OTTAWA – In a matchup of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls, second half goals from Chris Nanco and Santi Moar helped Bethlehem Steel FC rally to a 2-1 victory at TD Place on Saturday. The lone tally for the home side came in the seventh minute as a low cross of the foot of Tucker Hume ricocheted off Steel FC defender Auston Trusty and inside the near post. The goal, a twist in the script during a first half that featured one shot on target for each side, held up until the tide began to turn in the second half. In the 54th minute, Fury FC keeper Callum Irving was called into action, turning away a diving header from Cory Burke but 12 minutes later, Burke sent helped the visitors capitalize on a turnover, finding Nanco with a lofted ball that the Canadian deftly volleyed into the bottom corner for the equalizer. Facing continued pressure, the Ottawa defense relented again in the 81st minute when a miscue in the box led to an open net chance that was buried by former Charlotte Eagles standout, Santi Moar. Sito Seoane came inches from pulling the hosts back level in the 76th minute but saw his effort fly past the left post. Just the second visiting team to leave TD place with a win this year, Steel FC now stands at 9-8-3 overall (30pts) while Ottawa dropped to 6-7-6 (24pts).

Scoring: 
7’ – OTT – Own Goal (Auston Trusty)
66’ – BST – Chris Nanco (Cory Burke)
81’ – BST – Santi Moar

• #OTTvBST: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. One of the most consistent attacking sides in the Eastern Conference, the Bethlehem attack began to find its stride just before the halftime whistle. Bouncing back from a difficult first 45 minutes and a shutout loss against Charlotte in its previous outing, Bethlehem pinned Ottawa in its defensive end for much of the second half, creating opportunities through its press and finding the final touch in the key moments. The goal from Nanco stopped what was a 231-minute scoreless streak that spanned three matches for Ottawa and Moar’s winner ultimately dealt Fury FC its first loss when opening the scoring this season (6-1-2).
   
• 2. The comeback victory was one that may pay huge dividends for head coach Brendan Burke’s side at season’s end. Bethlehem entered the night having lost its last two after rattling off a string of eight-straight matches unbeaten, and looking to regain its form after being outscored, 8-3, in its last three. The victory helped Steel FC create the separation coveted by so many Eastern Conference teams in the middle of the standings, moving them six points clear of an Ottawa side that still has a game in hand and giving Bethlehem a 1-0-1 advantage in the season series after the two sides played to a 1-1 draw on June 4.
   
• 3. Despite the result and not being credited with the goal, PDL alum Tucker Hume continued to deliver in the center of the Ottawa attack. The 6-foot-5 forward put his versatility on display during the goal-scoring sequence, first shrugging off 2016 USL All-League First Team defender Hugh Roberts, and then putting the 2017 USL 20 Under 20 selection Trusty on the back foot with an incisive run before delivering a dangerous ball that found its way into the back of the net. Reunited with head coach Paul Daglish for his first professional season after the two helped lead the Austin Aztex to the 2013 PDL Championship, Hume ranks second on the team with three goals and two assists and figures to play an integral role if Ottawa is to find the offense needed to continue its playoff push as the team has now scored one goal or less in eight of 10 outings since the beginning of June.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Cory Burke, Bethlehem Steel FC – The Jamaican forward was a thorn in the side of a stout Ottawa defense throughout the contest, unleashing six shots and providing the assist on Nanco’s equalizer.

Upcoming Games
Ottawa Fury FC vs. Charlotte Independence – August 12, 7 p.m. ET, TD Place
Bethlehem Steel FC vs. Toronto FC II – August 13, 5 p.m. ET, Goodman Stadium