Photos by Carlos Verde
Ottawa Fury FC put in a strong effort on and off the soccer pitch on Tuesday, as the club earned a 1-0 victory against visiting Orlando City B in a rare 11 a.m. school-day start in front of a 7,551-person crowd composed largely of students and their teachers.
“It was brilliant,” said Fury manager Paul Dalglish following Tuesday’s win. “This is part of what we try and do here at OSEG, (being) an asset to the community, and it was just awesome.”
Towering striker Steevan Dos Santos scored the match’s lone goal off a slick set-up from winger Carl Haworth. Both players had missed significant time earlier this season with injury — Tuesday was Haworth’s first start of 2017.
“Seeing him back on the field (is) a great delight for everybody who cares about Ottawa Fury,” said Dalglish of Haworth. “He’s a catalyst, the one that presses first, or turns possession into penetration — he’s simply vital and a massive part of this club.”
Haworth, a Burlington, Ont. native and the lone remaining member of Fury’s inaugural 2014 squad, enjoyed the club’s first-ever school day game.
“We thrived off the environment,” said the 27-year-old. “The kids were fully involved, rights from warmups through the final whistle. It was a cool, a good, loud atmosphere.”
As for his return to Dalglish’s starting 11, Haworth was thrilled.
“It was amazing, it’s been 16 weeks coming to the day (of the injury),” explained the Fury winger, who was substituted in the 59th minute against Orlando. “I was chomping at the bit to get out there, and just wanted to leave everything out on the field — now it’s about building up my match fitness for a full 90 minutes.”
Tuesday’s win saw Fury continue their strong form and vault into sixth place in the United Soccer League’s Eastern Conference, a solitary one point behind fifth-place Rochester and three back of fourth-place Bethlehem. Dalglish’s side also has games in-hand on three of the five teams above them.
