Time’s running out on Fury FC
Coach de Guzman needs his first win now if club is going to have any chance at playoffs
Of all the words of wisdom Julian de Guzman has received from former coaches of his since taking the helm of Ottawa Fury FC, a common refrain stood out: “Best of luck on sleeping.”
Four games into his head coaching career, de Guzman is finding out what they meant.
The new head coach jokes that he’s barely able to even take a nap, and nothing short of his first win will make him any less restless. If it doesn’t happen soon he might be trying the “My Pillow” website.
With two draws and two losses, de Guzman hopes the agonizing wait for his first game ball as Fury FC head coach might be as soon as Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at TD Place when Saint Louis FC visits in a game that could go a long way toward determining if the Fury even have a chance at the United Soccer League postseason.
Saint Louis FC is 11th, a point up on Fury FC. The visitors are four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot, meaning the Fury are five back.
After Sunday’s match, Fury FC will be down to just seven regular-season games remaining, with four of them on the road, including the next two at Rochester and Charlotte.
“A win Sunday would play a massive role in our chances,” said de Guzman, adding his team feels re-energized with a full week between home games after four in a span of 12 days, three away from TD Place. “This is pretty much a playoff game for us.
“It’s mandatory for us to get points at home ... and preferably through wins.
“A win against Saint Louis would certainly put us in a better frame of mind going into Rochester and Charlotte. It might dictate the rest of the way for us.”
That way is not going to be easy. Of Fury FC’s final eight games, seven are against opposition ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings, including one each against the top three teams in the conference: Louisville City, Charlotte and Charleston, and another against Rochester, which is tied for four with a game in hand.
So time is running short on Fury FC’s margin for losing, with their final game Oct. 14 in Pittsburgh just six weeks away.
“We all know the importance of this game,” said goalkeeper Callum Irving who, like every player, was happy with a week at home to rest and train. “Obviously, this thing isn’t over yet and it’s nice to get settled and embrace what the future holds.
“We have to bear down and see what push we can make for the playoffs.
“We have an identity as a team. We need to embrace what we’re good at.”
Ottawa and Saint Louis FC last met way back in Week 1 of the schedule, April Fool’s Day in St. Louis, with Fury FC taking it on the chin 3-2.
The season has been up and down for both teams.
Saint Louis FC started the year with three wins and a draw, then won only one of their next 11 to plunge down the table. They have only been slightly more competitive in their past 10 with four wins, four losses and two draws. They arrive off a 1-1 tie Wednesday night in Toronto.
The Fury, meanwhile, has just four wins since the start of June, with a record of four wins, six losses and five draws.
“With just eight games left, we don’t have much room for error,” said Fury FC top scorer Steevan Dos Santos, who has goals in each of the past three games for six on the year.
“We have to start by getting good results at home and then improve our record on the road.”