May 20, 2017 League 1 Ontario Match Recap: FC London vs Oakville Blue Devils (from League 1 Ontario website)

Match Recap: FC London 0 - 3 Oakville Blue Devils 
05/20/2017, 8:45pm EDT
By League1 Ontario staff

Oakville Blue Devils showed a continuation of the type of form that brought them the League1 
championship in 2015, with a 3-0 away win over 2016 League1 finalists FC London on Friday night. 

The win marks the third in a row for the Oakville side, who are coming off a spectacular 3-2 
comeback victory over Toronto FC III in their previous fixture. 

Anthony Novak (20') and Judah Hernandez (33') did the business for the Blue Devils in the 
first half against London, forcing the home side to have to risk numbers forward in the 
second half and leave space behind to attack. 

The Blue Devils found this space and more when Victor Gallo (87') tallied a remarkable 
insurance goal from 40 yards over the head of London keeper Anthony Sokalaski.

"London is a very good team and if you switch off for a second they can hurt you," 
said Oakville head coach, Duncan Wilde.

"You have to be concentrated here for 90 minutes. They play with energy, they look to release 
their front men, they are not afraid to attack at all." 

"We came here with a defensive type of road game, to try and contain, and try and take our 
chances when they came," he added. 

"It worked well for us in the first half and the third one was really a bonus goal, I think 
he's just hit a speculative effort from the half-way line and I think the game was done 
by then." 

"The work-rate and the effort and the togetherness in the squad is growing week by week 
and with Felipe [Vilela] missing tonight and a few others not back yet - this bodes well 
for the future. We're excited right now, this is a good start to the season."

At the other end, Blue Devils keeper Matt George kept a clean sheet - his second of the 
last four games. FC London had much of the ball, but could not find a way to truly threaten 
George in the Oakville net.

"We had some problems today controlling the game, although we managed it for long periods," 
said FC London assistant coach, Eduard Schmidt. 

"Coming into the final third though we couldn't create enough to win the game today. 
We had some issues in the transition moments also, just as we had in weeks before."

"They used the chances they had, and having won 3-0 it is clear they were the better team, 
and congratulations to them for that," he continued. "We need to continue working on our 
patience in the final third, and focus on moving the opponent more. We were too static 
in the final third as well." 

"Next week is a new start but there is a very bitter feeling right now," Schmidt concluded. 

"You don't want to lose like this, there were two goals from outside the box and it's 
just frustrating." 

FC London will next play Pro Stars FC on Friday May 26 at Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton.

Oakville Blue Devils will next play North Mississauga Panthers on Sunday May 28 
at Sheridan College Campus, Oakville. 

back to 2017 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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