Back at home, New York Red Bulls II will host Ottawa Fury as they work not to slip further down the Eastern Conference standings, and in doing so out of USL Playoff contention. Last match saw the Red Bulls valiantly fight back to a 4-4 against Charleston Battery, after seeing the score line read 3-0 in Charleston’s favor at halftime. Tom Barlow, forward and 2018 MLS SuperDraft pick by the New York Red Bulls, scored a hat-trick in the match, including two game-tying goals, and received USL Player of the Week accolades for his accomplishments. Riding high after stealing a point away from home, New York Red Bulls II will look to get the job done and secure their first win against Ottawa Fury.
New York Red Bulls II have been in poor form as of recent – bad news for a team scrapping for a USL Playoff spot in the final few games of the season. Winless in their last five, the Red Bulls have not been able to secure three points at home or away, but will hope to change their fortunes on Friday against Ottawa Fury, a team who has had their number for the past year. The side has not been lacking goals, however, scoring an impressive 13 goals in that stretch. The side’s defense has been in shambles however, giving up goals off of set pieces and from the run of play alike. It will be a test for Ndam and whoever he lines up with to stop the Ottawa Fury attack, which has laid 11 goals on this Red Bulls side in the five matches they have played since May of 2017.
Ottawa Fury has had a rather lukewarm season, pairing a -9 goal differential with a sizeable collection of blowout losses to the likes of Tampa Bay Rowdies, Cincinnati, Charlotte Independence, and Louisville City. Despite their woes this season, Ottawa Fury sit only two points behind New York Red Bulls II in the USL Playoff race, with the New York side retaining the final playoff spot at this point in the season. Although Ottawa Fury have lost three of their last five matches, winning only one match in that stretch of games, the Canadian outfit has had the Red Bull’s number over the past 18 months, securing nine of a possible 15 points against the team. Ottawa will be looking to continue their positive run of form against the Red Bulls and jump them in the Eastern Conference standings on the weekend.
The Red Bulls will be feeling confident coming off a four-goal second half comeback, after being 3-0 down after 45, and will hope to get their first win against Ottawa Fury on Friday. Both teams are under the palm as they look to sure up their playoff bids nearing the end of the USL season. With recent form favoring the Red Bulls, but previous meetings favoring Ottawa Fury, this match will surely be one not to miss.
Match Information
Date: Friday, August 31, 2018
Kick-off: 19:00 (ET) | 00:00 (BST)
Venue: MSU Soccer Park
Referee: Daniel Gutierrez
Broadcasting: ESPN+ (USA) | YouTube (International)
Previous Meetings
05.20.17: New York Red Bulls II 3-4 Ottawa Fury
06.24.17: Ottawa Fury 2-2 New York Red Bulls II
08.27.17: Ottawa Fury 2-2 New York Red Bulls II
05.2.18 Ottawa Fury 0-0 New York Red Bulls II
06.24.18: New York Red Bulls II 0-3 Ottawa Fury
Current Form
New York Red Bulls II
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-2 (A) | Penn 1-2 (H) | Louisville City 4-6 (H) | North Carolina 2-2 (H) | Charleston Battery 4-4 (A)
Ottawa Fury
Nashville SC 0-2 (A) | Richmond Kickers 2-0 (H) | Indy Eleven 0-0 (H) | Bethlehem Steel 0-2 (A) | Penn FC 0-2 (H)
Team News
New York Red Bulls II
Injured: Tommy Redding (shoulder)
Ottawa Fury
N/A
Predicted Line-ups
New York Red Bulls II
Louro
Kutler – Ndam – Escobar – Stauffer
Echeverria – Lema
Aguinaga – Tinari – Stroud
Barlow
Ottawa Fury
Crepeau
Edward – Edgar – Meilleur-Giguère – Obasi
Gagnon-Laparé – Manella – Portilla – Haworth
Oliveira
Dos Santos
Score Prediction
Ottawa Fury 2-2 New York Red Bulls II
