June 21, 2015 League 1 Ontario--Woodbridge Strikers vs Vaughan Azzurri (from League 1 Ontario press release)

  
Woodbridge Strikers 0 - Vaughan Azzurri 0
. Mon Jun 22 
Written By: Staff, League1  

Woodbridge Strikers and Vaughan Azzuri battled to a share of the points after settling on a 0-0 deadlock after 
ninety minutes of play in matchweek eight.

With the draw, Woodbridge drops to sixth in the table, while second-place Vaughan provided Oakville with a four 
point lead at the top of the table, and gave hope to Sigma, Durham and ANB - all in a three-way tie for third place, 
and only four points behind the Azzurri.

Despite the best efforts of both sides, neither Azzurri or Strikers could find a breakthrough in the north 
Toronto derby.

"We tried very hard to win the game, but when you play a good team like Vaughan it's very difficult to get 
points," said Woodbridge head coach, Peter Pinizzotto. "I thought the end result was a fair result for 
both teams. I do not think we played very well in the first half, we just lost too many balls in the middle 
of the field."

"The second half was much better, and we created many opportunities to open the score. I will give credit 
to my back four for playing a solid game tonight not giving too much space to their attacking players and 
also be able to keep (Joey Cicchillo) - the league leading goal-scorer - off the score sheet. In the end 
I was very proud of the players effort throughout the game."

"Biggest challenge in the first half was complacency in the final third," said Vaughan head coach Carmine Isacco. 
"We missed many opportunities in the opening minutes, and kept them in the game. Secondly our transition defending 
when we lost it was very poor."

"Key moments were the several opportunities we missed in the first half, particularly a volley inside the six 
from Tyrone Downes that gave them momentum and a chance to get in the game."

Unsurprisingly, both coaches selected players from the defensive ranks as standouts in the goalless match. 

"Dena Iezady did a great job getting us into the attack and was our best defender at the defensive midfield 
position," said Carmine Isacco. "Our GK Michael Uccello was solid and safe in his first L1 game, was good 
when he needed to be."

"Woodbridge's Cameron Brooks was a stalwart and solid defender - snuffed out many of our attacks," he added. 

"I thought Vaughan's goalkeeper Michael [Uccello] made some key saves in the game," agreed Pinizzotto.

Vaughan faces a tough midweek L1 Cup fixture, travelling to Kingston to meet the Clippers on Wednesday June 25, 
9 p.m. kickoff at 1000 Islands Sportsplex. It won't get any easier for Vaughan on Sunday June 28 as they host 
third-place Sigma F.C. at McNaughton Turf, Maple - 2 p.m. kickoff. 

Woodbridge avoids the midweek Cup fixtures, and picks up in matchweek nine league play on Saturday June 27 
at Monarch Stadium, 8:30 p.m. kickoff vs. Sanjaxx Lions.

back to 2015 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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