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Result and details of the September 28, 2019 League 1 Ontario game between Masters FA Saints and FC London played
at Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 8:00pm.

Masters FA Saints (all red, white shoulders and numbers)

.....................1 Spiridon Koskinas
11 Shawn Brown...6 Eddy Dabire...3 Adam Czerkawski (cpt)...2 Atif Muhammad Ali
70 Yasin Shawan...16 Akeem Priestley...19 Randy-Durand Misse Miyenga...9 Shaquille Agard
..............20 Francis Ameyaw...30 Daunte Walkes

Subs:...0 Daniel Gosciniak (gk)...5 Marc Jankovic...7 Anwar Al-Sawi...8 Samer Hamade
12 Maleik Defreitas...13 Antoine Paul...17 Nathan Ferguson
team officials:...team head coach Rick Titus...assistant coach Devon Porter...manager Hubert Groves
...assistant manager Rob Meckle...physio (I couldn't read name)

FC London (white socks and shirts, black shorts and numbers)

.....................1 Anthony Sokalski
3 Sean Fawsitt...4 Bradley Heath...12 Belal Halbouni...15 Randy Ribeiro (cpt)
7 Ethan Gopaul...2 Patrick Melo...8 Mohammad Rez Nafai...17 Chad Gopaul
..........10 Connor Wilson...11 Tomas Alvarez

Subs:...22 Bishop Kaiser (gk)...9 Mike Snedden...14 Camilo Siabato...20 Logan Rieck
19 Ben Vyfschaft...21 Carson Wood...18 Connor Millar
team officials:...team head coach Michael Marcoccia...assistant coach Phillip Millar
...therapist Mike Robinson

Game officials:...referee Scott Bowman...referee's assistants Jason Olinsky and Jason Vaillencourt
...fourth official Brian Butler...(all black uniforms).

