September 7, 2018 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Ottawa Fury FC game review (from OttawaFuryFC.com)

      
Attacking surge lead Fury FC to 4-3 win over Toronto FC II
By Ottawa Fury FC, 09/07/18, 1:30PM EDT 

OTTAWA - The Ontario rivalry was again renewed on Thursday as Ottawa Fury FC travelled to Lamport Stadium 
to face Toronto FC II in the second of three meetings between the two sides this season. A steady, confident 
performance from the Ottawa lads grossed a 4-3 win and three critical points in their quest for a playoff spot.
 
With goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau away on international duty and a few other absences to account for, 
Fury FC Head Coach Nikola Popovic adjusted his formation once more and fielded six Canadians in his starting 
eleven, with Monsalve getting the nod in front of goal. Ugandan attacker Luboyera also earned his first 
start of the 2018 season.
 
It didn’t take long for Fury FC to establish their pace. In the fourth minute, after a dynamic push run 
forward by Dos Santos, the ball found Tony Taylor on the top of the box and his left-footed shot sneaked 
in at the bottom corner of the TFCII goal, giving Ottawa a much welcomed early lead.
 
With an already favourable record when scoring first, Ottawa padded their lead in the 37th minute thanks 
to a curling beauty from Cristian Portilla off a corner kick. What is also known as an Olimpico goal 
in soccer jargon, Portilla’s second of the season, propelled Fury FC up 2-0 heading into the break.
 
A drastic shift of momentum in the first few minutes of the second half saw Toronto FC II score twice 
within the same minute, levelling the playing field with goals from Bakero and Endoh in the 47th minute.
 
Not to be undone, Fury FC put their counter-attack tactics to work again mid-way through the second 
frame when Oliveira dribbled his way up the field and got a dangerous shot on target that just grazed 
the post. Moments later, Oliveira threatened again off a free kick just outside the box, and his 
perfectly weighted ball bounced off a TFCII defender to give Ottawa the lead once more. The goal 
would later be credited to Fury FC’s Meilleur-Giguère.
 
Unfortunately for Ottawa, following a spectacular save by Monsalve to save a goal scoring opportunity 
and a solid tackle to clear the ball in the box, TFCII Hamilton converted his penalty kick and drew 
Toronto back in the game at 3-3.
 
Fury FC lit it up one more time not long after that, with another dynamic counter led 
by Captain Carl Haworth, who crossed the ball to the back post and found Adonijah Reid who calmly 
headed it home, giving Ottawa their third lead of the night.
 
The attacking surge Fury FC garnered on the night led them to an important 4-3 win over their 
Ontario rival, also allowing them to jump back into the 8th position in the USL Eastern Conference. 
Ottawa will now host the Montreal Impact on Friday, September 7th in the first edition of the 
CapCity Cup before heading on the road again for their next USL matchup against Richmond 
on Saturday, September 15.


POST-GAME COMMENTS

Head Coach Nikola Popovic
On the team’s performance… “I saw a team who’s been performing well the past four games, the only 
difference [tonight] is that we were able to take our chances and score four goals. However, 
we are still committing mistakes – it’s not good when you have to score four goals in an away 
game to win three points. We have to stop those mistakes.”
 
“I’m very proud of our players. I think the way they were able to react after the bad start 
to the second half – because of inconsistencies where they score two goals – but after that 
fantastic behaviour, fantastic mindset, fantastic will. Going back to our culture, this is what 
you want, a team that will fight no matter what.”
 
On the difference tonight… “Of course, we analyse games differently than most people, and in the 
all those games [against Nashville, Penn FC, New York] we had a lot of chances but we weren’t 
able to take our chances and in this game we were able to score four goals. Sometimes, 
it’s details, it’s a split second. Sometimes it’s related to luck too. But when you have 
a little bit more time [to practice] like we did this week, you are able to correct some things. 
In a football game, you have to be prepared for this kind of situation but I think the big 
difference today was that we were able to finish on our chances.”


MATCH REPORT
Full stats report on USL Match Centre or download the Opta Stats Report (full)
Watch Match Highlights
Download Match Photos (Credit: Toronto FC II / USL)

Starting XI
Ottawa Fury FC (4-3-3): 
Monsalve; 
Gagnon-Laparé, Meilleur-Giguère, Attakora (46’ Edgar); 
Luboyera (66’ Reid), Mannella, Portilla, Oliveira; 
Taylor, Dos Santos (83’ Sanon), Haworth ©
 
Toronto FC II (4-4-1-1): 
Angotia; 
Hagglund, Hamilton, Morgan (63’ Bjornethun), Herdandez ©; 
Endoh, Okello, Campbell (87’ Johnson), Srbely (79’ Daniels); 
Bakero; 
Telfer
 
Scoring Summary
4’ OTT – Taylor (Dos Santos)
37’ OTT – Portilla
47’ TOR – Bakero
47’ TOR – Endoh (Bakero)
69’ OTT – Meilleur-Giguère (Oliveira)
74’ TOR – Hamilton (PK)
78’ OTT – Reid (Haworth)
 
Caution Summary
39’ TOR – Hernandez
56’ TOR – Srbely
83’ TOR – Hagglund
90+4’ OTT – Monsalve
 
Expulsion Summary
-none-
 
Attendance
207
 

Next Home Match – CapCity Cup: Friday, September 7 v Montreal Impact – 7:00 p.m. – TD Place
Next USL Match: Saturday, September 15 @ Richmond Kickers – 7:00PM– City Stadium

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