June 28, 2014 League 1 Ontario--Vaughan Azzurri vs Internacional de Toronto (from League 1 Ontario website)
Vaughan Azzurri 7 - Internacional de Toronto 1 . Mon Jun 30 Written By: Fletcher, Duncan Going into the game, this one had the look of a mismatch – Vaughan Azzurri at the top of the table and undefeated vs. Internacional de Toronto, bottom of the league and without a win (though coming off an encouraging performance vs TFC Academy in the previous week's action). Ultimately, this matchup – played on a sweltering day at York Stadium – would end up meeting expectations, although Internacional kept it close in the first half, before letting the game get away in the second. Vaughan made some changes to their regular lineup; Matt Stinson missed the game entirely, Andrew Ornoch started the game on the bench, and a debut given to former Canadian youth international Joseph di Chiara. The changes didn't stop Azzurri from coming out and taking the game to Internacional, creating chances right from the start. Andrea Lombardo pulled a chance wide within three minutes. Vaughan continued to press, combining patient build up from the back with good play down the wings. Joey Chichillo and left back Malcolm Loukides, in particular, worked very well together, leading to many dangerous crosses throughout the first half. Further half-chances were spurned, but they didn't have to wait too long for the breakthrough. After one of Vaughan's many crosses, the ball eventually fell to Jonathan Lao, about fifteen yards out on the left side of the box, and he hit a wonderful volley across the keeper and into the top corner. Internacional, with a very vocal Nolberto Solano on the sidelines, attempted to build from the back, with most of their play going through midfielder Felipe Nuñez. The pressure from Vaughan meant they rarely got the ball past the half-way line under control, and instead were forced to send long balls down the wings; forward Raheem Edwards had a long day of fruitless chasing, rarely able to reach the passes over distance, and was poorly supported when he did. After Lombardo missed another good chance, Vaughan got deserved second goal after another cross from the left wing. The initial shot was blocked, but Carlos Nogueira was there to slot home the rebound. The pace slowed in the first half after that goal, with Vaughan passing the ball around without any great urgency, making Internacional chase it in the heat. Inter did force a good save from Vaughan goalkeeper Andrew D'Souza, via a long range shot from Felipe Nunez, but after more missed chances for both sides, the half ended at 2-0. Both teams made substitutions at the half and it was the introduction of Andrew Ornoch that made the biggest difference. He played up front and through the middle, with Andrea Lombardo moving further out to the right side; it took only six minutes before the move paid off. A good run down the left from winger Joey Cicchillo ended with a low cross, which Ornoch swept home from the middle of the box. Ornoch added another from the penalty spot in the fifty-sixth minute after a foul from Parham Taher, which earned the Inter defender a caution. After numerous subs were made, the game became a bit disjointed, with Vaughan running up the score seemingly at will. Substitute Benjamin Futoriansky added the fifth, an own goal was the sixth, and Cicchillo rounded off a very good outing with an eightieth minute goal to make it seven. In amongst it all, Ornoch was only denied his hattrick by the linesman flagging for offside. Internacional had few chances as the game died down, but Raheem Edwards got just reward for the effort he was putting-in upfront, as a Devante Walker challenge led to a penalty. Edwards took it low to the goalkeeper's left but, despite Andrew D'Souza getting down to block, the rebound went right back to Edwards, who calmly knocked it home in the unguarded part of the net. One tally for Inter will have seemed bittersweet, as Vaughan's comprehensive win maintains the status quo at top and bottom of the league table.
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