Fury FC Needs One Point Against Armada FC To Claim Fall Season Title

One Team. One Vision. A statement that sums up the 2015 season for Ottawa Fury FC ever so well. A team with a unified vision that now finds itself one point from capturing the first piece of silverware in club history – the Fall Season Championship – that would earn the side home-field advantage for The Championship Semifinal.

“Sunday moved us one step closer to a big goal of ours – winning the Fall Season,” said Mauro Eustaquio, who netted the match-winner on Sunday to pull Ottawa to within a point of achieving this feat.

The 22-year-old Canadian midfielder has flourished in his second professional season and was pragmatic on what remains ahead.

“We haven’t accomplished anything yet, but step-by-step we are coming closer to reaching our ultimate goal,” he said.

Ottawa’s step-by-step, one-game-at-a-time approach, has perhaps been one of the most crucial elements to their success over the last 23 matches where the club has suffered defeat just once (13W-9D-1L).

The next step is a big one for Ottawa and comes Wednesday night in Jacksonville against the expansion Armada FC. While the first-year club has had their struggles that Ottawa could well relate to, one area where the NASL newcomers have not struggled is at home.

“We have a huge opportunity in front of us and we want to embrace this moment,” head coach Marc Dos Santos said. “It is important that we stay focused, we manage our emotions well and keep our eyes on the target. Jacksonville is very strong playing at home and still has a chance of making the postseason.”

Community First Park has been a harbor of success for the Armada FC, falling just once at home and is currently riding a nine-match home unbeaten streak (5W-4D-0L). For the second straight match, Ottawa meet a side faced with a must-win scenario. Jacksonville needs all three points and Fort Lauderdale drop points to remain in the hunt for the fourth and final postseason berth that appears to become a two-horse race between the Strikers and Rowdies.

Jacksonville will be without the services of two key players due to suspension. Leading scorer Alhassane Keita received a red card in Saturday night’s 3-2 win over FC Edmonton while midfielder Lucas Scaglia also picked up a yellow card that forces the Armada FC’s minutes-played leader to serve a suspension for yellow card accumulation.

While the Armada FC has proven dominant at home, Fury FC has run a steady course away from TD Place. Ottawa carries their NASL-record 10-match road unbeaten streak (6W-4D-0L) into Jacksonville pitting the hottest road team against the hottest home team on Wednesday night.

With captain Richie Ryan missing action for a third straight match, goalkeeper Romuald Peiser will wear the captain’s armband looking to set the NASL record for wins in a season with a 15th victory after equalling the record on Sunday where he also stamped his name in the NASL record books yet again with his 14th shutout of the season. Peiser’s performance has only further cemented his candidacy for the NASL Golden Ball (MVP) whiles his stats have him leading the race for the Golden Glove award as the league’s top 'keeper.

Wednesday night’s focus is squarely on capturing the Fall Season Championship, but Ottawa is also in the hunt for the first overall seed and need five points (combination of points won by Ottawa or lost by New York) to top the Combined Standings.