Loudoun United faced dour circumstances before going to Canada to play the Ottawa Fury Saturday afternoon. A lack of the normal amount of loanees from D.C. United, injuries and their international players not being able to travel left them with a threadbare roster for the afternoon, and the resulting 2-0 loss in front of 3,232 at TD Place could not be entirely unexpected.
With starting Loudoun defenders Akeem Ward and Donovan Pines at D.C., starting midfielder Antonio Bustamante being hurt, and Orlando Sinclair, Omar Milton Campos and Jack-Jean Baptiste all unavailable, the subsequent result was coach Richie Williams dressing a 16-man roster, including five academy players amongst the numbers. Chances were generally harmless in the first half until a 34th minute cross from Ottawa right back Carl Haworth fell to Kevin Oliveira and Mour Samb at the back post, both of whom were past Alexxon Saravia. A whiffed attempt from Oliveira fell to Samb, who put it past Earl Edwards Jr. for an early Ottawa lead.
The second half found Loudoun pressing forward more in attack with runs from Andrew Lubahn and Shinya Kadono, but in the 52nd minute a long ball into the Loudoun defending third left Collin Verfurth deciding late to head the ball back to Edwards. The header was poorly played and Oliveira swooped in, beating Edwards for the 2nd Fury goal. Williams brought on D.C. prospect (and United States U-17 player) Bryang Kayo in the 57th minute, followed by defender Jack Villatoro coming on for Saravia in the 70th, the professional debuts for both players. Kayo looked comfortable in central midfield on the right of Noah Pilato, while Villatoro was capable at right back.
The next game for Loudoun (0-2-2) is at New York Red Bulls II next Saturday, April 20, at 1pm.