Fury FC looks to get back on winning track
Walking wounded expected to return soon to fuel push to the playoffs
An optimist would have noted that Ottawa Fury FC remained only seven points out of a playoff position with five matches remaining on its 2016 schedule.
However, it was one fact of North American Soccer League life that Fury FC has five other clubs between itself and fourth-place Minnesota United FC in the combined standings, and another that all six of those squads had more than five contests yet to be played coming into this weekend.
Pity, then, that Fury FC has been playing some of its best soccer of the year in the past month or so. A seven-game unbeaten streak ended with a 2-1 away loss against Miami FC on Wednesday, and head coach Paul Dalglish even found more than a sliver of a silver lining in that setback.
“Obviously, we wanted to win the game, but the performance was of a very high standard,” said Dalglish, whose side relinquished the extra two points to Miami FC on Vincenzo Rennella’s score in extra time.
“We were aggressive in the second half. We were in it. They were creating chances, and we have to take confidence from that.”
The most confident of all at this moment in likely forward Giuseppe Gentile. After zero goals in his first eight appearances following his acquisition from the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in early July, Gentile has a game-tying goal in each of the past three contests.
Friday’s announcement of the Canadian men’s team roster for international friendlies on Oct. 7 and 11 against Mauritania and host Morocco represented good news for midfielders Jamar Dixon of Ottawa and Maxim Tissot of Gatineau, but mixed news for Fury FC. Dixon and Tissot will depart immediately after Sunday’s match against Puerto Rico FC, missing next weekend’s test against New York Cosmos before rejoining the NASL side.
“We’ve got a responsibility to grow the game in Canada. We’re a professional organization in Canada, and there’s only five professional teams in Canada,” Dalglish said. “We want to give Canadian players a chance to improve and become the best players they can be.”
Dixon was called up for Canada’s World Cup qualifying contests against Honduras and El Salvador in August but did not see action. He missed a pair of Fury regularseason games.
Dalglish acknowledged international calls of duty could hamper his squad in the short term, “but it’s what we do have to do, and, as an organization, we have to embrace the opportunity and be excited when we see these guys representing their country, and support them.”
Additional help for Fury FC could soon be available from within the ranks. Defender Kyle Porter (groin) and forward Gerardo Bruna (groin) have been working their way back from injury, and Porter even managed to squeeze in a few minutes of extra-time action in the previous home game against Minnesota United FC.
Dalglish noted Bruna hadn’t played since two games into the spring-season schedule in April.
“It’s going to take him longer to get fit, so have to be more patient with him.”