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FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury FC fought out a rough, scrappy 0-0 draw on a hot summer afternoon at the Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday. The fixture kicked off the NASL Fall Season for both clubs as they battled 40C weather, with the heated affair picking up where it left off in the Spring Season. The Fury were looking to continue their strong form that they showed near the end of the Spring Season, building upon a philosophy of possession and attractive play. However, this was hindered when CB Ryan Richter, on loan from Toronto FC and making his debut for the Fury, was shown a second yellow card with over half an hour left to play.
FC Edmonton were looking for a stronger start to the Fall Season than their spring, where manager Colin Miller's tenure was narrowly saved with a big win on the last day of the season. These two clubs brought an intensity to this fixture that is helping grow the all-Canadian rivalry between the two NASL clubs.
The Opening 45
FC Edmonton lined up
with a 4-4-2 formation while Ottawa Fury FC went with their usual
attacking lineup of 4-3-3. Both teams started the match with high
intensity and lots of scrappy plays and tackles. CM Tony Donatelli, in
particular, continued his fine spring season form with intelligent
passing and control. Richter picked up the first yellow of the day
early on, cutting down Eddies forward Frank Jonke with a scissor kick
after he lost a battle for the ball. Fury captain DM Richie Ryan
wasn’t long behind in picking up a yellow in the 14th minute, colliding
with the back of Edmonton’s M Cristian Raudales’ head during a battle
for the ball.
The first half was very stop and start between fouls, as players
struggled to battle for the ball in the heat. However, the intensity
between the players certainly was not lost. The Fury’s CB Mason
Trafford would hit the woodwork while getting a touch on a dangerous
ball from a Phil Davies set piece, while Edmonton’s Raudales picked up a
yellow before the half time whistle.
The Second Half
The second half kicked off
as temperatures reached the low 40’s, and the players showed noticeable
fatigue as the game wore on. The Fury, entering the second half having
had 57% possession at halftime, created another dangerous chance
through a Sinisa Ubiparipovic run and a pass to Davies, but would spend
much of the second half behind the ball as Richter picked up a second
yellow while taking down Jonke again. Richter miscued a pass with his
weaker left foot, allowing Jonke to pick up the loose ball and break
towards net, at which point being brought down by Richter. This would
be the end of the Fury’s dominating play as they sacrificed Ubiparipovic
for CB Omar Jarun and retreated to a 4-4-1 formation; nevertheless, FC
Edmonton would fail to capitalize.
As the game dragged on in the heat, Edmonton slowly began to take
control of the game, but the efforts came late in the game, with the
introduction of 17 year old Edmonton winger Hanson Boakai a catalyst.
The left winger, who caused Fury trouble earlier this year in the Amway
Canadian Championship, was manhandled and fouled numerous times during
his ten minutes on the pitch, while he also created some of Edmonton’s
best chances. Boakai knocked a fantastic Messi-esque curler off the
corner frame from the edge of the area with less than 5 minutes
remaining, and delivered a corner that Eddies M Horace James put off the
post in injury time.
The final whistle blew after an agonizing 5 minutes of stoppage time, as
Ottawa felt fortunate to steal this point on the road while spending a
third of the game a man down, while FC Edmonton will feel they really
missed a chance to capitalize and earn all three points, and relying
again on the youngster Boakai to provide the spark needed to create
chances. Although this game lacked flow and clear chances, it did have
a derby feel to it as the rivalry between these clubs grow, and this
will certainly be a fixture both sets of fans look forward to in the
future.
Honourable mention
Notable mentions
should be given to Trafford, Jarun, Drew Beckie, and Devala Gorrick for
the Fury FC, who all had important plays and saves that helped earn a
point for Ottawa, while Richie Ryan and Tony Donatelli were also strong
in midfield as usual.
For FC Edmonton, Boakai brought the game to life for Edmonton and gave
them their best chances, using his agility and determination to find
space with the ball. Right winger Horace James also came alive in the
second half, burning past Ottawa LB Maykon on a couple occasions and
whipping in dangerous crosses.
Starting XI’s
Ottawa Fury FC (4-3-3): Devala Gorrick (GK), Maykon, Mason Trafford,
Ryan Richter, Drew Beckie, Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Omar Jarun 60'), Richie
Ryan (C), Tony Donatelli, Oliver (Carl Haworth 72'), Tom Heinemann (Vini
Dantas 83'), Phil Davies
FC Edmonton (4-4-2): Jon Smits (GK), Kareem Moses, Albert Watson (C),
Alberto Navaro, Eddie Edward, Lance Laing, Neil Hlavaty, Cristen
Raudales, Horace James, Frank Jonke, Daryl Fordyce
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