First thoughts

Ottawa Fury FC travels to face Carolina RailHawks on Saturday in an important matchup for the two clubs, with the two sides looking to kick-start their Fall Season, having picked up only 1 point after two weeks of play. Ottawa sits at 1 point after 2 matches, with a painful 0-1 home loss vs. New York in their TD Place Stadium opener last weekend, while Carolina has lost all 3 of their matches, including their first home loss of the regular season vs. Indy Eleven, and a 2-0 away loss at San Antonio on Wednesday.



The meeting between the two sides in the Spring Season remains vividly in the thoughts of the Ottawa supporters, as the Fury FC shocked Carolina 4-0 at home for Ottawa’s first NASL victory in club history, in which winger Oliver scored 2 headers and the midfield trio of Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Richie Ryan and Tony Donatelli particularly shone.



Keep Thinking

For Ottawa, the status of LW Oliver and RB Drew Beckie remains doubtful, with both of them sitting out the 0-1 friendly loss vs. Rangers FC on Wednesday after they both picked up ankle injuries in the home loss vs. New York. GK Romuald Peiser has built up his match fitness and did feature versus Rangers, and he may be in contention for a spot in the lineup or on the bench. CM Nicki Paterson may also be a welcome addition to a spot in the lineup or on the bench after he returned from his 3-month injury layoff in the Rangers friendly. CB Ryan Richter is back from his 1-game suspension, and he also received game action on Wednesday, though not with Ottawa, as he played 45 minutes in the Toronto FC friendly vs. Tottenham. There is also an outside chance for 17-years-old F Jacob Schroeter to come into the 18-man squad, after his debut in the first team in the friendly vs. Rangers FC, while trialist F Reda Agourram remains with Fury FC after his performance in the same match.



With the various injuries and returns from absences, the lineup may yet again shift for Ottawa. If Oliver and Beckie are not match-fit in time for Saturday, wingers Carl Haworth and P.R. Mayard may compete for the front three spots, while fullbacks Andres Fresenga and Richter, and versatile winger Phil Davies, may all be in contention for Beckie’s right-back spot. Ottawa has not yet scored in the Fall Season nor in their friendly, and the team will be looking to kick-start their goal-scoring form against a team who has struggled in the Fall Season so far.



Carolina has started the Fall Season with 3 straight losses, including their first home loss of the season vs. Indy Eleven last week, and will be desperately looking to rectify their situation at home vs. the Fury. The RailHawks closed out the Spring Season with a 6-1 hammering loss away at Edmonton, and have lost severe momentum from their 4th-placed finish in the Spring Season, in which they displayed a perfect 4-0-0 record at home, but stumbled to a 0-2-3 record when visiting away. Carolina looks for its goal-scoring from ST Zack Schilawski, and its creativity from AM Enzo Martinez and winger Ty Shipalane, all of whom have some experience with MLS clubs.



Final Thoughts

With a busy first two weeks of the Fall Season nearly behind them, Ottawa will have to rely on its deep squad to bring energy and spark to the away game, which comes just 3 days after the mid-week friendly. With no other cup matches or friendlies on the horizon, Ottawa players and supporters alike are looking at the fight for the league playoff spots as their sole focus for the remainder of the season, and a positive result at Carolina may prove to be a catalyst for a strong Fall Season for the Fury FC.



Injuries and Suspensions

LW Oliver (very doubtful), RB Drew Beckie (very doubtful), GK Romuald Peiser (doubtful), CM Nicki Paterson (doubtful)



TV

NASLLive.com, Saturday 7:30pm EDT



Prediction

Carolina RailHawks 0-0 Ottawa Fury FC