HOME AND HUNGRY

Fury FC wants to join USL’s elite

We have to make sure we have to make this place like a fortress ...

Paul Dalglish says Ottawa Fury FC players have the “eye of the tiger” going into Saturday’s home opener against Toronto FC II.

Dalglish, Fury FC’s coach, hopes focus and intensity give his soccer club the same result it yielded for Rocky Balboa in a boxing ring, as fictional as that was.

Fury FC, coming off two losses (3-2 in St. Louis, then 1-0 in Tampa Bay) and a win last week (1-0 in Richmond), is banking on some momentum after taking the full three points against the Kickers.

Said Dalglish: “The first trip, you’re OK. The second trip, you’re starting to get tired. The third trip, it’s a grind. We didn’t go as hard in training this week to try and let the guys recover from three road trips. We looked like it was our third travel week in a row against Richmond at times.

“We want to get that bit of sharpness back that we had in the first two games — especially in front of our home crowd — and hopefully that relates to scoring goals.

“The first two games we outshot the opposition, we had better chances, if I’m honest. Against Richmond, we probably had the least amount of chances. But what we’ve built is a team that can defend really, really well. A lot of the chances against us are shots from outside the box. When you’ve got that solid foundation, especially when you go on the road, you don’t really need to do too much to win. If we can build on this offensive piece we’ve been working on all week, then hopefully keep the defensive unit we’ve been working on, we should be a dominant force in this league.”

It’s early in the United Soccer League schedule, but Ottawa wants to have ferocity and tenacity at home. It has been six months since Ottawa played at TD Place, then as a member of the North American Soccer League. A crowd of 6,000 is expected for the 2 p.m. start.

“For us to get three points in the first three games, I wouldn’t say I’m pleased, but it’s par for the course,” Dalglish said.

“As long as you win your home games — if you don’t dominate at home, you have to pick up more than a point a game on the road. We have to make sure we have to make this place like a fortress — a place where nobody wants to come.”