Fury shut out Edmonton
The facts, statistics, numbers and reality came fast and furious.
The emotion followed in quick fashion.
With a dominating 2-0 win over Canadian rival FC Edmonton on Sunday afternoon at TD Place, the Ottawa Fury clinched a playoff spot in just their second year in the North American Soccer League.
“I’m emotional, guys,” said head coach Marc Dos Santos with a teary grin after the game. “I’m Canadian but I’m also Portuguese, and there’s Portuguese blood in me and I’m emotional when it goes very bad and when it goes very good. I’m just happy.
“You guys don’t know what we went through in July 2013 when we build (the team) and the hours, and picking up the phone to talk with agents. We never stopped and we never had time off, and now we see all the effort and work bringing us to this.”
Captain Richie Ryan quipped: “There’s no champagne surprisingly, I don’t know why that is,” he said with a laugh. “We want to keep it low-key, but I think (defender Colin) Falvey has the bottles in his locker.”
Two goals from Sinisa Ubiparipovic — one in each half — stamped Ottawa’s ticket to the post-season.
Keeper Romuald Peiser was tested on a couple of occasions, but was aided by another stalwart effort from his defence to register shutout No. 13, tying an NASL record.
“We were a team today and that’s why we get the solid results,” said Peiser. “Everything is working well. We’ve worked a long time to come to this point.”
It has been a remarkable run to get to that point.
Ottawa was a discombobulated soccer team when it kicked off the Spring Season on April 4 with a 3-1 loss in Carolina.
The Fury finished the spring in ninth place, scoring an ulcer-inducing five goals in 10 games.
Not sure if they plopped Zantac into the water between the spring and fall seasons, but whatever they did certainly cured what ailed them. Sunday’s victory was the team’s fourth in a row and extended the unbeaten streak to eight games.
“In April when we had a very bad start and lost three in a row,” said Dos Santos, “people stuck with us. People believed in this team. People knew what we were able to do.”
If you quiz the players, overwhelmingly they’ll declare the credit goes to the coaching staff.
Dos Santos, who will leave after this season to take a position in Major League Soccer, has crafted an organized, confident and structured front 11. He has also done a superb job in scouting and wooing potential players for his club.
“I am not surprised (by our success),” said standout defender Ryan Richter.
“You see how hard everyone here works. The goal that we achieved today? I’m not surprised given how hard (Marc) and the coaching staff work every day to put us where we are. We’re very happy, but not yet satisfied.”
Richie Ryan — signed through next season — echoed Richter.
“I think everyone knows what Marc expects of us by now and we’ve all bought into it. Winning becomes a habit and you get used to it ... and we don’t like the taste of defeat.”
Ottawa has four games remaining in the regular season. Saturday, the Fury travel to Tampa to face the Rowdies. The Fury host San Antonio on Oct. 18 on Fan Appreciation Day, their final home match of the regular season.
The future playoff seedings are in their hands.
Currently, Ottawa owns a lofty five-point edge on Minnesota for first in the fall table. In the overall standings, the Fury are two ahead of Minnesota. Both have four games to play.
“We want to play a semifinal here, in front of our home fans,” said Ryan. “That’s our objective now. We’re top of the Fall table now as it is; it’s up to us and the next four games to stay there.”