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Penn FC had been winless until last Friday when the side shocked the Tampa Bay Rowdies 3-0 at home. Still, the former Harrisburg Islanders franchise has been very competitive with three draws and a win in their last five games prior to facing Ottawa. Taking the pitch, their goal-differential was a respectable minus-1 in comparison to Ottawa’s minus-12.

So the road win was just what Ottawa needed as keeper Maxime Crepeau earned his second straight clean sheet.

The Fury FC had the only two shots on net in the opening 45 but the game appeared headed to a scoreless draw, especially after Ottawa’s Carl Haworth struck one of the post in the 50th minute.

It was left to Falvey to make the long bus ride well worth the trip.

“With time, we are going to have a better understanding of the players and they will understand better the model,” said Popovic. “We know some players will react differently, and that’s why we have to adapt. But this is normal in any model, everything is different, so I think we are making the right adaptations, but that’s why, when you are building a team, you need time. We needed to get to know our players so we could put them in a good position to win.”

His players had already predicted as much.

Heading to Harrisburg, Fury FC midfielder Kevin Oliveira said he felt the team may be on the verge of getting things right.

“It’s a pretty new team,” said Oliveira. “We knew from the start that it’s going to be hard to understand each other but we are starting to get it together on the field. We are starting to play our game. Players are starting to know each other.

“We are practicing and working hard. We are starting to believe in each other, that’s what we are doing on the field right now.”

Defender Doneil Henry said prior to the match hat the Fury FC is on the right path.

“I think we understand the way forward,” said Henry. “We have to set demands and hold each other accountable, and keep this high level of performance.

“The goals will come. We are not really worried about that at the moment. As long as we continue to do the simple things and guys understand their roles within the team, I think we will definitely be fine.”