September 5, 2018 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Ottawa Fury FC game preview (from OttawaFuryFC.com)
MATCH PREVIEW: OTTAWA FURY FC @ TORONTO FC II By Ottawa Fury FC, 09/05/18, 1:00PM EDT MATCH DAY INFO: Ottawa Fury FC @ Toronto FC II Kickoff: Thursday, September 6 – 8:00 p.m. – Lamport Stadium BROADCAST INFO: LIVE STREAM: OttawaFuryFC.com | USL Match Centre TWITTER: Follow @OTTAWAFURYFC for LIVE updates Match Notes TORvOTT THE MATCHUP With a busy next few days ahead of them, Fury FC will get the chance to display the full depth of their roster, first in a USL regular season match against Toronto FC II, before hosting the Montreal Impact on Friday night. If Thursday’s match has serious implications for Ottawa’s push for the playoffs, the Friday one will be a golden opportunity to showcase the young talent that is keeping this team on track. While recent results may not have made it easy, Fury FC know their path to a USL playoff spot is still firmly in their hands, and it will start with getting a result in Toronto on Thursday night. Sitting only three points out of a post-season position with six games to play, Ottawa will look to snap the current streak and return to its goal scoring form against the Ontario rivals. Confident, Fury FC will also have to get the result without goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, still USL co-leader in clean sheets, since he is away on international duty as Canada face the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday in Concacaf Nations League qualifying. Fury will also be without defender Eddie Edward who has received a one-game suspension following the unfortunate red card he received in the match against New York. Ottawa will face a Toronto FC II squad that has built some momentum, claiming a 4-1 victory against Louisville City FC last Tuesday, before falling to Atlanta United 2 on Friday. Moreover, with Toronto FC’s A-team on a bye week, Fury FC could be facing some additional opposition in the likes of Canadians Ashtone Morgan and Jordan Hamilton. With already a win against Toronto FC II this season, and a third match-up left to play at the end of the month, Fury FC will go into the newly renovated Lamport Stadium with a definite will to fight for the win, hoping to erode the point difference keeping their playoffs aspirations just out of reach… for now. Fans can follow the match on OttawaFuryFC.com/Fury-Live starting at 8 p.m. Thursday night. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING Head Coach Nikola Popovic On the back to back games… “It’s very unique. Both games are very important for us. Our idea is to rotate perhaps the players that play less against Toronto will play more against Montreal Impact. However, it’s a long season, so we have to be very careful to avoid injuries. It’s two games that we want to win. Our team will do everything possible to win both games.” On Crépeau being away for the matches… “It’s a chance for Monsalve and Callum [Irving] to show that they are very good goalkeepers, that they have good qualities. It is a position that is hard to make changes throughout the year, but like everything in life, when you have a chance, you have to be ready. Now it’s their chance, in those two games, they have to show their quality.” Goalkeeper David Monsalve On the preparation… “When you come in, you come in with a professional mentality and you’re competing every day – anything can happen, whether it’s national team call-up, injuries, etc. – you expect that. I’ve been long enough to know that. So I was always ready. You don’t want to not be ready for an opportunity, especially when it’s the first one in a while. Happy to be back in the lineup and looking forward to putting in an effort that’s going to help the team.”
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