Azul Blank First Place Fury

Justin Brewer scored twice in a three-minute span to lift the Azul (4-3-4, 16 points) to a 2-0 victory over the conference-leading Ottawa Fury (6-2-2, 20 points) on Friday.

Brewer’s goals arrived in the 67th and 70th minutes while second-choice keeper Greg Cumpstone collected three saves to hand the Fury its first shutout loss of the season.

A scoreless first half gave way to a second half brimming with chances. Fury forwards Will Beauge and Carlo Basso tested Cumpstone with dangerous shots, but the keeper denied them each time.

The breakthrough arrived in the 67th minute, when Conor Doyle went down the left and crossed it far post, where Brewer headed it through.

Three minutes later, Brewer delievered the encore. Off a shot too hot for Ottawa keeper Nils Carlson to corral, Brewer buried the rebound to give the Azul a lead it would not relinquish.

For Azul, the win puts them in a tie for third place along with Portland Phoenix, with both teams carrying 16 points.

The Azul return to action on Sunday, when they travel north to face Worcester at Foley Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7pm.