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Ottawa Fury head to New York this weekend as they face the Cosmos in the 2015 Championship Final, the Soccer Bowl. Fury clinched the Fall Season Championship earlier this year, and following their 2-1 win over Minnesota last weekend the Canadian club has an opportunity to win the league’s biggest honors in just their second year.
Fury have a 1-1-1 record vs New York this year, which includes a 4-1 win on Long Island during the Fall Season. The Cosmos have one of the largest budgets in the league, drawing the likes of Raul and Senna to their squad, and were favorites to win at the beginning of the year. Fury have surpassed expectations for the year and will head into the match with a lot of confidence.
Keep thinking
Marc Dos Santos will have a full squad to choose from, with Nicki Paterson remaining the only injury. There is no doubt the back four will remain unchanged as it has since May, shattering NASL defensive records. Richie Ryan will get the start in the heart of the midfield, likely to be joined by Canadian Mauro Eustaquio and American Ubiparipovic. Tom Heinemann will get the start after scoring a double vs Minnesota, while Paulo Jr and Andrew Wiedeman have been favorites for Dos Santos on the wings.
Fury have lost just one match in the last twenty six, earning themselves some NASL records and a Fall Season Championship along the way. They will rely on their tactical discipline, focusing on a defensive game that busts forward with the content attack. Fury will try and control possession and keep Cosmos in their own end of the pitch when they hold possession.
In the end
No doubt this is the biggest match in Fury’s history, and Dos Santos will be looking to lift the NASL Soccer Bowl trophy in his last match at the helm. The plot could not have been written better, with Fury needing to overcome their closest rivals (both geographically and in form) and heavyweights New York Cosmos. The squad would love nothing better than to reward each other, Dos Santos and the amazing fans in Ottawa with a championship.
Prediction:
New York Cosmos 0-1 Ottawa Fury FC
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