Ottawa Fury’s Streak Ends As Scorpions, Indy Eleven, & Silverbacks Win
Soccer News: Ottawa Fury FC went to a packed NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn., with a six-game shutout streak and riding a Modern Era scoreless record, but left with their streak ended on Saturday night, while picking up a point after another draw in Week 2 of the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season.
Minnesota United FC forward Christian Ramirez, last year’s NASL Golden Boot winner, put a shot past Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser 32 minutes into the game to end Fury FC’s scoreless streak that stretched back to May 2. Officially, Ottawa had not allowed the opposition a goal in league play in 648 minutes.
Tampa Bay, which went into the weekend as the leader in the league’s combined standings, left Texas with nothing after veteran Jamaican striker Omar Cummings scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season in San Antonio‘s convincing shutout victory.
In other games, Indy Eleven scored a comeback win over visiting Carolina, the Atlanta Silverbacks topped Jacksonville thanks to a goal from Michael Reed, and FC Edmonton earned a point away from home in a draw with Fort Lauderdale.
Atlanta Silverbacks 1, Jacksonville Armada FC 0
The Silverbacks (1W-0D-1L, 3 points) took the lead in the 61st minute when Michael Reed scored his first goal of the season, a rocket from the top of the penalty area that Jacksonville (0-0-2, 0) goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo had no chance of stopping. In front of 4,717 at Silverbacks Park, backup goalkeeper C.J. Cochran earned the shutout in the absence of Steward Ceus, who is with Haiti during the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1, FC Edmonton 1
One minute after a goal by Stefano Pinho of Fort Lauderdale (0-2-0, 2) was waved off for offside, substitute midfielder Shawn Chin was tripped by Eddies goalkeeper Matt VanOekel to earn a penalty kick. Walter Ramirez converted the spot kick in the 68th minute. The Eddies (1-1-0, 4), playing the first game of a long three-game, eight-day road trip, equalized in the 86th minute as a shot by academy product Sadi Jalali bounced off the post and struck goalkeeper Josh Ford before making its way into the net.
Indy Eleven 2, Carolina RailHawks 1
Each team was forced to make an early change because of injury – for Carolina (1-1-1, 4) Austin da Luz replaced Tiyi Shipalane and for (1-1-0, 4) Indy Daniel Keller came on for Brad Ring – in the 23rd minute before a crowd of 9,629 at Carroll Stadium. It was da Luz, who gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute when his diving header from Nazmi Albadawi‘s free kick beat goalkeeper Kristian Nicht. Indy tied the game in the 54th minute when Wojciech Wojcik scored on a header from a towering cross by Kyle Hyland. The hosts then took the lead three minutes later as Honduran defender Erick Norales put a free kick into Akira Fitzgerald‘s net for the game-winner.
Minnesota United FC 1, Ottawa Fury FC 1
In the 32nd minute, Tiago Calvano‘s nifty pass with the outside of his foot found a streaking Christian Ramirez, who struck a strong volley past goalkeeper Romuald Peiser to end Ottawa’s league record scoreless streak at 648 minutes. Minutes after entering the match, Ottawa’s Oliver Minatel took a high kick by Ramirez in the face and earned a penalty kick as well as a bloody nose and a seat back on the bench. Tom Heinemann of Ottawa (1-1-0 4) planted the penalty behind Sammy Ndjock of Minnesota (0-1-1, 1) to tie the match.
San Antonio Scorpions 3, Tampa Bay Rowdies 0
Playing in front of a crowd of 7,636 at Toyota Field, the Scorpions (1-0-1, 3) jumped in front when Martin Chávez beat Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the 11th minute. Early in the second half, a cross from the left by Billy Forbes was muscled into the net by Omar Cummings – his sixth goal of the year. The loss was the first in eight league matches for Tampa Bay (1-0-1, 3). Cummings scored again in the 62nd minute to take over sole possession of the goalscoring lead from FC Edmonton’s Lance Laing. San Antonio’s Julius James was stretchered off the field in the 22nd minute, replaced by Brad Rusin, with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.
