Hometown hero Carl Haworth scored the opening goal and captain Richie Ryan answered a Junior Burgos penalty with one of his own as the Ottawa Fury defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 at Lansdowne Park Wednesday night.
The victory was the second in four days for the Fury and propelled the club to the top of the NASL fall season standings. In his post-match comments, Ryan attempted to tone down the “We’re Number One!” frenzy of the fans and Fury marketing department: “We can’t get carried away. We’re top of the table in the fall season; personally for me, it doesn’t mean a great deal,” Ryan deadpanned.
It’s important to remember that the spring/fall “seasons” are an artificial construct that only matters if you finish first in either season. They are parts of a single entity called the “2015 NASL Regular Season”. In reality, consistent good play provides the best and most direct path to the playoffs – finish in the top four at the end of the total season and you’re in.
The purpose of bringing this up is not to downplay the Fury’s impressive play of late. In fact, it serves to accentuate it. Focusing on being in first place in the fall season discounts the fact that the team is undefeated in nine matches stretching back into the spring season. Nine matches is more impressive than four matches, for those keeping score at home. Nevertheless, I can understand the marketing allure of “Fury In 1st Place” in trying to attract new fans to the stadium.
Attendance was not announced in the stadium for this match, and you can see why as the NASL.com website informs us that only 3,459 fans showed up on Wednesday night. Clearly, being on an eight-match undefeated run wasn’t enough of a hook in this finicky sports town. Nine isn’t likely to do it either. First place? That might draw some people in.
What the other 1,232,865 people who make up Ottawa-Gatineau’s population missed was a first half that saw both teams take a cautious approach. Balls were played across both sides’ back line over and over again as players prodded and probed for weaknesses, coming up empty. Fury fans who enjoy stellar defensive play were treated to some excellent interventions by Mauro Eustaquio and Colin Falvey as time and again they stymied Atlanta’s attempts at creating scoring opportunities before they blossomed.
In the second half the offensive side of the match started to sparkle. Some members of the Fury fanbase have started grumbling about Carl Haworth’s propensity for sending his shots straight to the keeper, so you could excuse fans for not getting too excited when the ball came to him in the 18-yard box in the 56th minute. Haworth faked an attempt at goal, dragged left, then roofed a shot into the net. It was the prettiest Haworth goal in memory and the third of his NASL career.
On a night of questionable penalties (yes I’m referring to the Mexico match), the Silverbacks were clever enough to draw one in the 62nd minute. Atlanta left back Paul Black dribbled into Ottawa’s 18-yard box, flanked by the Fury’s Ryan Richter and Mauro Eustaquio. As soon as Eustaquio’s hip brushed against Black’s, the Silverback defender dramatically lost his footing and landed on his chest. The referee, clearly a fan of David Boudia’s, rewarded Black with a penalty which Junior Burgos converted.
The Fury were clearly the better team in the second half, and continued to push forward despite the setback. They would be rewarded in the 73rd minute when the Silverbacks’ Michael Reed handled the ball following a scramble in the 18-yard box. Richie Ryan would step up and score the winning goal, his third goal in two matches and fourth for the Fury.
All in all, the result was a deserved result for the Fury, who continue to serve notice to their NASL rivals that they have well and truly arrived in the league. Whichever headline you prefer, “First In the Fall!” or “Nine-matches Unbeaten!”, what it adds up is the Fury being serious playoff contenders.
Man of the Match: Colin Falvey. The man was a defending proactively throughout the match, snuffing problems out before they occurred.
Next match: The Ottawa Fury host the Carolina Railhawks on Sunday at 3pm at Lansdowne Park Stadium. Atlanta continue their Canadian tour by facing FC Edmonton Sunday at 4pm.
