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Railhawks Extend Home Unbeaten Streak With Draw Against The Ottawa Fury

September 10, 2016 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
North Carolina FC News Release


Cary, N.C.- The Carolina RailHawks (8W-6D-8L; 30 pts; 6th place) held the Ottawa Fury (5W-8D-11L; 23 pts; 10th place) to a scoreless draw on Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park, extending their home unbeaten streak to eight games. Goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre posted his second consecutive shutout to help the RailHawks earn one point in the standings.

The game was a strong defensive showing, as the RailHawks supplemented Sylvestre's two saved shots by holding Ottawa to a shot-less second half.

After posting a shutout last week against the Jacksonville Armada, Sylvestre was on top of his game again, robbing the Fury of consecutive chances. Sylvestre stopped Maxim Tissot's shot from the right side and then seconds later denied Giueseppe Gentile's header attempt in the 13th minute.

RailHawks defense continued to deny Ottawa Fury FC time and space, as the offense worked to give their team the advantage. Carolina's most promising first half chances came in the 16th and 31st minutes.

The ever pressing Matt Fondy was looking for his seventh goal of the season when he broke away to create a chance that was swatted away by goalkeeper Romuald Peiser. 15 minutes later an Omar Bravo through ball found Steven Miller for a shot to the right side of the box that was again denied by Peiser.

Despite no balls finding the back of the net in the first 45 minutes, the RailHawks held control of most of the first half with 56 percent of possession.

The RailHawks came back from half-time on a mission, creating trouble for Ottawa numerous times in the first 10 minutes upon return.

In his 40th career start with the RailHawks, Matt Watson opened the first few minutes of play in the second half with a dangerously close chance in the 47th minute. The midfielder's shot rocketed just wide of the net.

Omar Bravo added onto the attack six minutes later as he deflected a cross towards the net; however, Peiser made another key save for Ottawa.

The RailHawks were all over Peiser yet again in the 68th minute as Kareem Moses' shot was blocked. The Trinidad and Tobago national was given yet another opportunity seconds later with a shot that just veered to the right of the net.

Refusing to quit, the RailHawks continued to be peppered with chances throughout the rest of the match, including a Nazmi Albadawi shot that barely sailed over the crossbar in added stoppage time; however, Peiser was unwavering.

Overall, the RailHawks dominated the match and held the Ottawa Fury to only 38 percent of possession throughout the entirety of the game.

"We're still creating the same amount of chances. The goals will come back," said Carolina's Head Coach, Colin Clarke. "It would be different if we were sitting in and defending and not getting forward and not possessing the ball for 70 percent of the time. I don't think we're gone into a more defensive mode, but we are doing a better job on the defensive side, but still possessing, moving the ball, and creating a lot of chances. A lot of action was in their box and I think the balance is good right now."

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