United Looks for Fourth Straight Win over Ottawa Fury
April 17, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Friday, April 17, 2015) -- After spending last weekend on the road in Florida and securing a point against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in their home opener, United (0W-1T-0L, 1pt.) heads to Canada for Ottawa Fury FC's (0W-1T-1L,1pt.) home opener. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Aprill 18 at TD Place. The match kicks off at 2 p.m. CT. Fans can watch all the action live on KSTC45-TV and ESPN 3.
Matches against Ottawa Fury, especially on the road, have been extremely tight in the past. United squeaked by in the spring of 2014 thanks to a late goal in added time by Christian Ramirez. In the hopes of getting the match started with a quicker tempo this time around and to avoid travel fatigue, the Loons made the trip to Ottawa two days early for the match.
"Travel up there is not great; we have to take extra flights and sit around in airports-which to me are valid excuses-thus we are going up a little earlier this time for this trip," said United Assistant Coach Carl Craig. "No excuses like that this time. We're going up a little earlier."
Ottawa Fury FC varies its attacking shape-pushing the ball wide and running up the field, playing the ball in and out with short passes and occasionally knocking the ball over the top to running strikers. Fury midfielders SiniÅ¡a UbiparipoviÃâ¡ and Richie Ryan are not afraid to strike from distance, and are accurate from 25 and 30 yards out. Expect Ottawa to line up in a 4-2-3-1 with striker Tom Heinemann holding his position at the top of the line playing as a target forward.
"Their style of play is pretty direct-they like to get the ball into their strikers early and play often," said Craig. "They've got quality of who they can play off. We know they'll press us, we know they'll be direct. We need to find ways to exploit what they give us down the sides of their central defense."
Not content with earning one point on the road against the Rowdies in Week 2, United is eager to find the back of the net early against an Ottawa team that has conceded four goals in two matches this season.
Minnesota United's home opener is April 25th when the Loons match up against last year's NASL Soccer Bowl Champion San Antonio Scorpions. Welcome USMNT midfielder Miguel Ibarra, last season's top goal scorer Christian Ramirez and all of the boys in black and blue back to the National Sports Center Stadium!
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North American Soccer League Stories from April 17, 2015
- United Looks for Fourth Straight Win over Ottawa Fury - Minnesota United FC
- Home Openers in New York and Ottawa Headline Week 3 Matchups - NASL
- Scorpions Sign Former MLS Midfielder Joseph Nane - San Antonio Scorpions
- FC Edmonton Preview: vs Fort Lauderdale Strikers (April 19, 2015) - FC Edmonton
- Match Preview: No Motivation Required for Fury FC in Home Opener - Ottawa Fury FC
- Match Preview: Carolina RailHawks Host Atlanta Silverbacks FC - North Carolina FC
- Take Part in RedBlacks and Fury FC Fan Photo Shoot - Ottawa Fury FC
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