League 1 Ontario 2017--Week 13

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Sunday July 23, 2017 League 1 Ontario game between
Vaughan Azzurri vs Oakville Blue Devils played at McNaughton Turf in Maple
at 2:00pm.

62 min...OBD Matthew Santos GOAL...OBD Filipe Vilela passes from far right
low to Santos who shoots low 15 yarder forward to left past diving goalie
Colm Vance.

95 min...OBD Nolyn Do Nascimento GOAL...Do Nascimento on left gets pass
at 60 yards and quickly shoots low into empty net as VA goalie had joined
the attack.

Final Score:...Vaughan Azzurri.......0.....Oakville Blue Devils....2..

Attendance was about 60 on this hot and humid, mostly overcast afternoon.

I could see this game was going to be intense from the opening moments.
After one half I was thinking a scoreless draw or possible 1-1 was
a likely result.

The referee wasn't the one scheduled. John Vlahos moved up from the AR 1
position. This is however at least the third time I've seen him referee this
year. He put up with a lot of chatter from players and coaches and could give
his reasoning for making and not making calls. Not giving calls for dissent
just made the complaining worse. Dialogue from film director Quentin
Tarentino! The players were mouthing off to opponents within days after some
of them were playing together on the League 1 Ontario All Star team that beat
their counterparts from Quebec on Wednesday. VA head coach Carmine Isacco had
just returned from suspension and was a little more subdued than OBD head coach
Duncan Wilde. Most intense was when the call was given for five additional
minutes of injury time in the second half (turned into six). Wilde complained
the whole time about it being too long and only stopped for about 30 seconds
when Nolyn Do Nascimento scored then he was back at it. Do Nascimento proved
a genius sub as he scored within two minutes of coming on and was probably
brought on just to eat some of the injury time and let All-Star team Filipe Vilela
take a bow.

Vlahos gave out six Yellow cards that I counted with Vaughan earning four.
Maybe he got even with all the players by not scheduling water breaks! Both teams
stayed on the field during halftime rather than walk 500+ yards across the street
and parking lot to the dressing rooms.

Matt George earned the shutout for Oakville. He made a few swats clearing balls
inside his crowded six yard box rather than risk catching and surviving drops
or bumps by opponents.

Both teams of defenders more than halved the work for their goalies with blocks
and headers cutting down on dangers in the box.

Andrea Lombardo came in as a midfield substitute for Vaughan at 62 minutes.
I hadn't seen him play in something like three years for Vaughan. He was a member
of the original Toronto FC MLS teams of 2007 and 2008. He is now 30 years old
and from I've read a real estate agent and a coach in the Vaughan system.
This game he fit right in taking at least three cornerkicks. Is he eyeing
a position in that new Canadian league?

I spoke to OBD midfielder Al James after the game. Two Sundays ago I was within
ten feet of him when he was headbutted near the sideline in a game against
Toronto Skillz. He was taken away by ambulance and he said he received twelve
stitches over his left eye. He said they did a good job and I agreed as I could
hardly see any markings after only two weeks. I took one-third as many in the
early 1970s by a dog bite and I can still see the scar over my eyebrow. He said
he was sat out last weekend's game in Oakville which eventually was postponed
after three rain delays and Woodbridge Strikers holding a 1-0 lead. That game
will have to be replayed as it could mean a lot in the standings of second
in the West (Oakville) and first in the East (Woodbridge) at the current time.

The loss for Vaughan means their record falls to 7 wins, 4 losses, 1 tie
for 22 points for third place in the Eastern Conference. They are seven points
behind (now knowing Woodbridge won a few hours later—I was there!). Azzurri has
cooled down losing three of their last four games. Things might get worse for
last year's league champs as they may have players draw duty at York University
once their programs starts up again for this season.

Oakville's win improves their record to 10 wins, 2 losses, 0 ties for 30 points
for second place in the West. They are five points behind undefeated Sigma FC
but because of last week's postponed game, they have one game in hand.

Only two more weeks of the East vs West Conference matchups before the league
reverts back to games within the Conference for the final third of the season.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01

[Rocket Robin]

Result and details of the Sunday July 23, 2017 League 1 Ontario match between
Woodbridge Strikers and Pro Stars FC played at Vaughan Grove in Woodbridge
at 7:00pm.

12 min...Woodbridge Emmanuel Issac GOAL...Isssac intercepts pass and
shoots 20 yarder into center of empty net as goalie Jonathan Albanese
was out to 15 yards for clearance attempt.

17 min...Woodbridge James Baker GOAL...WS Cristian Cavallini rolls pass
forward at 25 yards to Baker who rounds goalie on left at 10 yards and
shoots tough angle 10 yard shot into right corner of net.

35 min...WS James Baker wins Penalty kick call from referee Michael Stenbring
after breaking in on left side of box after long run upfield and being
pulled down by retreating defender Briam Lopez.

