FURY FC HEADS TO ATLANTA WITH AMBITIONS TO CLAIM TOP SEED IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP
A win would seal the No. 1 seed in the postseason for Ottawa
An incredible regular season draws to a close for Ottawa on Saturday afternoon quite fittingly against an Atlanta side that Fury FC defeated on July 22 at TD Place claiming first place in the Fall Season Standings – a position that was never relinquished by the second-year club.
The focus remains on first place, but this time in the Combined Standings, as Fury FC look to claim the top overall seed heading into The Championship – the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.
“Atlanta will challenge us in a lot of ways. It’s a very difficult place to play and they have shown throughout the Fall Season what they are capable of,” head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “This is an important game that could seed us No. 1 or No. 2 in the Combined Season. We must be ready, focused, and determined if we want to finish No. 1.”
While Ottawa’s Fall Season Championship has earned it a date on November 8 at TD Place in The Championship Semifinals, a finish as the top seed would do two things – provide home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason; and see the club host the No. 4 seed (Tampa Bay or Fort Lauderdale) as opposed to the No. 3 Minnesota United.
What it boils down to is two points. Two points won by Ottawa (win) or lost by New York (loss or draw) and first place in the Combined Standings will belong to the Fall Season Champions. New York hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies,who need a win to claim the fourth and final postseason position, on Saturday night. An Ottawa draw could also get the job done, but would need the side would need to own the goal difference tiebreaker over the Cosmos (which Ottawa currently holds)
The Silverbacks have put together an impressive season, especially their Fall campaign that had them in the postseason hunt until their recent struggles, which has seen them go winless in their last five and not score in three straight. Gary Smith and company turned the Silverbacks around after a last-place finish in the Spring Season so expect plenty of pride for the Silverbacks in the regular-season finale.
Goalkeeper Marcel DeBellis had a smile plastered on his face all week at training as Romuald Peiser’s understudy is set to make his much anticipated debut. The start will end Peiser’s run of 44-consecutive starts where he has established a record of 19W-14D-11L with 17 shutouts conceding only 42 goals. Falvey and Richter will keep their iron-man streaks going – both have played every minute of every match this season.
Fury FC has made good on their goal of making TD Place a fortress in 2015, but even more impressive is what they have done on the road. In the midst of an NASL-record 11-match road unbeaten streak, Fury FC has proven focused, effective, and efficient away from home where they have outscored the opposition, 20-6, during this streak.
With just a single loss in their last 24-matches (14W-9D-1L), Ottawa will look to put their second 12-match unbeaten streak together with a result in Atlanta on Saturday.
Captain Richie Ryan continues his return from injury and is expected to be ready for The Championship Semifinal. Ottawa will also be without midfielder Mauro Eustaquio, who serves a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation (5).
The focus remains on first place, but this time in the Combined Standings, as Fury FC look to claim the top overall seed heading into The Championship – the NASL’s four-team postseason tournament.
“Atlanta will challenge us in a lot of ways. It’s a very difficult place to play and they have shown throughout the Fall Season what they are capable of,” head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “This is an important game that could seed us No. 1 or No. 2 in the Combined Season. We must be ready, focused, and determined if we want to finish No. 1.”
While Ottawa’s Fall Season Championship has earned it a date on November 8 at TD Place in The Championship Semifinals, a finish as the top seed would do two things – provide home-field advantage throughout the entire postseason; and see the club host the No. 4 seed (Tampa Bay or Fort Lauderdale) as opposed to the No. 3 Minnesota United.
What it boils down to is two points. Two points won by Ottawa (win) or lost by New York (loss or draw) and first place in the Combined Standings will belong to the Fall Season Champions. New York hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies,who need a win to claim the fourth and final postseason position, on Saturday night. An Ottawa draw could also get the job done, but would need the side would need to own the goal difference tiebreaker over the Cosmos (which Ottawa currently holds)
The Silverbacks have put together an impressive season, especially their Fall campaign that had them in the postseason hunt until their recent struggles, which has seen them go winless in their last five and not score in three straight. Gary Smith and company turned the Silverbacks around after a last-place finish in the Spring Season so expect plenty of pride for the Silverbacks in the regular-season finale.
