Wed May 18, 2016 League 1 Ontario First Round L1O Cup--Woodbridge Strikers vs Pro Stars FC (from League 1 Ontario website)
Woodbridge Edges Pro Stars 4-3 In L1 Cup Action 05/20/2016, 4:00pm EDT By League1 Ontario staff Woodbridge Strikers and Pro Stars FC played out a cracking first round L1 Cup fixture on Wednesday, with Strikers narrowly edging their visitors in a 4-3 final. "I think the win was good, but we didn't play very well," said Woodbridge head coach, Peter Pinizotto. "We're lucky to get a win. At the end they had some good chances." "The positives are we got the win, but we didn't play very well defensively. Usually are team is well known for being disciplined and we were not disciplined tonight." Strikers' Zwane (36') couldn't believe his good fortune when a free kick careened back off the post and into his stride, but Pro Stars' Smith (40') cancelled out the advantage after accurately sticking away a header minutes later. One of Woodbridge's 2016 recruits put the home side ahead again just after the interval. Recently arriving from the Scottish professional ranks with Arbroath and Dundee United, ex-Canada U20 player Dylan Carrierro (51') left the Pro Stars GK with no chance as he curled his free kick inside the post. However, Pro Stars were again up to the task, with Hathaway (56') knocking in another equalizer and setting the stage for a brilliant finale to this instant knockout first round match. Joshua Portillo (63') provided the impetus the home side needed, getting the go-ahead goal within minutes of a flurry of Woodbridge attack-minded substitutions. Still, Pro Stars had no intention of going home without the win, and it would be Anderson (89') wiring a shot out of reach of the GK and into the top corner. Head coaches must have been drawing up their list of penalty takers when Portillo (90') snagged his second of the night and put an end to proceedings. "The shape of our defenders, lack of communication on the last and second last goal and the first two were set-pieces, all big games are decided by set-pieces," said Pro Stars FC team official Stiven Mikhail, on the goals his team gave up. "This game was very big for us believe it or not," he added. "We were expecting a good game, we weren't expecting a high scoring game, but now our players saw that we can score goals and we can defend very well, so we're going to take that momentum into the next match and carry it from there." Woodbridge now moves through to the second round of the 2016 L1 Cup at a date and location TBD, facing the winner of Toronto FC Academy and Kingston Clippers. "I don't prefer anyone," said Woodbridge player, Portillo. "We are just ready no matter who we play." "We've got a good team here, so whoever we face next, we will play our best as much as we can and look to move on in the cup."
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