First Half:...starts 8:05pm...Masters defends north end. There is no real wind. The field is wet because of a pregame rain
but it will get worse because a hard rain starts and stops throughout the first half.
3 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul beats a check on the right and sends low centering cross along 28 yard line FCL Nafar who shoots
low 25 yarder up middle betweeen defenders and goalie dives to left to save giving up a big rebound. FCL Chad Gopaul shoots
low 8 yarder off left post from left. Another FCL player sends in a high cross from 20 yards near end line and goalie catches
in 6 yard box. MFA Misse-Miyenga was is injured by Ethan Gopaul to start the play along the right sideline.
6 min...MFA Ameyaw takes ball off defender on top left of box and 10 yarder along end line hits near post and defender clears
out right side of box.
7 min...MFA Walkes is checked off ball on edge of FCL box when MFA Muhammad Ali sends crossfield pass from left sideline
at 45 yard line.
10 min...MFA defender pass back from 20 yards to own goalie from left rolls just wide right of post for cornerkick.
10 min...FCL players work out short cornerkick from right but effort wasted as they don't get ball into box.
11 min...MFA Dabire clearance off FCL Wilson deflects from 20 yards back to MFA goalie.
12 min...FCL Wilson blast up middle from 25 yards has goalie punch ball down and defender clears at 8 yards to prevent
FCL Alvarez from getting to rebound.
14 min...MFA Walkes high cross from 28 yards for right has ball deflect off MFA forward and FCL Fawsitt jumping at 8 yards
who makes clearance.
14 min...MFA Agard rolls 30 yarder forward and wide left when no MFA player charges into box.
16 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul rushes down middle and 25 yard shot has sliding MFA Dabire stop and clear at 15 yards.
17 min...FCL Nafar can't win Penalty kick on rush when pushed over near left end line.
21 min...FCL Wilson on run down right shoots just high and left of top corner from 15 yards.
21 min...FCL Alvarez has shot up middle blocked on edge of box.
22 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul low 25 yard shot up middle between defenders has diving goalie push ball wide right of post
for cornerkick.
23 min...FCL Wilson cornerkick from right is high over to left and cross back to center is partly cleared and FCL Nafar blasts
shot up middle that has the leaping goalie palm over the bar.
24 min...FCL Wilson cornerkick from right has leaping FCL Halbouni pop header over bar from 10 yards up middle.
26 min...FCL Wilson cornerkick from left has MFA Dabire in crowd of players on near post head ball away.
27 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul is given ball on right and low 12 yard shot from extreme right is between goalie's legs but deflects
across box wide left for cornerkick.
27 min...FCL Wilson cornerkick from left has FCL Heath leap in crowd of players and pops header from 5 yards well over net.
29 min...MFA Akeem Priestley GOAL...MFA Atif Muhammed Ali hooks high overhead clearance behind him from
MFA 40 yard line on left sideline downfield where MFA Shaquille Agard knocks it down at FCL 35 yard line
and retreats to 40 yard line and rolls short centering pass to Priestley at 40 yards in middle. Priestley dribbles
forward to 25 yards and fires low between defenders (possibly hitting one at 20 yards) that catches right corner of net
beyond diving goalie Anthony Sokalski.
30 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul returns to field wearing the #9 shirt to replace his #7 bloodied shirt.
31 min...MFA Agard runs up left and cuts between three defenders takes tough angle shot from near left end line that
FCL Ribeiro clears on right post just in front of charging MFA Ameyaw.
35 min...MFA Czerkawski is pushed while making header and FCL Ethan Gopaul behind him rolls 15 yarder that goalie smothers.
36 min...MFA Agard run down left side and stops at 12 yard line when FCL Fawsitt blocks him. He then cuts in a cross that
MFA Ameyaw steps in front of goalie at 2 yards but is behind making a 2 yard header up middle and momentum causes
him to run into the back of the net.
37 min...MFA Agard chips pass from 28 yards between defenders has MFA Priestley at 16 yards head down but can't turn
around to shoot.
37 min...FCL Nafar through ball pass from 25 yards has MFA goalie charge forward and smother at 12 yards ahead of FCL Alvarez.
39 min...FCL RED card...Randy Ribeiro earns a direct ejection. Rebeiro nutmegs MFA Frncix Ameyaw on left sideline
but pushes ball towards middle. Ribeiro than slides to poke ball away from sliding MFA Yasin Shawan raises one foot
to catch Shawan in the face injurying him. Shawan needs the trainer but referee looks at the damage again and sends
Ribeiro off.
43 min...MFA Priestley is sent high pass and he blasts 20 yard shot from left is pushed wide on near post by flying goalie
for cornerkick.
43 min...MFA Agard cornerkick from left has FCL Wilson on left post head away.
46 min...MFA Agard rolls 30 yarder up left that's directly to goalie.
47 min...FCL Halbouni rolls 30 yarder up middle between defenders wide left.
47 min...half ends 8:52pm.

Halftime Entertainment: Some kids throw t-shirts to fans in the crowd. I had to ask because it initially looked like it was
full Gatorade bottles which would have been dangerous. It was also announced that ticket #985 won an autographed
York 9 FC jersey.