Goalkeeper Marcel DeBellis had a smile plastered on his face all week at training as Romuald Peiser’s understudy is set to make his much anticipated debut. The start will end Peiser’s run of 44-consecutive starts where he has established a record of 19W-14D-11L with 17 shutouts conceding only 42 goals. Falvey and Richter will keep their iron-man streaks going – both have played every minute of every match this season.
Fury FC has made good on their goal of making TD Place a fortress in 2015, but even more impressive is what they have done on the road. In the midst of an NASL-record 11-match road unbeaten streak, Fury FC has proven focused, effective, and efficient away from home where they have outscored the opposition, 20-6, during this streak.
With just a single loss in their last 24-matches (14W-9D-1L), Ottawa will look to put their second 12-match unbeaten streak together with a result in Atlanta on Saturday.
Captain Richie Ryan continues his return from injury and is expected to be ready for The Championship Semifinal. Ottawa will also be without midfielder Mauro Eustaquio, who serves a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation (5).
STRIKERS CAN CLINCH FINAL POSTSEASON SPOT AGAINST ARMADA FC
Fort Lauderdale needs some help, but can clinch a spot in The Championship with a positive result over Jacksonville
A sellout crowd will be on hand Sunday afternoon at Community First Park as the Strikers take on Jacksonville Armada FC in the final match of the regular season. While Jacksonville will only be playing for pride in front of its home crowd, Fort Lauderdale could be playing for the chance to join the New York Cosmos, Ottawa Fury FC, and Minnesota United FC in The Championship-- the North American League Soccer League’s (NASL) four-team postseason tournament.
“The team is looking good as always," Strikers head coach Günter Kronsteiner said. "As we have seen in the last few games, the league is extremely competitive. We are in fifth place with one game to go and Tampa Bay plays against one of the top teams [New York Cosmos] Saturday. On paper our game is easier, but we know this team [Jacksonville Armada FC] is not easy to play either because it is the last home game for them and they of course want to show their fans a good performance. It will be a tough game because of the situation but we are prepared. The team is practicing well, so I am confident that we can make the playoffs again.”
Fate switched hands last Saturday when the Strikers dropped a 2-1 decision at Indy Eleven. The Tampa Bay Rowdies picked up a 1-0 victory at home to climb into fourth spot over their Florida rivals and control their own postseason destiny.
The fourth-place Rowdies currently have 39 points, one more than the Strikers in the Combined Standings, in competition for the fourth and final postseason spot. The Rowdies travel to face the New York Cosmos on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET at Shuart Stadium. With a win Saturday night, Tampa Bay will book their spot in The Championship at the expense of Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale can secure the remaining postseason berth under the following scenarios:
- A Rowdies loss or tie Saturday and a Strikers win
- A Rowdies loss Saturday and a Strikers tie or win
Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville have met twice in 2015, though Sunday’s encounter will be the first official match between the Coastal Cup rivals held in Jacksonville. The Strikers won both previous meetings, 2-1, on April 11, and, 2-0, on September 16 at Lockhart Stadium.
TOP ASSISTS
| Team | Player | Assists |
| TBR | Georgi Hristov | 9 |
| CAR | Tiyi Shipalane | 9 |
| ATL | Jaime Chávez | 7 |
| SAS | Billy Forbes | 7 |
| FCE | Lance Laing | 7 |
| FTL | Stefano Pinho | 7 |
| OTT | Siniša Ubiparipović | 7 |
| ATL | Junior Burgos | 6 |
| MNU | Christian Ramirez | 6 |
| MNU | Kevin Venegas | 6 |
TOP GOALSCORER
| Team | Player | Goals |
| FTL | Stefano Pinho | 16 |
| MNU | Christian Ramirez | 12 |
| CAR | Nacho Novo | 11 |
| SAS | Omar Cummings | 10 |
| NYC | Leonardo Fernandes | 8 |
| FCE | Daryl Fordyce | 8 |
| OTT | Tom Heinemann | 8 |
| FCE | Lance Laing | 8 |
| FCE | Tomi Ameobi | 7 |
| SAS | Rafael Castillo | 7 |
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