around the box and the quality of their finishing, that's why they are an MLS team. I thought we had a good first half, we had our chances, but the difference is that they took theirs. So ultimately this was like a university lesson for our organization. They are arguably the best team in MLS so we are going to learn from it, work harder and if we get the opportunity again we will get closer."

Fury FC Midfielder, Jamar Dixon:

"I thought we worked very hard today, we gave everything we had, but at the end of the day they took their chances and we didn't take ours. Football is a game of chances and today they had a little bit more quality than us. I'm very proud of our guys, we can walk out of here with our heads high, but the better team won today."

Match Report

Starting XI:

Ottawa Fury FC (3-4-3): Irving; Obasi, Martin Del Campo, McEleney; Campbell, Rozeboom, Dixon (Sanon 74'), Edward; Sito (Manesio 69'), Hume,Williams (Bruna 69')

Toronto FC (3-5-2): Irwin, Mavinga, Moor, Zavaleta; Morrow, Vazquez, Cheyrou, Osorio, Endoh (Delgado 76'); Hamilton (Giovinco 46'), Ricketts (Beitashour 34')

Scoring Summary:

41' TFC - Edward (OG)

42' TFC - Endoh (Vazquez)

80' TFC - Delgado (Morrow)

85' TFC - Giovinco (Vazquez)

Caution Summary:

None

Ejection Summary:

None

Attendance:

15, 175

Next Match: June 4 @ Bethlehem Steel FC- 5 p.m. - Goodman Stadium

Next Home Match: June 10 vs Harrisburg City Islanders - 7 p.m. - TD Place



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 31, 2017


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