36 min...Woodbridge Dylan Carreiro GOAL...Carreiro blasts Penalty kick
low to left corner of net beyond sprawling goalie.

47 min...Woodbridge Michael Krzeminski GOAL...WS Dylan Carreiro on run
holds up ball when challenged by defender and taps pass over to Krzeminski
at 20 yards on left and he shoots 12 yard shot into top right corner of net.
He then does barrel roll celebration into corner flag.

54 min...Pro Stars George Owusu wins a Penalty kick when he checks WS goalie
Quillan Roberts off ball wide left of net then has Roberts push him over.

55 min...Pro Stars Maan Slewa rolls Penalty kick to left post but diving
goalie pushes ball wide of post.

Final Score:....Woodbridge Strikers......4.......Pro Stars.......0......

Attendance was about 40 on this mild overcast evening with the temperature
dropping quickly. I walked out to the parking lot at halftime to put
on a windbreaker. It started a light rain at 80 minutes and then harder
as the game ended.

Quillan Roberts earned the shutout for Woodbridge. He had very little
to do but took a backpass from WS Quante Abbott-Hill-Smith and was slow
to clear it and then pushed over PS George Owusu when he was checked off
the ball. He recovered well by saving the Penalty kick that PS Maan Slewa
aimed rather than hit with a lot of power.

Roberts was the starting goalie on the L1O All Stars that beat their
counterparts from Quebec. Other Strikers were midfielder Dylan Carreiro
and forward Cristian Cavallini and they were also starters in that game.

Jonathan Albanese was back in net for Pro Stars after having his nose broken
two weeks ago in their game against Masters. He wore a mask and told
me before the game that he was confident he could see alright.

Referee Michael Stenbring gave out only one Yellow card that I noticed
(to Pro Stars for complaining about the Penalty kick goal scored against them).

I was expecting Strikers would increase their score in the second half
against the depleted Pro Stars roster but Strikers had cycled though
their five subs by 67 minutes and tonight their second stringers and
remaining starters did have a lot of possession but didn't have a lot
of chances on net.

Before the game I was watching Pro Stars warm up and I was wondering
if they'd have enough guys. I noticed a photographer dressed in a Woodbridge
warmup suit counting them too. It turned out to be WS defender Michael Fayehun
who said he is acting as the team photographer as he recovers from
a concussion.  He said PS only had nine guys...I counted ten as one
had gone behind the fence to retrieve a ball. He said a PS player who
was watching from the stands because of injury was summoned to suit
up and play to fill the roster as a lot of their players were away on tour.
I figured that must have been Nickolas Lakatos who started and was then
subbed off at 23 minutes when Jonathan Majoris took his spot. They had
a full bench last week when Vaughan Azzurri shellacked them 11-1 so what
happened? After the game I asked PS midfielder Owen Carter for more details.
He answered that their Under 18 team went on a tour of the Czech Republic
and some of their senior team players went as well so they could try out
for local teams. Finding a pro club would be an important career move for
any of these players. I know all the L1O teams fill in their rosters with
younger players to make up the numbers but now I have an answer for why
that couldn't happen tonight. I didn't realize until the next day that
Fayehun played for Pro Stars last year.

The win improves Woodbridge's record to 9 wins, 1 loss, 2 ties for 29 points
and first place in the Eastern Conference with a six point lead over second
place North Toronto Nitros. They've only allowed a L1O lowest 9 goals
against in league play so far this season.

Pro Stars record falls to 0 wins, 11 losses, 1 tie for 1 point and last
place (eighth) in the West. Their 55 goals against is the league worst.
Next week they have a chance against the East's worst—Toronto Skillz who
couldn't hold a lead tonight and eventually lost and now have a 0-12-0 record!
Pro Stars home Avondale Stadium is only a short drive from Hershey Centre
where I hope to be next Saturday after watching the Sigma FC vs Durham United
match so should be able to get there in time. Somebody should be able
to win their first game of the season shouldn't they? Tie? Thunderstorm?

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter RocketRobin01
 

[Gopherbashi]

31 minutes ago, Rocket Robin said:

Pro Stars record falls to 0 wins, 11 losses, 1 tie for 1 point and last
place (eighth) in the West. Their 55 goals against is the league worst.
Next week they have a chance against the East's worst—Toronto Skillz who
couldn't hold a lead tonight and eventually lost and now have a 0-12-0 record!
Pro Stars home Avondale Stadium is only a short drive from Hershey Centre
where I hope to be next Saturday after watching the Sigma FC vs Durham United
match so should be able to get there in time. Somebody should be able
to win their first game of the season shouldn't they? Tie? Thunderstorm?

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter RocketRobin01
 

I don't know what I want to happen more - Skillz to finally get a point, or ProStars to finally get a win.

Maybe both teams will forfeit the match for using an ineligible player?