Photo credit: Steve Kingsman/Freestyle Photography/Ottawa Fury FC
Ottawa Fury FC need a win in their last game of the season if they want to qualify for the USL playoffs.
Fury FC need a win at home against the visiting Charleston Battery this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. to have any chance of making the playoffs as well as results elsewhere in the league to go their way.
After a week off, Fury FC saw its place in the standings drop to ninth, on the outside looking in, as the New York Red Bulls II and Nashville SC both jumped to sixth and seventh respectively.
Fury FC still in with a shot
Ottawa Fury, in ninth, have 45 points but still have two avenues in which they can qualify for the playoffs—assuming they get the win on the weekend.
Nashville, in seventh with 48 points, are one of the two teams Ottawa can jump this weekend. Nashville could only muster a 2-2 draw with TFC II last Tuesday—a game they should have won—which is why the door is open for Ottawa. Nashville play the best team in the league FC Cincinnati on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m.
Ottawa will need a Nashville loss, in addition to a win in their own match, to make the playoffs.
Ottawa can also jump Bethlehem Steel FC. If Bethlehem, in eighth with 47 points, lose or draw, Ottawa can jump them with a win in their match.
Steel FC play on Sunday, Oct. 14 against the 12th-place Tampa Bay Rowdies at 3 p.m.—another game Fury FC will have an eye on.
However, all the permutations will only matter if Ottawa can get the win over Charleston.
Now or never for Fury FC
Ottawa’s 0-0 draw in their last match against Bethlehem must be especially disappointing for Nikola Popovic and his team as Bethlehem sit between them and the final playoff spot.
This weekend, Ottawa Fury need a win at all costs against a Battery team already qualified for the playoffs.
Charleston are unable to move up or down in the table, so Ottawa can hope Charleston fields a weaker team on the weekend.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw the last time the two teams played.
Goals will be a priority for Ottawa Fury—the second lowest scoring team in the league all season.
Expect an attacking lineup with converted right-winger Carl Haworth at right-back, Adonijah Reid (ranked eighth on the 2018 USL 20 Under 20 ranking) on the left returning from suspension and Steevan Dos Santos up front despite his penalty miss last match.
In goal, Maxime Crépeau has been the team’s best player all season with 15 clean sheets to his name breaking the single-season clean sheet record, previously at 13. Crépeau will be key on Saturday as he has been all season.
The season has been a rollercoaster ride for all involved with Fury FC. A playoff appearance, even if they are knocked out in the first round, would be a fitting way to end the 2018 campaign.
TD Place debut Fan First Fare
Fan First Fare is a new initiative that offers reduced prices for food, drink and beer, which will continue during the 2019 season.
Ottawa Fury said snack and drink options like pretzel bites, hot dogs, popcorn and fountain drinks will cost $3.
Cheese and pepperoni pizza slices will be offered for $5 from $6.50 and some beer options will be available for $8 from $10.50, said Fury FC.
The initiative is a clear strategy to give back to fans that have been supporting the team all season and to attract more fans next season.