Penn FC Snaps Winless Streak at Ottawa
August 25, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
OTTAWA - Penn FC snapped its six match winless streak after it earned a 2-0 win on the road against the Ottawa Fury FC and reasserted itself into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Rush Soccer's First Team relentlessly pressured the Canadian side in the first half as it worked to exorcise its demons against the club that beat it twice earlier this season.
In the waning moments of the first half stoppage time, Penn FC found the go-ahead goal. Richard Menjivar crossed the ball to Paulo Junior as the Brazilian winger raced up the midfield. Paulo switched the ball from his left foot to his right to open a window past his defender. He quickly fired off his shot from outside the box which beat Ottawa goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.
Ottawa came out of the dressing room reinvigorated and pressed the Penn FC defense for the equalizer. The hosts nearly broke through as it earned three corners in the 52nd and 53rd minutes, but goalkeeper Romu Peiser and his defense remained resolute and did not concede a goal off the set pieces.
Finally, the Blue and White found its dagger on the counter attack in the 80th minute. Isaac Osae received a through ball up the left wing. As his defenders converged on him, he played a lateral pass to the midfield that was gathered by a streaking Aaron Dennis. The attacker quickly dribbled the ball near the top of the box and blasted his attempt past Crépeau.
The team held on to its two-goal advantage and outlasted Fury FC in the closing minutes of the match.
With the win, Penn FC vaulted from 13th to 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with 29 points earned on the season. Ottawa still sits in the final playoff spot at eighth place, but Penn FC sits only six points back of Ottawa with three matches in hand.
Next week, Penn FC returns to the Keystone state for its final away match of the 2018 season. Rush Soccer's First Team is scheduled to face Bethlehem Steel FC on Sunday, Sep. 2 at 3 p.m. Fans unable to make the trip to the Lehigh Valley can watch the match live on the ESPN+ streaming platform.
After that, the Blue and White makes its anticipated return to FNB Field after seven straight away matches to host The Homestretch. Penn FC is scheduled to finish the season with nine straight home matches as it pushes for a playoff appearance in its inaugural season. Tickets for the matches are available at pennfc.com/tickets.
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