July 24, 2017 League 1 Ontario--Match Recap: FC London vs Aurora FC (from League 1 Ontario)

  
Match Recap: FC London 3 - 1 Aurora FC
07/24/2017, 4:15pm EDT
By League1 Ontario staff

Basel Rashrash (15') scored first for Aurora FC against FC London during their Matchweek 13 
road-trip to German Canadian Club, London, but London gradually took further control 
of the match and eked out a 3-1 win by the final whistle. 

"What Aurora did very well was in the deep block," said FC London assistant coach, Eduard Schmidt. 

"You could see after about twenty minutes we couldn't play behind them anymore because 
they dropped and played deeper. They were pretty compact and aggressive and we had problems 
in the first half that we played with too many touches and too much on one side." 

London defender Aaron Schneebli (18') worked a set-piece free-kick to perfection with his 
teammates, and was on hand at the back-post to tap-in and equalize for the home side in front 
of a 400+ crowd.  

"We knew they wanted to play wide and we forced them into long balls time and again," 
said Aurora head coach, Derek O'Keeffe. 

"We dealt with them really well to be honest, I thought we frustrated the life out of them. 
We should have gone into the half-time at 2-1. We had a good chance where we were one on one 
with the keeper and we missed. At half-time we were very happy, and felt that we had 
out-played them tactically and on the park." 

In the second half, London began to assert themselves and Daniel Oshana (59', 68') cropped 
up with a well-taken brace to complete the comeback victory by the final whistle.

"We adjusted some things in the second half, some positions of the players so we could more 
easily switch the play from side to side," said Schmidt. "This paid off with more chances 
in the second half."

2016 Men's All-Star keeper Anthony Sokalaski played his final match for FC London before 
heading to Europe on professional trials, and commented on the experience of playing with 
FC London in League1 Ontario.

"It all started last year with coach Mario [Despotovic] and continued this year under 
coach Dom [Kosic]," he explained.

"They like to just dominate the game with their style and there are not a lot of coaches 
here that have the same philosophy. It's good to get a breath of fresh air. They give you 
some of that European experience and different ideas. You take those ideas and add your 
own to them and they give you the freedom to do that. I really enjoy playing here." 

"I'm going to Poland for a couple trials so we'll see what happens," he added. "Maybe I'll 
stay in Poland or try my hand elsewhere." 

"Coming home after playing for college in the States, besides League1 there is nowhere 
else to play at a really competitive level and showcase yourself. FC London and League1 
gave me the opportunity to do that, and it is the perfect platform." 

FC London will next play North Toronto Nitros on July 28 at German Canadian Club, London.

Aurora FC will next play Sanjaxx Lions on July 30 at Monarch Park, Toronto.

back to 2017 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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