Ottawa Fury FC couldn't win it for the gaffer.

Fury was without head coach Marc Dos Santos on Saturday, due to a death in his family, and fell short in a 3-1 defeat to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

In the 64th minute, Strikers midfielder Marlon Freitas hit a bomb which curled into the top left corner and silenced the already hushed 3,023 in attendance.

Fury keeper Romuald Pesier had no chance on the blast.

"He bent it well. It's just one of those goals you just have to sit back and applaud because there's not much you can do about it," said assistant coach Martin Nash, who was filling in for Dos Santos.

The Strikers put this baby to bed in extra time as forward Jose Angulo was all alone, slipped past Peiser and walked the ball into the open net.

But at least Fury tried to make things interesting.

Fury defender Rafael Alves, facing his former team for the first time since joining Ottawa in the off-season, made the Strikers remember what they're missing.

Alves was open in the box and rose for a header off a corner kick to make it 2-1 against his former team in the 79th minute.

In celebration, the defender shook his fist towards his bench, not reserving any emotion towards his old crest.

The 30-year-old Brazilian put in another solid effort when called upon.

Speaking of which, the non-calls continued for Fury this season.

Early in the second half, Tommy Heinemann was tripped in the box by Brazilian midfielder Victor (PC) Giro but referee Yusri Rudolph wasn't having any of it.

"The official didn't seem to be giving much of anything the entire game. It was one of those things you put your hands up and what can you do," said Heinemann.

"The mood in the locker room is not good. Taking no points out of that game is very frustrating."

Fort Lauderdale struck first off a corner, as the ball soared over the Fury backline and fell right to Angulo at the back post.

The Colombian easily tapped in the right-footed putt in the 41st minute.

Strikers keeper Joe Nasco, who was starting for the injured David Meves, didn't last long either.

In the ninth minute, Heinemann jumped on a deflected ball in the box which was saved by Nasco.

Oliver couldn't finish off the rebound.

In the process, Heinemann stepped on Nasco's leg, injuring the keeper, who had to be helped by trainers off the field.

Strikers third-stringer Lionel Brown was subbed in after Nasco finally hobbled off the pitch.

Before Brown could even put his gloves on, Paulo Jr. fired a left footed strike at the keeper with two Strikers' looming.

Nash didn't tinker too much and made only one change from their winning lineup against Minnesota United FC last Saturday, swapping Mike Randolph in for Brandon Poltronieri at leftback.

Randolph, who looked off-pace at times, had a little slip up in the 28th minute, as he couldn't control a dropping ball in the box. Luckily he recovered in time to block the shot.

"It was difficult the way the game went but I think we made some good changes, brought some energy got back in the game," said Nash. "We looked like we were going to get the second but it just wasn't meant to be."

Considering all the Brazilians in action on Saturday, you'd be hard pressed to believe it was "Italian Day" at the park.

PC put in a calculated 90 minutes, exploring the middle of the pitch and pushing the Strikers' attack forward.

The boys from the beach have a heavy Brazilian presence from the top down, starting with part-owner Ronaldo.

The World Cup legend was a no show in the Strikers' box, but Brazilian veteran and former Flamengo captain Leo Moura certainly turned up.

The Strikers captain did a good job of holding the ball up and making the initial pass to the rest of the midfield all afternoon.

Beach boys keep cool

Fort Lauderdale's keepers can't stay healthy.

First, starting goalie David Meves didn't travel with the Strikers to Ottawa for Saturday's match against Fury FC because of an undisclosed injury.

Then back-up goaltender Joe Nasco went down early on in Saturday's match after he got clipped by a six-foot-four Tommy Heinemann at TD Place.

Nasco, after spending several minutes laying down in his box, looked to be favouring his right foot as two trainers carried off the 30-year-old American.

That meant third-string keeper Lionel Brown had to rip off his track pants and find his mitts.

Fury tested the 27-year-old right away as Paulo Jr. welcomed Brown to the match with two hard shots.

But he was able to handle both and settle in.

"I think he did very well actually. We tried to test him early on as soon as he got in," said Fury forward Carl Haworth after the game.

"We knew that if we got chances on him that he might give up one or two."

However, Brown wasn't able to keep the clean sheet in his first NASL action of the season and third league appearance ever.

Haworth said there were a few cracks in the American's play, especially as Fury pressed for the tying goal late in the match.

"I think he dropped a cross later on that we almost scored from as well," he said.