PREVIEW | Fury FC Can Extend Unbeaten Run To 12 Against Indy

Cheaper by the dozen. By its definition, this idiom references things more efficiently done by a group, rather than individually. And that is how Fury FC has gotten to where they are – atop the NASL Fall standings, an 11-game unbeaten streak and chasing yet another NASL record – but nothing has come cheap to this squad; it has been a determined group effort to get them here.

“Our success is a combination of all our hard work and this team coming together,” said defender Ryan Richter, who is one of three players that has played every minute of every game this season.

“We have a great group of lads and everyone has the same goal in mind. We are all focused on the same thing – we support one another, but demand more from each other too.”

While this streak began halfway through the Spring Season, it has been since the start of the Fall that has really highlighted how tight-knit this group really is. Each and every game during the second half of the season has seen a different group of players rise to the occasion to help lift Ottawa to victory all the while crediting their teammates for their successes.

Three weeks ago Ottawa hosted the then red-hot Indy Eleven, who were unbeaten in five. Fury FC handed their expansion cousins a 4-2 defeat thanks to a pair of wonder strikes from captain Richie Ryan. The win began Ottawa’s four-game winning streak and began Indy’s four-game winless streak.

After losing at home to Atlanta last Saturday, Indy traveled to Edmonton Wednesday night to play a motivated Edmonton side, who were eager to make up their 1-0 loss to Ottawa on Sunday. The Eddies handed Indy a 2-0 defeat, but the Eleven hope to have an added spark when they return home Saturday night with recent signing Marvin Ceballos entering the squad. Saturday’s match will mark the third game in eight days for Indy Eleven, but the hosts will have their always impressive home crowd acting as the 12th man.

Confidence, camaraderie, and determination are all there for Fury FC, but to extend this unbeaten run to an even 12 games, head coach Marc Dos Santos knows that it will take hard work and the right mentality.

“We know that we’ve been doing a lot of things right, but we also know that we need to work even harder now. Any team in this league is capable of winning games and Indy is a very difficult team to beat, especially when they are playing at home. We need to address every moment of this game with the right mentality. This is the only way we can be successful.”

Sunday’s win over FC Edmonton not only exorcised Ottawa’s biggest demon, but it also marked their first win away from TD Place this season while extending their road unbeaten streak to 4-games (1W-3D-0L). Lifetime, Ottawa has won both matches in Indianapolis and are 4-0-1 all-time against the Eleven.

Ottawa’s back line has remained the same in each of the 11 games of the unbeaten run where they have conceded just five goals, including seven shutouts (eight overall this season). Their core down the middle of Colin Falvey and Rafael Alves – the duo recently dubbed ‘Falves’ – have silenced opposing strikers, while Richter and Mason Trafford continue to impress on defense and in attack. Richter is coming off one of his best games of the season where he limited one of the NASL’s top scorers in Lance Laing to a very quiet game.

Ottawa’s midfield is already down one midfielder with Nicki Paterson out for the season and a second has been added to the list with Julian de Guzman out for three weeks after sustaining an injury in the win over Edmonton. Recently signed German striker Ugur Albayrak is available for selection in the 18 for Saturday’s match.