Two clubs, both alike in dignity,
In fair Ottawa, where we play our match,
From expansion woes to become no ones pity,
A righteous victory our heroes will snatch.
From forth the footwork of these two foes
To the field skillful strikers will take;
Stout defences they intend to expose,
Though Falvey and Alves dost a Furious shield make.
To which if you, with passionate voice, should attend,
A streak of 12, our toil shall strive to extend.
[Enter OTTAWA FURY FC, of the Place of TD]
–William Shakesp Josh Lemoine
By which I mean, of course, it’s a Fury FC game day, Ottawa!
The curtain lifts at 7pm tonight at TD Place. Our heroes, Ottawa Fury FC, takes on lecherous foes Minnesota United, hoping to continue its incredibly successful Fall Season so far. Currently sitting atop the NASL Fall Season AND Combined (Fall + Spring Season) standings, Captain Richie Ryan and Co. are coming off a dominating 4-1 win over Indy Eleven last Saturday. The win extended their current unbeaten streak to 12 games. Check out the highlights from that game. (Warning: Contains goals so filthy you’ll need a shower)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2A_mAtoD0s&spfreload=10[/youtube]
OFFC has not lost a game since May 2nd, and has won five straight since a 1-1 draw against in Minnesota on July 11.
The Fury sit atop the MidfieldPress.com NASL Power Rankings.
Right now, Ottawa Fury FC are making a strong case that they are the best team in Canada, in NASL, MLS, or any other league.
When asked about the current streak, Ryan said a lot has to do with the cohesiveness of the team.
“To me, togetherness is a big thing. We’ve got a smaller squad here, so it’s very important that we have a group of players here who are on the same page. I think, over the past couple of months, you and everyone else at the games have seen how together we are when we’re out on the pitch, when we score, whether it’s the 10th minute or the 90th minute, the way we celebrate together. Not only do we work well on the field but we have strong friendships away from it as well.”
Forward Carl Haworth credits a tough stretch in the spring season to starting the turnaround. “I think a big thing is early on [in the season] we lost three games in a row. We tightened things up defensively, started working from back to front, making sure we started doing the little things right, day in and day out, and the results just sort of fell into place.” Another factor, he says, is the team’s character. “We make sure that if we do concede a goal here and there that we continue to stay focused. It’s a test of our character, when we concede, knowing that we can still come back. Goals are going in for us now, so we know if they score one on, we can go come back and score two on them. We build more confidence every game.”
Minnesota, in 4th place in the Fall Season and Combined Season standings, comes into Ottawa after a 1-1 draw against FC Edmonton. After a slow start, they are now one of the hotter teams in the league (Ottawa aside). They’ll be led by leading scorer and US national team candidate Christian Ramirez, who scored his 7th goal of the season, and club record 27th goal for the Loons, in the tie.
Fun fact: Minnesota call themselves ‘The Loons’ voluntarily. They did not lose a bet.
Another fun fact: A group of loons is called a “raft.”
Anyways.
Players to Watch
Coach Dos Santos and Carl having a laugh.
Canadian and Fury PDL product Carl Haworth (seen at left with Fury Head Coach and bad jokester Marc Dos Santos) has been the Heart & Crown Man of the Match in Ottawa’s last two home games. When he’s on the field, he has been creating chances and making space for other players. In Ottawa’s last home game, Carl scored an exhilarating game-winner in the final minute of injury time to securethe full 3 points against Carolina.
Christian Ramirez: It seems strange to say that a man who was the NASL’s runaway leading scorer in 2014 could possibly have been in someone’s shadow. But when you are teammates with the first modern NASL player to crack the U.S. National Team (Miguel Ibarra), that can happen. However, since Ibarra left Minnesota for Club León of Mexico’s Liga MX, and after a slow Spring Season, Ramirez is coming into form, and will face Ottawa having scored in each of his last six games.
Keys to Victory
Tonight’s match comes down to defence. The Fury back 4 have come to be known at the Wall of Ottawa. Directed by goalie Romuald Peiser, the line of Mason Trafford, Ryan Richter, and ‘FalVes’ (Colin Falvey and Raphael Alves) has not changed in months, and why should it? They have allowed more than 1 goal only once since APRIL 29TH. That’s the kind of defence that wins championships. However, Minnesota hasn’t been shut out in 17 games, so they will likely be challenged often.
Two Indy Eleven players realize they can’t get past FalVes. Colin Falvey (Right) and Raphael Alves (centre). Photo from Ottawa Sun.
Minnesota’s defence has been its weakest area. Only once this year have they held a team off the scoreboard, and that was against expansion bottom-dwellers Jacksonville Armada. The Loons tend to keep things very close with Ottawa though, so this should be a very tight game.
Fans Matter
Richie Ryan: “For us as players, especially the ones who were here last season, to see the fanbase grow from what we started out last year to now getting 5500-6000 people inside TD Place, it’s big for us to see that. And to see Section W [the Supporter Group section], to see them come out and have fun, it makes the atmosphere enjoyable. We feel that on the field.” Haworth adds “You can hear it, the noise from down in the corner from our Supporter Groups is massive. They have chants going all game, chants for every player. So you hear those and you get going, and they get the rest of the crowd going as well, so when they join in it’s pretty special.”
