April 18th, 2015.
The sun peaks through the clouds on a windy, yet not unpleasant afternoon in the nation’s capital. The sunlight reflects down off the red seating of TD Place Stadium’s south side lower bowl, which will be full for the afternoon’s Ottawa Fury FC match.
Though it’s been an awkward start to the season for the home side, spirits are high as fans – many of them youngsters and even more taking in their first football match – begin to pour into the stadium. Ottawa gained just one of six possible points in its first two matches, and appears to be up against it today in its home opener.
Minnesota United vs Ottawa Fury FC: A Spring Afternoon on Bank Street
Their opposition this afternoon, powerhouse Minnesota United, was recently announced as the next MLS expansion franchise, and has poured money into its squad. Donning their eye-catching light-blue kits, United are undoubtedly the odds-on favourites to win the North American Soccer League in 2015.
Among the most emphatic supporters I run into during the pre-game is Namu Yoon. Despite living in Toronto, Yoon has made the four-plus hour train trip to support Fury FC in the club’s home opener.
“It’s great to be here,” says Yoon, a footy lifer who also supports Toronto FC and Daejeon Citizen in his native South Korea. “Went out for a few pints at the Georgie, and look at this – what a day for the beautiful game, man,” he beams, referring to the Georgetown Pub, where one of the club’s supporter’s groups – Bytown Boys SC – congregates before matches.
Though Yoon can’t make it to most Fury FC home matches for obvious geographical reasons, he maintains one of the most active online presences of any Ottawa fan, keeping his Twitter and multiple forum boards up-to-date on the latest Fury FC happenings.
As we complete the customary bro-handshake and Namu turns and joins the rest of the Bytown Boys in song, the teams take to the pitch for the warm-up.
The international talent on display at TD Place on this sunny Sunday is sizeable by NASL standards, with no less than three full internationals on the team sheet.
Minnesota goalkeeper Sammy N’Djock takes the pitch early and leaves the pitch late for warmup, the Cameroonian international looking to cement his starting spot in goal for United this season.
Darting midfielder Miguel Ibarra, one of the focal points of Minnesota’s attack, has been a regular in American national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann’s camp since October. The NASL’s MVP in 2014, Ibarra has the kind of playmaking ability that makes the beautiful game so beautiful, and will undoubtedly pose a threat to Ottawa’s backline today.
On the home front, Fury FC’s new midfield general and Canadian international Julian De Guzman is set to make his debut, and the excitement amongst Canadian footy fans is palpable.
“I cried a litte bit,” admits one anonymous fan, clad in a Canada jersey, along the stadium concourse. “When Ottawa signed my country’s captain, it represented a gigantic leap forward for this club and made me take note.”
After wandering aimlessly through the concourse for the rest of the warmup, I head up to the press box, exchange pleasantries with some journalists, and take my seat. It’s gametime.
The FIFA anthem booms from the stadium speakers, and out come the players, greeted by a snapping wind and just over five thousand excited fans. Minnesota, imposing in their all-blue kits but still searching for their first victory of 2015, and Ottawa, in their black-and-red kits, also searching for their first victory.
Fury FC get off to a flying start, with Marc Dos Santos’ men buzzing in Minnesota’s half. Section W, the supporter’s section, bounces up collectively with each Fury foray forward, and never really sits down the entire match – perfect.
Then, in the 22nd minute, a ball handling gaffe from N’Djock gives Ottawa a free kick opportunity from the edge of the Minnesota 18-yard box. Section W on its toes, Nicki Paterson steps up. With the Minnesota wall pushed back closer to its own goal line than to Paterson, the Scotsman is presented with a tricky angle. He takes a short run up before drilling the ball past the blue wall – only to be denied by a cat-like dive from N’Djock, who parries well to his right.
The crowd gasps, devoted football fans and newcomers alike, and in that brief moment, the oversized stadium on the Rideau Canal disappears. The empty north side and south side upper deck stands melt away, and all that remains are the tightly-packed 5093 fans, Paterson’s wide eyes, and N’Djock’s outstretched hands. At this moment, the game could be anywhere, on any continent.
