The Essentials

Tampa Bay Rowdies at Ottawa Fury FC, Saturday 7 p.m. ET

Watch online through ESPN3

You can also catch the action at the official watch party at the Rowdies Den in St. Pete or watch with your favorite Unsubs Matt and Dan at the Shamrock Pub in Sarasota.

Scouting the Fury

Ottawa has been the surprise darlings of the Fall Season. Since the Rowdies last met the Fury back on May 9 for a scoreless draw, the club has gone on an impressive run up the standings and now sits alone atop the Fall standings and second overall in the league. Sandwiched in between May and this weekend was a 12-game unbeaten run that included a significant number of draws. In its most recent two matches Ottawa lost its only match of the Fall to Minnesota in stoppage time and drew 0-0 with the Cosmos on Wednesday night.

It’s no secret to anyone that follows the league that Ottawa’s rise up the standings is due almost entirely to the fact that the club is one of the toughest teams to score on. The Canadian side has only conceded 16 goals through 19 games this year and only eight so far in the Fall Season. They’re big, well organized and bring a level of intensity on the defensive end that not many NASL teams can match. Physicality is not something that the Rowdies undersized midfield has always responded to well this year. A fact that was clear as day in May’s 0-0 draw at Ottawa, one if the most boring matches any two teams have played this year.

Ottawa has no shame about parking the bus at any stage of the match at home. Even the New York Cosmos attack was stalled by the bunker down tactics that Ottawa showcased at home on Wednesday. The Rowdies will need to be sharp with their passing and possession, and also bring the creativity in the final third that has been lack in order to break down the sturdy defense.

The Fury attack has not been quite has steadfast as the defense. Ottawa has exploded for attacks twice in the Fall, but has otherwise been relying on counter attacks, set pieces and late-game goals to get by. The counter attack is obviously something that the Rowdies need to improve on, but staying focused on defensive assignments through Ottawa’s usual stoppage time push to score will also be important.

What to Watch For