Second Half:...starts 9:09pm.
Halftime sub...MFA Paul replaces injured Shawan. MFA did not replace Shawan until now so hadn't taken advantage of their
man up status from the 39 minute mark.
47 min...MFA Agard 33 yard freekick from left has FCL Heath head ball away at 12 yards.
49 min...MFA Dabire checks FCL Alvarez preventing shot on right side of box.
50 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul charges into box from right cornerflag MFA Muhammad Ali checks him off ball just inside box.
MFA Agard then runs into him after ball is cleared by retreating MFA Agard but no call is given.
51 min...MFA Priestley has shirt grabbed then takes hand to face and needs trainer at MFA 45 yard line.
53 min...FCL Halbouni makes key stop on MFA Agard on left side of box winning freekick for FCL.
56 min...FCL Wilson cornerkick from right is sent upfield to FCL Melo who sends it forward for Wilson but he's checked in box
by MFA Muhammad Ali.
59 min...MFA Misse Miyenga is pulled back at MFA 30 yard line by FCL Chad Gopaul and is injured and needs trainer.
61 min...MFA Agard cornerkick from left has FCL Heath in crowd of players in left side of box head away.
62 min...MFA Walkes dribbles into left side of box and FCL Heath and FCL Melo check him off ball. Walkes goes down injured
as ball is cleared downfield. MFA Priestley sends high cross over fallen Walkes and just too far for MFA Paul open
on the right side.
65 min...FCL YELLOW card...Wilson earns it for pulling down MFA Walkes on run down left wing.
65 min...MFA players 35 yard freekick from left is headed for cornerkick by FCL Fawsitt who pops it over net.
66 min...MFA Czerkawski high cornerkick from right has FCL Ethan Gopaul has his nose bloodied in left side of box.
MFA Agard has taken a high boot to the face on FCL clearance.
68 min...FCL Ethan Gopaul returns to the field dressed in the #16 jersey.
69 min...MFA Priestley high cornerkick from right is well over box.
70 min...MFA sub...Jankovic replaces Ameyaw.
70 min...MFA Paul long run down right and cross through box is unplayed. FCL Chad Gopaul had been injured at MFA 45 yard
line earlier in play.
72 min...MFA Daunte Walkes GOAL...MFA Brown on run up right cuts back when challenged by defender and sends
cross from 10 yard line just inside right side of box. Walkes chests down ball on left side of box and shoots low 12 yarder
into right corner of net.
73 min...MFA Walkes is injured at center line and needs trainer when play finally stops.
74 min...MFA Paul runs down right wing and cuts towards middle along edge of 18 yard box. He takes low 20 yard shot from
right side that diving goalie pushes wide of left post for cornerkick.
75 min...MFA sub...Defreitas replaces injured Walkes.
75 min...MFA Akeem Priestley GOAL...MFA Shawn Brown rolls cornerkick from left and charging Priestley charges
over from middle to left side of box and shoots low 12 yarder through crowd of players into right corner of net.
77 min...MFA YELLOW card...Muhammad Ali earns it for sliding tackle on FCL Nafar at MFA 33 yard line.
77 min...FCL Halbouni bends 35 yard freekick from slight left just wide left of net.
78 min...MFA Paul long run down right and rolls cross along end line to FCL Heath guarding near post.
78 min...FCL sub...Vyfschaft replaces Fawsitt.
79 min...MFA Akeem Priestley GOAL...MFA player gets ball by defender on right end line and runs to edge
of 18 yard box where he taps back to 10 yards. MFA Maleik Defreitas takes step to middle and sends low pass
to Priestley at 20 yards in middle and he blasts low to right side of net.
80 min...FCL Nafar is injured and needs to be helped off field with a teammate on each side carrying him.
82 min...MFA sub...Al-Sawi replaces Agard.
..............FCL sub...Rieck replaces injured Nafar before play resumes.
83 min...FCL Wilson is injured on tackle and wins freekick.
83 min...FCL Vyfschaft 30 yard freekick from left is well wide right and high over back fence.
85 min...MFA Paul high cross from right 30 yard line on has MFA player head head 10 yarder from left that goalie dives down
on near post then reaches over and smothers it.
86 min...FCL goalie bats down 25 yarder from left on near post.
87 min...FCL sub...Millar replaces Chad Gopaul.
..............MFA sub...Ferguson replaces Priestley.
88 min...MFA Al-Sawi tries 45 yard chip that goalie easily bats down and picks up.
88 min...MFA Jankovic has FCL Millar on run but can't win Penalty kick on push over on left end line.
89 min...FCL Ben Vyfschaft GOAL...FCL Connor Wilson rolls short pass forward from 35 yards up middle to Vyfschaft
at 22 yards and makes short run up middle and shoots low 15 yarder through goalie Spirdon Koskinas's legs at 8 yards
into center of net.
92 min...MFA goalie steps forward and beats FCL Vyfschaft at 15 yards to clear through ball pass.
93 min...FCL Rieck runs to right end line and cross lands on top of net.
96 min...game ends 10:00pm.

Final Score:.....Masters FA Saints.......4.......FC London.......1.......

