OTTAWA – Ottawa Fury FC put in a sturdy display and was inches away from tying the game in the second half, but Major League Soccer’s Montreal Impact held on for a 1-0 victory and claimed the inaugural CapCity Cup in front of 6,321 fans on a beautiful Friday evening at TD Place Stadium.

With Ottawa having taken a 4-3 victory against Toronto FC II to boost their hopes of a place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs on Thursday night, Head Coach Nikola Popovic sent out a lineup that included numerous trialists for the opening half against the visitors from Montreal. The young players looking to impress the professional club brought plenty of energy to what was destined to be a hotly-contested affair.

The first opportunity of the game came for the Impact, however, as in the sixth minute the ball was worked across the penalty area to Chris Duvall, who sliced his shot wide. Ottawa’s first good chance arrived 10 minutes later when Daniel Haber had an off-balance attempt from a sharp angle that caused problems for Impact keeper Clément Diop, with the French shot-stopper forced to punch the looping attempt out for a corner.

On the ensuing corner kick, Azake Luboyera attempted a low header, but it was cleared to safety by the Montreal defense.

Midway through the first half, the Impact fed a ball through to Mathieu Choinière, but the young attacker was muscled off the ball by Ottawa native and Fury FC trialist Hansly Felix Malonga. Three-quarters of Fury FC’s starting backline were local products, as Malonga as joined by Jadon Vilfort and Eddie Edward, all of whom hail from Ottawa and played youth soccer in the area.

Choinière threatened again a few moments later as space opened for a shot from 20 yards out that produced a low diving save by Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving. The Impact took the lead eight minutes before halftime, though, when Clément Bayiha – who was loaned to Montreal from Ottawa for the contest – found the back of the net with a long, looping shot.

Fury FC brought on a pair of well-known faces to the crowd at halftime with the introduction of Canadian international Simeon Jackson and young standout forward Adonijah Reid, who had scored the game-winner the previous night in Toronto. Reid got involved immediately as less than a minute into the second half he delivered a perfect corner right onto the head of Thiago de Freitas. A powerful header from the Brazilian forced Diop into a desperation save.

Irving was called on again in the 56th minute to keep out a curling effort by Canadian international Anthony Jackson-Hamel, who cut to the byline and sent a shot toward the top corner. Irving got a strong palm to the ball and directed it wide.

Local boy Malonga made another nice defensive play in moments later when Montreal’s Matteo Mancosu darted into the penalty area, but a slide from Malonga blocked a low cross and the danger was cleared.

Ottawa had a pair of chances to pull even in the closing stages, the first in the 76th minute when a low cross wreaked havoc in the Montreal penalty area that resulted in a low shot by Fury FC’s Shawn-Claud Lawson that was cleared off the goal line. Minutes later, Reid got to the byline and tried to chip the Montreal goalkeeper. His shot danced across the goal line but would not go in.

“With the amount of chances we had in the second half, if we had put one in it would have been a different game,” said Reid. “They’re a good team, but we’re a good team too. If we had converted one or two of those chances, it would have been a very different game.”

Despite the late pressure by the hosts, the 1-0 scoreline held and the Impact took home the inaugural CapCity Cup.

“I think the boys started a bit nervous,” said Popovic. “As the game progressed, we were able to stabilize and create some chances. I think today, Montreal was better and deserved to win.”

Ottawa will continue its pursuit of a place in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs when Fury FC travels to take on the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, September 15 at 7 p.m. ET at City Stadium. Fury FC beat Richmond at home earlier in the season and a vital three points are on the line.