August 14, 2017 League 1 Ontario--Match Recap: Sigma FC vs Woodbridge Strikers (from League 1 Ontario)

Match Recap: Sigma FC 5 - 1 Woodbridge Strikers 
08/14/2017, 2:15pm EDT
By League1 Ontario staff
 
Sigma FC rebounded from their recent first and only loss of the season with a resounding 5-1 result 
over east division leaders Woodbridge Strikers on Matchweek 16.

"We scouted out Woodbridge very well," said Sigma head coach, Bobby Smyrniotis. "They are one of the 
top teams in the league and obviously the first in the east and coming off a championship win in the 
L1 Cup. We know they bring a lot to the table but in looking at that we always look at where we can 
succeed on the pitch and I think we found some very good gaps, especially attacking quickly and getting 
in behind them." 

Striker Mo Babouli (40', 49', 77') scored three, while Johnny Grant (65') and Daniel Jodah (73') added 
singles in a tightly-fought match.

"In the first half we created some very good opportunities and had a goal, but created several more 
opportunities from there," added Smyrniotis. 

"In the second half I think we just stepped it up, our speed going forward and the willingness of our 
guys to press high was very good and it led to a very emphatic win today." 

Christian Cavallini (60') brought the Strikers to within one goal of levelling the score, but the 
Strikers didn't have the legs to keep the west division leaders back after a long a difficult week 
of matches. 

"We knew coming into the game that it would be difficult for us physically," said Woodbridge assistant 
coach, Marco Reda. "Our players expended a lot of energy in the last week with two big matches against 
Vaughan, one of the being a Cup game, and there was a lot of emotional energy expended in those games, 
which takes a toll physically as well."

"We were hoping the game would go a little bit in our favour and then the boys would get their legs 
eventually, but it didn't happen. Sigma played a good game, and although the score might be a bit too 
flattering to them I think at the end our boys were just suffering too much physically and that led 
to the result." 

Sigma's new keeper Robert Stillo was an excellent replacement for usual net-minder Triston Henry, 
who was a serving a one-game suspension, while youngster Hilli Goldhar also impressed after being 
called in to replace the badly injured David Velastegui.

"Both Triston and Robert [Stillo] are very good keepers in their own rite," said Smyrniotis. 

"Triston is a League1 All-Star and to this day he is the top goalkeeper in the league if you go with 
what I've seen. Then you look at a guy like Stillo, who we know very well and has been training with 
us for several years in his off-seasons, and he has been playing overseas. When you can add a player 
with that kind of experience it pays off on a day like today when Triston is serving a one game 
suspension. Now that creates depth for us and that is very important."

"And every year around the August time period you will see some new faces playing for Sigma, 
and Hilly is one of those guys," he added. 

"He was born in 2000 and is a very good player. He has been playing a lot with our second team this 
year in the U21 division and today was a good fit and way for him to get going. His entrance to the 
game didn't come the way we wanted it to come with David Velestagui's injury, but at that point 
we know the qualities he has and what he can bring to the field and I think he showed a top performance 
for sixty minutes. Sometimes you have to throw the young guys in the fire and let them go." 

Both Sigma and Woodbridge remain first in their respective divisions, with Sigma unable to afford 
even the slightest slip-up as second-place side Oakville Blue Devils remain tied on points 
at the top. Woodbridge Strikers lost ground at the top of the east division with the loss, but still
retain a five point lead on second-place side, Vaughan Azzurri. 

We told the players afterwards not to think too much of it. Playing three games in six days is taxing 
and difficult and we didn't play any cream-puffs - we played two of the other top teams in the league," 
said Reda. 

"We had to be at our top mentally, physically, technically and emotionally to beat Vaughan. I don't 
want to take away anything from Sigma's performance, but we told our players to get a few days rest 
and then we need a good week of training next week to head into our next game against Masters." 

Sigma FC will next play FC London on September 8 at German Canadian Club, London.

Woodbridge Strikers will next play Masters FA Saints on August 20 at Vaughan Grove, Woodbridge. 

back to 2017 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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