The feeling coming into the first NASL match for Ottawa’s Fury FC was that the team’s leadership and wealth of creative midfielders would propel them. After falling 2-0 in their inaugural match to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, head coach Marc Dos Santos is likely not terribly excited with the play of his midfield core.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Captain Richie Ryan and veteran Nicki Patterson were invisible for most of the match. Ryan, who at times couldn’t even convince his centreback to let him set up plays from the back, made some woeful passes on the night. Omar Jarun, the Palestinian international, who himself is proving to be a liability as a distributor of the ball, ignored a call from Ryan in the second half as the team tried to find their rhythm, instead passing to his central partner, Mason Trafford, who did pass to Ryan. Ryan prompted hoofed the ball into touch. In the absence of the flowing midfield passing, Jarun elected to hoof the ball to the strikers time and time again.
Highly touted Brazillian Maykon had some bright spells early but fell off in the second half and seems to be less than fit to play a full 90. Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, who replaced Vini Dantas in the 65th minute, showed some spark working well with midfielder Siniša Ubiparipović to organize high pressure, but, the Canadian was forced to retreat away from the front line to cover for Maykon for much of his 15 minutes on the pitch.
Ubiparipović was a bright spot for the Fury. The dead ball specialist gave the Fury the opportunity to nod home from its numerous corner and free kicks in a chippy match that saw four cautions, 29 fouls and some rash challenges from both sides, including a late shove by Drew Beckie that could have been worse than the yellow he received. Beckie was joined by fellow Canadian youth international Carl Haworth in the starting lineup. The young striker played 76 minutes before coming off for Tony Donatelli.
For their part, the Strikers, who finished Spring 2013 with just two wins, were the aggressors for much of the match. After some early chances by the Fury that had Ft. Lauderdale on their heels, Rafael Alves scored a 13th minute deflection goal from a free kick that no one seemed to want to touch. Then, after a brutal giveaway from Jarun, Darnell King converted on a two-on-none rebound chance after Fury starting GK Devala Gorrick made a terrific save.
If Dos Santos hopes to see this team develop into a fluid 4-3-3 that relies on playing the ball on the ground and creating chances with penetrating passes, he was horribly disappointed tonight.