The match prattles on, and some minutes later Minnesota’s big off-season signing, Brazilian midfielder Ibson, pulls up lame on the right flank. No doubt a big loss in the scheme of today’s match, but potentially an even larger one for Minnesota’s season.
Fury FC threaten again on thirty-six minutes with a corner on the far side of the field. The ball is whipped in with pace, flicked on by Rafael Alves, and blasted home by Fury FC golden boy Oliver Minatel. While Section W erupts, the assistant on the far side rains on the supporters’ parade with a flag for off-side, nullifying Oliver’s opener.
Fury FC continue to press, but can’t find an answer to the increasingly-steady N’Djock. At the half, the massive videoboard reads nil-nil, though Marc Dos Santos’ men likely deserve a lead. In his halftime interview, Minnesota boss Manny Lagos is understandably short and frustrated.
I make my way down to the concourse at halftime to meet up with Fury FC supporter Mario Carlucci.
A season ticket holder, Mario speaks excitedly about the upcoming season.
“I’m very happy that the club was able to bring in somebody of Julian De Guzman’s calibre,” says Carlucci, a director with CBC. “It shows us fans that the team is serious about improving.”
The Fury FC gameday experience is a family one for Mario, whose young daughter Josephina tugs at his pant leg during our conversation.
“I wanted the kids to have role models in the game,” says Carlucci, who pundits say resembled a young Andrea Pirlo in last season’s Fury FC Media Game. “To have a bona fide professional team in Ottawa, that my children can watch, is a big deal.”
He adds that the friendly gameday environment is another plus to the overall Fury FC brand.
“The team itself is encouraging a family atmosphere here,” Carlucci smiles. Daughter Josephina has even found a favourite in defender Drew Beckie. “The fact that every child in this city that plays soccer can come here for free – it really feels like the start of something special.”
With that, Carlucci heads back to his seats at midfield, and I make my return to the press box, a distinct optimism in the air on this day, an optimism that was so badly missing towards the latter stages of last season.
The second half begins more timidly for the hosts, with Ibarra and 2014 NASL Golden Boot winner Christian Ramirez making dangerous runs immediately after the restart. However, Fury FC barely even bend and do not even approach breaking point defensively.
Rather, they get back on the front foot, pressing the Minnesota defenders with a vigour not previously seen in Ottawa’s first two matches.
Their persistence finally pays off in the 68th minute, as Tom Heinemann, the club’s resident GEICO caveman, runs onto a long ball. Running the ball down the left flank, Heinemann cuts outside Minnesota defender Tiago Calvano and fights off a challenge from Brian Kallman before slotting the ball calmly through N’Djock’s legs and in, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
Despite some nervous moments late in the game, Fury FC defend well in the closing moments to see out the 1-nil victory, a momentous one for the second-year club.
“We did everything right,” summarizes Ottawa boss Marc Dos Santos in the post-game media scrum.
In many ways, this scene is perfect. Just beyond the tunnel where Dos Santos is meeting with the usual journalists – all of whom are on first-name terms with the affable coach – his players are laughing and celebrating with their families.
The afternoon feels like much more than a mere three points at the beginning of a long season. It feels like the conquering of a demon that had haunted the club throughout its 2014 campaign: the expectation of late-game disappointment. Ottawa dropped two home games against Minnesota, both due to late goals, in 2014, and Fury FC had a slight penchant for allowing game-changing goals late. Thus, today’s victory against the most hotly-tipped team to win the league seems to signal the turn of a new page, and dare I say it, the dawn of a new era.
As I exit the stadium along a catwalk, I look back at the stadium. A few fans remain scattered in the stands, soaking up the last rays of sun, while players enjoy some family and fan time simultaneously.
With today’s victory, the club seems to have turned a mental corner, and as Mario Carlucci hinted with a mischievous glint that seemed to say ‘why not us’:
This could be the start of something special.
Main Photo via Author’s Collection, All Rights Reserved.
