Eddie Edward can be forgiven for taking a couple extra minutes coming out of the locker room for a pre-game interview Wednesday night.

The Ottawa native and FC Edmonton defender was making his first return of the season to his home town and had to sort out a few administrative details.

“I was just sorting out tickets for everyone,” said Edward, who had a sizeable crowd of friends and family willing to skip the Senators playoff game to see him play in the Amway Canadian Championship against Fury FC on Wednesday night..

“That’s love, right?” said Edward, who has been keeping close tabs on the Sens’ run to the playoffs.

Wednesday wasn’t his first trip back to play in Ottawa — that happened in the first game of the Amway last season — but Edward said he couldn’t wait to get back.

“It’s amazing,” Edward said.

“These cup games are fun in themselves and when I have an opportunity to come back to my hometown and do it in front of my friends and family, it just makes it all the more special.”

While the sparse crowd might not have made it obvious, the significance of the match was not lost on Edward or his teammates as both clubs desperately want the visibility a semi-final matchup with the Vancouver Whitecaps would bring.

“It’s massive, it gives you an opportunity to play on a larger stage and that’s what all of us want to do,” he said.

As for the possibility that Edward, who came up through Fury’s youth system, could one day wear Ottawa colours, he wasn’t interested in fanning those flames.

“Right now I’m the Eddies and that’s all I can focus on,” he said.

Pitch bits

Not only was Ottawa’s opening goal the fastest one to start a game in the club’s young history, it was also a quick answer to coach Marc Dos Santos’ pre-game pep talk. Right before kickoff, the coach was yelling at his players to make the best of the “first 15 minutes.” Or the first two, whatever works ... The signing of legendary Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman has become more important with the loss of captain Richie Ryan to a leg injury. Ryan made his return to action late in last weekend’s win over Minnesota but was hurt the next day at training. It’s a huge hole but it helps that de Guzman is developing some chemistry alongside Nicki Paterson in the defensive midfield. Though he was sidelined for the Edmonton game, Ryan said he expected this one to be heated, as the others against Edmonton have been. “I think (the rivalry) is probably there already, the fact that it’s two Canadian teams,” said Ryan. “They gave us tough games last year and I’m sure (this) season’s not going to be any different. ... Goalkeeper Romuald Peiser has taken over captain duties in Ryan’s absence, which should come as no surprise. Even with Ryan in the lineup Peiser directs traffic loudly from the box and is very well-respected by the coaches and his teammates. Peiser led by example Wednesday with a huge stop on Lance Laing on a second-half penalty kick.

Here and there

Oliver was looking like a man possessed all night for Fury. Not only did he score the first goal, but the Brazilian came up short a few other times, including a header that went just over the bar shortly after he opened the scoring ... Eighteen-year-old Eddies midfielder Hanson Boakai wasn’t on the trip and hasn’t played this year because of a reported disciplinary issue. The teenager was called up the Canadian international team last season but didn’t feature ... Also not available for Edmonton on Wednesday was towering striker Frank Jonke, who remains out with an injury. Tomi Ameobi started up top for the Eddies in Ottawa ... Mike Randolph didn’t suit up for Fury on Wednesday but it’s hard to imagine Brandon Poltronieri starting three in a row at left back. Randolph could come in against Fort Lauderdale Saturday, though Mason Trafford could also get his first taste of action this season.

In closing

It will be a while yet before the opponents for the June 26 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal are set, but that hasn’t stopped people from snapping up tickets early. Organizers announced before Wednesday’s game that 75% of tickets for the game at TD Place, or roughly 18,000 seats, have been sold for the game. There is a possibility Canada could play in that game, but it’s hardly a sure thing ... Sticking with the World Cup, the folks at FIFA have decided that the TD Place press box is not suitable and there will be temporary press seats erected for the event. Something about the windows having obstructed views, though the new press box is actually quite comfortable ... The idea of allowing parking on the TD Place field during the winter does sound a little crazy, but you have to think OSEG would love to do anything to get better attendance at Fury games. Still, people need to get over the parking thing.