May 8, 2017 League 1 Ontario Match Recap: Aurora FC vs North Toronto Nitros (from League 1 Ontario website)

 
Match Recap: Aurora FC 1 - 1 North Toronto Nitros
05/08/2017, 2:45pm EDT
By League1 Ontario staff

Aurora FC men bounced back from a Matchweek One loss to OSU to claim a point against visitors 
North Toronto Nitros following a 1-1 draw on Saturday at St. Maximillian Kolbe turf in Aurora. 

Both teams battled blustery wind and downpour, which reduced both sides to a battle of workrate, 
guts and determination to get the result. 

Nitros forward Kyle Laborde (37') was the first to capitalize, giving the away side the lead 
for much of the match. 

However, Aurora would not be denied and equalized late in the contest via a Matthew Caguana (79') 
strike that was whipped in directly off a corner kick. 

"The weather affected both teams," said Aurora executive director, Jimmy Brennan. 

"It was windy, miserable, a cold night. We said it to them at the start of the game today, 
that it would be a scrap and they were not going to be able to do fantastic football and build 
it out of the back. It just wasn't the weather to do that game."

"This is the type of game where you need to get it forward, get your second balls, and you knew 
it was going to be a scrap. And it was, it was a scrappy game with a lot of yellow cards and 
tackles and that's the way it goes when you're playing in weather like this. When it's a nice 
sunny day hopefully you can play some beautiful soccer that you like to play, but today 
was a scrap from the beginning to the end."

Nitros assistant coach Ilya Orlov also felt the conditions played a factor, but felt his 
team should have made more of their good play on the day.

"I thought the team played well," he said. "We had control of most of the game."

"We had chances in the second half to add to the one nothing lead, and I don't think they 
had many chances. We didn't score, and they scored off a corner so we got punished 
for not scoring." 

"The weather definitely was a factor for both teams but I thought we played well. I thought 
we played well defensively, and pressed the ball well in their half. We were organized. 
They didn't really have any opportunities but obviously the weather played a factor 
in the goal. It was a corner and the wind pretty much blew the ball into the net, 
so of course the weather played a factor but overall it was our finishing that lacked today 
to get us the three points." 

Both managers were happy with the result given the conditions, with Orlov highlighting 
the work of his goalscorer.

"We had a couple of young players that played well, but I think today our striker 
Kyle [Laborde] played very well," he explained. 

"He scored a goal and held the ball up well. He created chances and I thought he played well. 
Overall I think everyone had a decent game, but I think Kyle stood out." 

Aurora FC next play Durham United FA on Friday May 12 at Pickering Soccer Centre, Pickering.

North Toronto Nitros next play Woodbridge Strikers on Sunday May 14 
at Varsity Stadium, Toronto.

back to 2017 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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