RECAP | Fury FC 0, Strikers 0

Despite several scoring opportunities for both sides, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Fall Season leaders Ottawa Fury FC played to a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon at TD Place. Fort Lauderdale extended its unbeaten streak to five matches in earning the road point, while Fury FC made it just one loss in their last 17 matches.

The draw and the point that comes with it improves the Red & Gold’s record to 4W-5D-2L in the Fall Season under the leadership of head coach Günter Kronsteiner. Fort Lauderdale maintains a strong position to challenge for a spot in the NASL's four-team postseason tournament, The Championship.

The Strikers kept their unbeaten streak against Ottawa intact, moving to 3-2-0 all-time against the Canadian side, again denying Fury FC points against the Red & Gold on their home turf. The majority of the contest was played in a light rain in the Canadian capital with 6,327 fans in attendance.

Fort Lauderdale netminder Josh Ford recorded his second clean sheet of the season and second in Canada this year. His first came in a 2-0 shutout in Edmonton on August 23.  Meanwhile, Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser held firm to notch his league-best 11th shutout of the year.

Peiser was forced to work for his clean sheet. The Ottawa custodian impressed throughout the match and made several stops, including key second-half saves on a swift counter attacking move by Stefano Pinho and a close-range volley by substitute Dani Sánchez.

Ottawa’s stingy defense was able to keep the NASL Player of the Month, Pinho, scoreless. However, the league’s scoring leader had his fair share of chances. The first came in the 11th minute when the Brazilian’s scissor kick was off the mark. Another came in the second half when Pinho couldn’t pinpoint a hard strike in 49th minute.

Pinho also had an effort cleared off the line by Rafael Alves after the forward slipped the ball through Peiser’s legs.

The best chance of the night fell to Gabriel just minutes into the second half. Marlon Freitas deftly lifted a ball over the defense and through on goal for his compatriot, who could only fire wide as an on-rushing Peiser closed down the angle.

Ottawa smacked the bar in the 8th minute and nearly stole all three points with their final touch of the match as former Strikers forward Aly Alberto Hassan headed just wide of goal after beating Ford to a cross deep in stoppage time.

The Strikers were without the services of captain Iván Guerrero and defensive midfield stalwart James Marcelin for the match. Kronsteiner dropped PC to left back and reinstated Walter Ramirez on left wing. Shawn Chin made his first start since mid-July in the center of midfield, but was forced off prematurely after suffering an ankle injury.

Frankie Sanfilippo wore the captain’s armband in place of Guerrero, putting in another solid defensive performance as he skippered his side to a hard-fought point.