OTTAWA, Ont. – The Charleston Battery need only a draw to clinch a return to the USL Cup Playoffs, while Ottawa Fury FC needs to take either a win or a draw to avoid mathematical elimination from playoff contention in the Eastern Conference when the two teams face off at TD Place on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. ET.
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Ottawa Fury FC news and notes
Current record: 7-10-12, 42pts
Fury FC enters Sunday's game following a 1-0 loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders on Wednesday night at FNB Field that dropped the side to 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Despite having a man-advantage from the 40th minute on due to a red card issued to the City Islanders' Cardel Benbow, Ottawa conceded straight after halftime and was unable to find a way to earn an equalizer.
Ottawa only managed three shots on target against the City Islanders, all of which came in the final half-hour of the game as the side's fall out of playoff contention continued.
Since Julian de Guzman was appointed interim head coach of Fury FC the club has failed to win a match, a run which now extends to nine matches.
Charleston Battery news and notes
Current record: 13-8-8, 47pts
The Battery remained in third place in the Eastern Conference standings following a 2-1 loss Orlando City B last Saturday night at Orlando City Stadium.
Despite equalizing through Heviel Cordoves in the 81st minute, the Battery conceded the winner six minutes later to end a two-game winning streak for the side.
Cordoves has been on a good run of form individually, recording four goals in the month of September overall and three goals in two games in Week 27. That earned the Cuban forward a place in the USL Team of the Week announced on Tuesday.
The Battery will clinch a place in the USL Cup Playoffs for a seventh consecutive season with a draw, but with a victory would move two points ahead of the Charlotte Independence for second place in the Eastern Conference after the Independence's loss to FC Cincinnati on Friday night.
Series Notes
Squads
Ottawa – GK: Callum Irving, David Paulmin, Andrew McRae; D: Eddie Edward, Ramon Martin del Campo, Kyle Venter, Shane McEleney, Andrae Campbell, Onua Obasi, Aron Mkungilwa, Thomas Meilleur-Giguere; M: Jonathan Barden, Ryan Williams, Gerardo Bruna, Jamar Dixon, Jimmy-Shammar Sanon, Lance Rozeboom, Sergio Manesio; F: Carl Haworth, Steevan Dos Santos, Sito Seoane, Nick DePuy, Azake Luboyera, Tucker Hume, Adonijah Reid
Charleston – GK: Alex Tambakis, Odisnel Cooper, Joe Kuzminski, Alec Kann; D: Forrest Lasso, Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas, O’Brian Woodbine, Quinton Griffith, Mikey Ambrose, Miles Robinson; M: Laurent Kissiedou, Jarad van Schaik, Neveal Hackshaw, Ataulla Guerra, Lagos Kunga, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang, Tah Brian Anunga, Kotaro Higashi, Ryan Arambula; F: Romario Williams, Patrick Okonkwo, Heviel Cordoves, Ricky Garbanzo, Nico Rittmeyer, Jeffrey Otoo
Discipline
Ottawa - Accumulation warning: Sergio Manesio, Shane McEleney, Steevan Dos Santos, Andrae Campbell
Charleston – Accumulation warning: Taylor Mueller
Officials
REF: CHRIS GRABAS
AR1: Marie-Han Gagnon Chretien
AR2: Lyes Arfa
4TH: Sean Hornsby
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Ottawa Fury FC – @OttawaFuryFC
Charleston Battery – @Chas_Battery