Ottawa Fury FC rallied from an early deficit to extend its undefeated streak to six games and move up to fourth place in the Eastern Conference as the Charlotte Independence’s winless run deepened on Sunday afternoon.
OTTAWA – Mour Samb struck twice as Fury FC ended up taking a comfortable victory against an Independence side that finished with nine men at TD Place. Ottawa had an early chance as Samb curled a finish from inside the penalty area wide of the left post in the third minute, but the Independence took the lead 11 minutes later when a good corner kick from the right by Abdoulie Mansally was headed home by Hugh Roberts at the top of the six-yard area. Christiano Francois fashioned an opening for Fury FC in the 24th minute as the hosts looked to respond when his shot from the right side of the penalty area was met by a good save by Independence goalkeeper Curtis Anderson, but Ottawa spun the game around with two goals in two minutes to take the lead before halftime. Samb was involved in both, first holding possession in traffic in the Independence penalty area before laying the ball back for Wal Fall to shoot first-time into the bottom-right corner and then picking up the pieces after Independence defenders Roberts and Steven Thicot both went for a chipped through-ball from a set piece that left both unable to recover as Samb calmly tucked away a low finish. The Senegalese forward struck again 10 minutes into the second half, starting and finishing a short passing move that saw Amer Sejdic and Francois set up Samb’s low shot from 20 yards. The Independence were reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute when Joel Johnson was sent off after bringing down Aidan Daniels as he broke in on goal just outside the penalty area, and Anderson had to make a good save on the ensuing free kick by Fall to deny his shot to the top-left corner. Anderson again came up big as he saved a penalty kick by Fall with nine minutes to go after Roberts was sent off for bringing down Francois in the penalty area after the Haitian winger had got in behind the Independence defense, but Fury FC found its fourth with a minute to go when Samb set up Francois for a simple finish. Samb then got the chance to complete his hat trick from the penalty spot in stoppage time as Mansally was penalized for a handball just inside the penalty area but missed the target on what was the lone blemish on a standout day.
USLChampionship.com Man of the Match
Mour Samb, Ottawa Fury FC – Samb had a hand in all four goals for the hosts, scoring twice and notching two assists to lead Fury FC to victory.