June 19, 2017 League 1 Ontario--Match Recap: Sanjaxx Lions vs Toronto Skillz (from League 1 Ontario)
Match Recap: Sanjaxx Lions 2 - 1 Toronto Skillz 06/19/2017, 9:00pm EDT By League1 Ontario staff Sanjaxx's Antonio Downey (20', 38') banged home a first half brace to give Sanjaxx Lions a healthy lead that, despite a late surge by opponents Toronto Skillz after a goal from Mitchell Wong (68'), eventually led to Lions first win of the 2017 season. In the first of the crossover phase of matches for both teams - the stage of the season when's mean's teams play opponents from their counterpart division - a win for either side would have broken a winless streak. The 2-1 result was welcomed by Sanjaxx, but it didn't tell the full story according to assistant coach Devon Porter. "We knew this team hadn't won any games or had any points but we have two points from two draws," said Porter. "We knew one day we'll get a win and today was an appropriate time to get a win, but all in all I wasn't pleased because we shouldn't have let them back in the game." "We should have kept control of the game and moved the ball a little bit quicker. We were not decisive in passing the ball, and our decisions were not very good at all, but I'll take the win." Sanjaxx were on the front foot from the opening whistle, pressing high and forcing errors from a young Toronto Skillz side. However, as the game drew out Toronto Skillz began to assert themselves, and in the second half Sanjaxx were forced back on their heels as the momentum shifted. "Absolutely because [our players] changed from the gameplan," revealed Porter. "The second half we told them to be assertive, pass the ball to feet and take possession of the game, take control of the game. But they started to change and chase everything, to even begin chasing the game." "When you chase a game that you have in hand it is like when you catch a bird and you want to let it go and catch it again. It comes back to haunt you. You give up a goal and then you almost give up the equalizing goal. But, all in all, it worked out for us." Despite the loss, Toronto Skillz head coach Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick found positives to address, and spoke to the welcome progress the Skillz technical staff has been observing in individual players. "Most of the games we have been in, when we play they are always close games," he said. "That is testament to the fact that the young players we are bringing in actually do have that potential to step up to the next level." "As we have gone through the season we have said that at times the performance has been good but the result hasn't been in our favour," he added. "Today we looked at tweaking a couple things and bringing through some of the academy players and you can see that reflected today in our lineup. We really wanted to give those players a chance to go out there and show they deserve to be on the field." "I think in the first half the stage was a little bit big and they were a little nervous. The second half I think was a truer reflection of the potential that we have. We gave up goals in the first half from being nervous and making mistakes but in the second I think we controlled the game and created opportunities." "At the end of the day it is a loss, but I think there is a lot to look forward to." Sanjaxx Lions will next play Masters FA Saints on June 24 at L'Amoreaux, Scarborough. Toronto Skillz will next play Sigma FC on June 25 at Birchmount Stadium, Scarborough.
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