Ottawa Fury FC had its slim playoff hopes officially dashed Saturday night in New York, giving up the winning goal at the death as the Cosmos picked up the 2-1 result.

Fury had kept its chances of a top-four NASL finish alive after suffering just one loss in its last five games and almost got out of New York with at least one point.

But a bad call early after Fury forward Oliver took a nasty elbow to the head turned into a big blow on two counts. Oliver, who was bloodied and apparently lost teeth after getting hit in the face, was forced out of the game in the 10th minute and the offending player, Daniel Szetela, was only shown a yellow card. Shortly before the end of the first half with the game scoreless, Diomar Diaz headed in a cross from Szetela for the opening goal.

“If you watch the replay, it seems like an experienced elbow,” said Dos Santos of Szetela's elbow on Oliver. “For me (it's) a red card.

Ottawa fought back in the second half as striker Tommy Heinemann scored his sixth of the year, just getting his toe on a great Phil Davies pass.

But it wasn't to be for Fury as Hagop Chirishian scored well into second half injury time to end Ottawa's dram of a playoff spot in Fury's first season in the league.

Fury returns home to host FC Edmonton Sunday afternoon at TD Place. Fury is still looking to catch the Eddies and finish as the league's top Canadian team, earning the right to host the second leg of next year's Canadian championship.

chris.hofley@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @chrishofley

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