Lance Laing scored a tiebreaking goal in the 88nd minute to lead FC Edmonton to a 3-1 comeback victory over Ottawa Fury FC on Wednesday in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship.
Daryl Fordyce's goal in the 83rd tied the game at one, and Tomi Ameobi added a stoppage-time marker to seal the victory.
Oliver scored an early goal for Ottawa, putting the Fury ahead 1-0 in the second minute of the match. It was the fastest goal scored in club history — and second fastest in Amway Canadian Championship history.
"I think that, until the 75th minute, we were the team that created the most — the best team on the field," said Fury head coach Marc Dos Santos.
Ottawa was also without captain Richie Ryan, who will miss at least three weeks with a leg injury. Julian De Guzman, Fury FC's most decorated player in this competition, led the midfield in his absence.
Fury FC produced several scoring chances throughout the first half through Andrew Wiedeman and Sinisa Ubiparipovic, but neither were able to beat Edmonton goaltender Matt VanOeke. Ottawa kept the pressure on to start the second half as Oliver nearly got his second of the night, but his shot went just wide.
Fury forward Ryan Richter was called for a handball in the box in the 63rd minute. Laing stepped up to take the penalty kick, but goalkeeper Romuald Peiser stopped the shot to hold the lead before Edmonton's late barrage in the second half.
"You can see there is a healthy rivalry between the two clubs and long may that continue," said FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller. "We need it."
Edmonton hosts the second leg on April 29.
"The most important game is always the next one so you have to go on," said Peiser.
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