Starting Lineup
Peiser has retained his starting spot for the past month or two over Devala Gorrick, who turned in bright performances of his own in the spring. However, Peiser has continued to shine, being named to the NASL team of the week for the first time last week. Versatile defender Drew Beckie came back into the starting lineup for the first time after his ankle injury at Indy, coming in at RB in place of Ryan Richter, who is not expected to return from his loan recall by Toronto FC. LB Ramon Soria and CBs Mason Trafford and Omar Jarun retained their starting spots from the previous week.
In midfield, there was a surprise omission, with Ubiparipovic deemed not fit enough to start with a back complaint. Therefore, the starting midfield 3 in manager Marc Dos Santos’s 4-3-3 formation consisted of anchor and captain Richie Ryan flanked by Nicki Paterson on the left and Tony Donatelli on the right. While these 3 have been together in the starting lineup recently, this was the first time perhaps all season that the three players formed a midfield trio together, due to the good form and durability of Ubiparipovic.
LW P.R. Mayard retained his starting spot from last week’s match against Carolina, for only his 3rd league start of the NASL season, while Oliver came into the starting XI at RW after his last-gasp equalizer with a header off a short corner vs. Carolina. Tom Heinemann has been converting the chances presented to him the past few weeks and started up top again.
GK and Defense
Any doubts about the arrival of Peiser from Academica (Portugal) during the summer break have been truly dissipated with two consecutive game-saving performances from the French veteran. Peiser may very well be named to his second consecutive NASL team of the week after this performance, repelling all shots on target, coming off the line intelligently when needed, and controlling the crosses and set pieces in around the six-yard box.
At the CB positions, Omar Jarun acquitted himself well with flying headed clearances, his main specialty, in the first half, but injured himself trying to clear a low cross at the end of the half. He has shown to be more likely to be injured, which is not a surprise considering that he is easily the tallest member of the squad at 6’5’’. Mason Trafford was a solid presence, recovering just enough to challenge on a crucial chance in the penalty area for ST Brian Shriver at the beginning of the 2nd half, while Drew Beckie filled in for Jarun in the 2nd half at CB, shifting from his RB duties. Beckie made a wonderful sliding tackle around the 14th minute mark upfield, which led to a loose ball for Donatelli, who created a fantastic chance for Heinemann to open the score from a cross.
Soria had a shaky start, getting mixed up with Peiser in the opening minutes to nearly concede a chance, but then provided a fantastic cross from the left flank at the 24th minute that gave both Heinemann and Oliver a good shot at a close header, with Oliver converting the chance. Soria then led the defensive efforts in the 2nd half, finishing the match with 12 challenges won, the most among the Fury players. Philippe Davies, who was sent off in an ill-tempered 2nd half in the home match against Tampa Bay two weeks ago, came in at RB to replace Jarun, and provided good defensive work to help preserve the shutout.
Midfield
Donatelli was back to the high level he showed from the spring, making the intelligent passes up front that allowed the wingers and forward to get into dangerous positions and creating chances. His cross from Beckie’s tackle led to Heinemann getting one of Ottawa’s good chances of the game. He had such a hard-working performance that he was reported to needing IV fluids after the game.
Paterson and Ryan patrolled the midfield, sharing the corner kick duties with in-swingers from Paterson’s right foot and Ryan’s left. Paterson lurked around the outside of the penalty area, looking for any loose rebounds to shoot at, while Ryan committed the professional fouls in midfield that was needed time to time to disrupt Tampa Bay’s fluid offense.
While this was perhaps his first league match for the Fury FC off the bench, Ubiparipovic needed only 25 minutes to make a significant mark on the field, with a clumsy yellow card followed later by a good off-the-ball run to get on the end of Dantas’s lifted through pass in the 2nd half injury time, in what was a rather interesting reversal of their usual roles. Ubiparipovic showed his veteran composure to slot the ball in to send the Fury supporters into raptures in front of their TV and computer screens.
Offense
Oliver has shown an incredible athleticism in the air this season for a medium-sized winger, as an astounding 4 of his 5 league goals have come in the air, with 2 of those from CKs. His other goal came from getting on the end of a low cross into the 6-yard box, as he has shown clinical finishing with both his feet and his head throughout the season. One sour point from the match, however, was his flopping and yellow card in the 2nd half, which led to his substitution.
Heinemann had one of his best games this season as well, with his usual combative approach on long balls (fans must understand that he cannot be expected to win the majority of long balls against two CBs), with a bullet header saved in the 1st half, and a fantastic long-range shot in the 2nd half destined for the corner somehow clawed out by Tampa Bay GK Matt Pickens. Mayard had a hard-working game in his 2nd consecutive start, picking up a hockey assist for his layoff to Dantas that led to the 2nd goal.
Dantas has shown his versatility throughout the season, as the burly striker has actually had more success playing the CAM position in the Fury’s alternate 4-2-3-1 formation than any other player, including Oliver and Ubiparipovic. Playing as ST after subbing on for Heinemann, Dantas provided his 2nd delightful measured ball from the centre circle that led to a late goal for the Fury FC this month, following up his pass to Heinemann against San Antonio.
Next Match Preview
The Fury FC travels once again to southeastern U.S., playing at Atlanta on Saturday at 7:30pm EDT (NASLLive.com). In their last visit to Atlanta, Ottawa struggled mightily after a congested fixture list that included the home and away series vs. FC Edmonton in the Amway Canadian Championships (Voyageurs’ Cup). Ottawa fell 2-1, with Jarun getting a late header in his home state, in a match where the Fury midfield struggled to hold on to possession.
Atlanta is just one spot above Ottawa in the Fall Season standings, with 11 points from 10 matches, compared to Ottawa’s 9 points in the same number of matches. The Silverbacks also come in at poor form, with just 1 win in their last 6 matches, and having lost 3-2 away to New York. This match will prove to be a titanic struggle for two teams who will be looking to make a desperate attempt at a playoff push.
Ottawa will have to take into account the dangerous attackers that Atlanta possesses in their 4-2-3-1 formation, including ST Jaime Chavez and LM Junior Sandoval, who was named NASL player of the week a fortnight ago for his display against Carolina and has been on a rampant goal-scoring form.
CSN OFFC MotM
GK Romuald Peiser, for his dominating performance in net. Honourable mention to CM Tony Donatelli for his creative passing and pressing in midfield.
Lineups and Stats
Ottawa (4-3-3) – Peiser; Soria, Trafford, Jarun (Davies 46’), Beckie; Paterson, Ryan ©, Donatelli; Mayard, Heinemann (Dantas 84’), Oliver (Ubiparipovic 67’)
Tampa Bay (4-4-2) – Pickens; Hunt, Rodrigues, Mkandawire ©, Wallace; Frimpong (Townsend 68′), Hill, Russell, Mkosana (Morris 68′); Shriver (Walker 83′), Hristov
Ottawa Goals: Oliver (24′), Ubiparipovic (90+3′); Assists: Soria (24′), Dantas (90+3′)
Tampa Bay Goals: None
Ottawa Injuries and Suspensions: Haworth (injury)
Ottawa Stats Leaders: Shots – Heinemann (2); Challenges Won – Soria (12)