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Photo by Steve Kingsman / Freestyle Photography for Ottawa Fury FC

And holding onto eighth-place is critical in any Fury post-season plans. That spot guarantees the Fury a home game in the play-in round and, considering the Fury has lost just two games all year on the TD surface, home field is a must to get to the Elite Eight in the Eastern Conference.

Then, who knows?

“We don’t want top play that play-in game,” said Haworth. “We want to go three-for-three in our last three. That’s our goal. And sees how high that take subs. Who wants to play an extra game?

“This is a massive win for this bunch of guys. It’s 100% what it’s all about and that’s peaking at the right time. We have showed what we can do against a Tampa Bay and Indy. We believe we can go anywhere and beat any team.”

As it stands, the Fury has a six-point lead on ninth-place St. Louis, though St. Louis has five games to play. And there’s little hope the Fury can move up in the table so eighth is what it is.

On a chilly night by the canal, the Fury struck got the only goal they need with Howarth bending it like Beckman on a free kick from about 20-metres out, going for the far post and beating Indy ’keeper Evan Newton.

The Fury dominated the opening 45 minutes, with eight total shots to four by the visitors and the only four shots on target in the entire half.

Photo by Steve Kingsman / Freestyle Photography for Ottawa Fury FC

The second half took on a playoff nastiness in the 59th minute when the Fury’s Jeremy Lapare tackled Indy captain Matt Watson along the sideline at mid-field. Watson didn’t take kindly to the rough stuff and threw a punch at Lapare to earn a red card.