Rowdies Strike Late to Steal Victory from Fury
August 29, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Ottawa Fury FC News Release
OTTAWA, ON - It was a night of firsts for Ottawa's Brazilian forwards as Paulo Junior scored his first-ever goal for Fury FC and Oliver collected his first of the season to pace Fury FC to a two-goal lead. The Rowdies would pull one back in the first half and find the equalizer three minutes from time to steal victory from Ottawa in front of yet another impressive crowd at TD Place. With the point Fury FC remain atop the NASL Fall Season standings with the Atlanta Silverbacks closing the gap to three points following their win over FC Edmonton.
"This game is going to remind us how long, how difficult and how hard it is going to be to walk towards the playoffs," said Fury FC head coach Marc Dos Santos after the game. "We are in a good position where we have control, but it's going to take hard work and focus to make the playoffs."
Ottawa dictated the pace early in this contest in the attacking third with forward Tom Heinemann and defender Rafael Alves getting close to the Rowdies goal in the early stages.
In the 12th minute Ottawa was caught on the counterattack and goalkeeper Romuald Peiser was forced to make a crucial save on Rowdies forward Georgi Hristov who was in clear on the breakaway. As he does so well, Peiser came charging off his line to deny the Rowdies the opening goal.
A short time later, Ottawa found another gear and forward Paulo Junior out-muscled the Rowdies defence and placed a right-footed screamer into the far left corner to give Ottawa the lead on hie first-ever goal as a member of Fury FC. Ottawa has yet to lose this season when scoring the opening goal.
Ottawa would double that score in the 31st minute when forward Oliver, who came off the bench in the 17th minute for the injured Ugur Albayrak, would take a pass from Heinemann and pot the ball into the bottom right corner for his first of the season and scoring on his birthday no less.
Two minutes later the Rowdies would cut the deficit in half as Tamika Mkandawire headed in the goal following a scramble in front of Peiser on the free-kick from Georgi Hristov.
There was no shortage of action as Fury FC led the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 at the end of the first half.
It was the Fury FC's league-leading seventh home game of the Fall Season as the club welcomed over 6,000 in attendance for the third straight game on a rainy Saturday evening in Ottawa.
The duo of Oliver and Paulo Junior combined for another dangerous attempt in the 55th minute as Oliver put the ball on target and Paulo Junior almost smashed the rebound home.
Peiser continued to make important saves throughout the second half as the Rowdies looked to find a way to level the game, but the 'keeper remained consistently sound at the back.
In the 85th minute, Peiser would make a brilliant save on a volley by Hristov.Two minutes late, the Rowdies persistence would pay off as Darwin Espinal pulled the visitors level in the 87th minute to end Tampa Bay's three-game losing streak and steal valuable points from Fury FC.
Ottawa Fury FC visit the San Antonio Scorpions next weekend before returning home on Sept. 12 to take on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Tickets to this and all remaining Fall Season home matches are available at OttawaFuryFC.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from August 29, 2015
- Indy Eleven Struck Down by Strikers in South Florida - Indy Eleven
- Silverbacks, Burgos Swing 1-0 Victory - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Brazilian Storm Rains Down on Indy Eleven - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Rowdies Strike Late to Steal Victory from Fury - Ottawa Fury FC
- Eddies Drop First Road Match of Fall Season to Silverbacks - FC Edmonton
- Tampa Bay Rowdies Overcome Two-Goal Deficit to Earn Point in Ottawa - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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