Sat June 4, 2016 League 1 Ontario--North Mississauga Panthers vs Sanjaxx Lions (from League 1 Ontario website)

Melo Brace Takes North Miss To 3-1 Win Over Sanjaxx
06/06/2016, 10:45am EDT
By League1 Ontario staff

North Mississauga Panthers men grabbed their first win after a tough start 
to their League1 Ontario campaign, beating Sanjaxx Lions 3-1 after a brace 
from forward Joey Melo (64', 90'). 

"When a team starts losing, it becomes tangible, it becomes fear - fear 
of giving up the late goal or whatever," said North Miss head coach, 
Rick Titus. 

"Sometimes that fear becomes unmanageable so I reminded them at half-time 
of how much they love the game and the sport and to go out and play with 
passion and enjoyment."

"Without wins it can become depressing to the players, so they stop 
losing the love and passion for the game," he added. 

"In order not to succumb to that they need to go out and play like they 
did as children, with love."

North Miss had started on the front foot, getting a goal from 
Antoine Paul (21') with not even a quarter of the match played, 
but Sanjaxx were also up for the game and Lael Daniel (32') equalized 
for the hosts late in the half. 

Going into the break, both teams were back on equal footing and 
it remained to be seen which side would have the fortitude to push 
for the win. 

"They are a talented group but I reminded them that it means nothing 
without hard work," said Titus. "I told them that we need one or two 
guys to step up and lead properly and they did that in the second half."

Joey Melo did the stepping up for the visitors, knocking in his first 
just after the hour and his second on the stroke of full time.

"We just gave away two silly goals," said Sanjaxx head coach, 
Peter Mellon. 

"Two aerial mistakes, we didn't pick up markers and at this level 
you can't afford to do that."

"We were in the game, especially towards the end we had a couple 
good chances, but these mistakes need to stop because it's hurting 
us," he added. 

The three points for North Mississauga moved them into fifth place 
in the west division, level on points with Oakville Blue Devils but 
behind on goal difference and having played one more match 
than Oakville.

North Miss will play fourth place Toronto FC Academy 
on June 11 (8 p.m.) at Hershey Centre 1, Mississauga. 

Sanjaxx stayed on three points from four matches, sitting only 
two points behind North Miss and with a game in hand 
on the Panthers.  

Sanjaxx return home to Monarch Park on June 11 (6 p.m.) 
to play third-place Windsor Stars. 

back to 2016 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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