PREVIEW | Eddies Host First-Place Fury FC In Canadian Derby

FC Edmonton returns to Fort McMurray’s Shell Place on August 2 to face NASL-leading Ottawa Fury FC in a Canadian Derby showdown. Edmonton will welcome the return of midfielder Lance Laing as well as the debut of recent signing Dustin Corea as the battle for top spot in the Fall Season Standings heats up. 

Edmonton is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Silverbacks that snapped their four-game unbeaten streak in the Fall Season. Midfielder Ritchie Jones and striker Tomi Ameobi made their first appearances on the pitch in months after being sidelined with various ailments. Ameobi made an impact with limited playing time, registering the Eddies’ lone goal to pick up where he left off in the Spring Season.

Fury FC is currently the league’s hottest team, riding a 10-game unbeaten run in league play dating back to the Spring. Momentum favors the visiting team, with midfielder Carl Haworth earning NASL Player of the Week honors after scoring in consecutive matches last week. Haworth, alongside Fury FC teammates Colin Falvey and goalkeeper Romauld Peiser, featured on the Team of the Week for Week 4 after climbing to the top of the Combined Standings.

Recent history between the two clubs is to the Eddies’ advantage. The Edmonton side rolled to 3-1 victories in both legs of the Amway Canadian Championship preliminary round before playing to a scoreless draw at TD Place just a couple weeks later in NASL competition. Daryl Fordyce and Ameobi lead the Eddies in scoring against their Canadian rivals, registering a goal apiece in both ACC matches, while goalkeeper Matt VanOekel was solid in net with just two goals against across all competition. Both Ameobi and Fordyce will be available for selection in Sunday’s match, while VanOekel has re-established himself as the go-to ‘keeper for head coach Colin Miller.

“We now have to answer the bell against a team that is so-to-speak the best in-form team at the moment,” Miller said. “Ottawa have really turned their season around and have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. It’s a home game for us, [and] we have to remain positive with the return of Lance Laing and hopefully Dustin Corea in the lineup, as well as Ritchie Jones, Daryl Fordyce, and Hanson Boakai. We’re excited about the match, and we are looking forward to it.”