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Ottawa went into the match against Tampa Bay with some good momentum, having earned four points in their last two games heading into TD Place in front of 4,206 fans. The Fury FC looked to continue building on the momentum and confidence that had been growing amongst the squad, but left the match empty-handed as they were outmatched by a well-executed Rowdies side.
The Fury FC came in with a shuffled defense as CB Drew Beckie remained sidelined with an ankle injury, while CB Ryan Richter was recalled from his loan by Toronto FC, and LB Maykon mutually ended his contract and returning home to Brazil. With Omar Jarun and Andres Fresenga only named to the bench as they just returned from injury, DM Mauro Eustaquio came in for his second start of the season as a centre-back alongside Mason Trafford, while winger Philippe Davies slotted in at RB where he has played several times this season. Midfielder Tony Donatelli surprisingly shifted into Davies’ RW spot in manager Marc Dos Santos’s 4-3-3 formation.
The Opening 45
Both teams started off the game with a lot of pace and intensity, testing each other’s defenses and trying to get the go-ahead goal. The Fury had several chances in the opening period, with a great combination play involving RCM Nicki Paterson eventually culminating in ST Tom Heinemann laying off the ball to Donatelli for a stinging shot. Soon after, LW Carl Haworth just failed to get a foot on Heinemann’s delicious low cross, while Tampa Bay then nearly scored the go-ahead goal through a header from a left-flank free kick.
It was Tampa Bay who would take the lead in the 28th minute just after Paterson missed a clear opportunity at the other end of the pitch, as ST Brian Shriver dinked the ball into the net after ST Georgi Hristov was able to collect a weak headed clearance and then slide past Eustaquio and put the ball into the six yard box. While Ottawa had a good chance to equalize in the 37th minute off of a low cross by CM Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Tampa Bay doubled its lead in the 40th minute as a Peiser punt up the field was easily brought down by Tampa, and CM Darel Russell was able to jockey past the challenge of Eustaquio and score a screamer from 25 yards out, with Trafford and Richie Ryan looking on. The Fury had one chance to find an equalizer before half time through Haworth but the shot went wide, as the half ended with the Rowdies up 2-0.
The Second Half
Dos Santos spoke of the need to press harder in midfield at the half time interview, and made one change, putting on winger Oliver in place of Ubiparipovic, who had a shaky start but played some nice passes near the end of the half, and dropping Donatelli back into midfield. Ottawa started the second half strong, while Tampa Bay were happy to play a defensive game and hold onto the 2-0 lead, while pushing for a third on the counter-attack. Haworth, in particular, kept buzzing around the field in search of a goal, and put several shots wide of the target.
Dos Santos made another change before the 60th minute mark, bringing in Vini Dantas for Paterson, who had a good game with creative through balls in the first half. The formation shifted to a 4-2-3-1 that the Fury often shift to when chasing a lead in the 2nd half, with Dantas taking on the role of the CAM, and Ryan pushing up next to Donatelli in the centre midfield. Dantas immediately made a mark on the field, putting a low cross from the right flank that Heinemann snapped at the goal, only for Rowdies keeper Matt Pickens to save well in Ottawa’s best chance of the game. Dantas also provided a nice ball over the top for Heinemann to put in the net, but the play was called back for offsides. Later on, Oliver fashioned a chance out of nothing, turning to strike the ball fiercely from a Rowdies clearance, but Pickens was equal to the task.
With less than 20 minutes remaining in the half, tempers started to rise on both sides as three yellows were given out in a span of 3 minutes from a shoving match, and in the 84th minute, Davies would get his second yellow as he grabbed a Tampa Bay player near the corner of the box. The 1-game suspension only adds to Ottawa’s defensive woes for next week’s home match vs. Carolina.
Man of the Match
Carl Haworth showed his aggressiveness and constant running on the pitch, both offensively and defensively, in search of a goal to halve Tampa Bay’s lead.
Lineups and Events
Ottawa (4-3-3) – Peiser; Soria (Mayard 82’), Trafford, Eustaquio, Davies; Ubiparipovic (Oliver 46’), Ryan (c), Paterson (Dantas 57’); Haworth, Heinemann, Donatelli
Tampa Bay (4-4-2) – Pickens; Wallace, Mkandawire (c), Rodrigues, Hunt; Savage (Mkosana 90’), Russell, Hill, Frimpong (Wagner 82’); Hristov, Shriver (Townsend 72’)
Ottawa Goals: None
Tampa Bay Goals: Shriver (28′), Russell (40′)
Ottawa Red Card: Davies (82′, two bookings)
Ottawa Injuries and Suspensions: Beckie
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