OTTAWA – Ottawa Fury FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon at TD Place. The Rowdies believed they had taken the lead in the fourth minute, but an offside call ruled out Justin Chavez’s header from a corner kick from the left. Tampa Bay forced a pair of saves in the opening half, while Ottawa’s Steevan Dos Santos had the lone shot on goal for Fury FC as the game went to the break scoreless, but neither side was able to create much as the second half progressed. Fury FC’s Sito Seoane forced the best save of the game by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens with a low shot from 20 yards with eight minutes to go, but the teams settled for a scoreless draw as the Rowdies claimed the regular-season series.

Scoring: 
None

• #OTTvTBR: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Ottawa earned a third consecutive draw in league play, but would likely have wanted a brighter attacking performance on home turf. Instead Fury FC ended the game with only two shots on goal – both from outside the penalty area – as its front three was held in check most of the game by the Rowdies’ defense. Forward Michael Salazar – on loan from the Montreal Impact – looked like he’ll need more time to get acclimated to his new teammates, as he finished the game with only 14 touches, nine passes attempted, and one shot, which was blocked.

• 2. Tampa Bay threatened much more regularly, especially from set pieces as the Rowdies took the game to Fury FC from the opening kickoff. The visitors thought they had the lead from an early corner, only for Justin Chavez’s finish to be ruled out for offside, and it proved that Michael Nanchoff’s deliveries from set pieces came closest to breaking the deadlock as the game went on. In claiming the season series against their northern rivals, though, the Rowdies will be hoping to find a bit more in open play moving forward after being held scoreless for the first time this season.

• 3. In difficult, rainy conditions, Saturday’s game wasn’t the greatest spectacle. At one point there had been more yellow cards issued than official shots on goal as both sides gave very little away in the defensive end. The familiarity that has grown between the two clubs was certainly a factor in this, but while the Rowdies looked the more assertive side going forward as the visitors, they’ll likely be happy to take a point back to Al Lang Stadium with them as Ottawa kept one eye on its Canadian Championship clash with Edmonton on Wednesday.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Damion Lowe, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Lowe was a threat from set pieces, and won 6-of-7 aerial duels in additions to recording four interceptions and four clearances.

Upcoming Games:
Ottawa Fury FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds – May 13, 2 p.m. ET, TD Place
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Louisville City FC – May 13, 7:30 p.m. ET, Al Lang Stadium