Attendance was not announced but it looked very full.  L1O commissioner Dino Rossi Jr answered
me that they had sold 1018 tickets and they had to print more tickets earlier today.  I'm not
sure that everyone turned up because of the pregame rain then a downpour in the first half.  
That would discourage a large walk up crowd.  I'd estimate the team support as about 80% Masters
with lots of children and parents in the crowd.  Masters' supporters had brought drums and there 
was plenty of chanting from the stands.  

This is one of those games where the crowds gradually built as people were fighting the rush
hour traffic to get here.  London is a two hour drive at the best of times but on a Friday night
any travel on Greater Toronto Area roads is going to be slow going the closer one gets to the city.
I was getting here the opposite way after driving directly after attending the USL League One
game featuring Toronto FC II playing their final home game of the season and was caught 
in a traffic jam on Steeles Ave West that I finally passed the remains of a series accident.

Both teams hit the post within the first 6 minutes.  FCL took control for the time after that
and Masters goalie Spridon Koskinas had to palm a few balls over the bar and dive to push a few
more wide of the post surrendering cornerkicks rather than risk trying to catch a wet ball.  
Akeem Priestly's first goal came completely against the grain of play but that immediately 
turned the momentum.  FCL never recovered and the sending off changed the game.  MFA didn't
take advantage from 39 minutes until the end of the half--not bringing in a substitute for
the injured Yasin Shawan until the start of the second half.  It could be said that it was
that first goal was scored with Masters holding a man advantage because Ethan Gopaul was marooned
on the sideline changing his bloodied shirt.  The MFA players ran 70 yards upfield to celebrate 
that first goal in front of their fans.  Their second half goals were a lot closer run!  

MFA Yasin Shawan left the field after the injury with the physio holding her gloved hands over 
his face.  There was blood streaming down looking as bad as those WWE pro-wrestling worked injuries.  
A game staff official asked if he could look through my binoculars and he cringed too when 
he saw the damage.  

The league press releases correct the spelling of our three goal scorer tonight to Akeem 'P-R-I-E-S-T-L-E-Y'
as all season including tonight's game sheets it was spelled 'Preistly'.  I had never searched
his name spelled correctly until after I got home and found a Wikipedia biography of him with his long
history of playing internationally for Jamaica and at levels just below MLS and last season playing 
for the outlaw CSL league with CSC Mississauga. I can spend some of the off season going through 
my own archive to correct the spelling of his name. 

Priestley was certainly chosen as the MVP player of the game.  

Just this week it was announced that the game would be on LiveStream and OneSoccer quietly stopped
promoting a possible broadcast.  I don't know what happened as OneSoccer had boasted they would be
showing it months earlier and they did come through with the L1O Women's Championship weeks ago. 
One advantage of LiveStream is everyone could watch it either live or on a delayed basis for free
through the L1O website.  Although the production quality was only two cameras and there was no
replay of the goals (solved by just browsing back 30 seconds to repeat that much) their broadcast
stayed with the action well after the game with medals and trophy presentations and championship
songs and posing for photos in front of the league banner and post game interviews with both
coaches.  

[Late edit:  The game has now found it's way to YouTube but has all but the game edited out and
the scoreboard logo erased from the top corner.  I suppose that's a copywrite issue.]  It still
beats OneSoccer who restricted the women's game highlights for the league to 56 seconds. 

I finally asked what the Masters' chant I'd heard for the last few games was.  I thought it was 
mentioning elephants but was told it was "Let's go M F A".    

FCL Ethan Gopaul wore three different shirts this game '7' '9' and '16' has he kept being ordered
to change his bloodied shirts. Referee Scott Bowman (who this year has officiated at the CPL level)
gave out only one Yellow card to each team besides the game changing Red.  The game was pretty rough
with a lot of sliding tackles made easy with the wet ground.  

After the game fans sang 'Happy Birthday' to MFA Eddy Dabire who turned 25.  Masters meet the
league rules about playing younger players but they have more experienced players than most
other teams.  I joked with Marc Jankovic (1980) and Shawn Brown (1987) that they'd have to play
one more year so they can play in the Canadian Championship next Spring.  Other 'veteran'
players are Antoine Paul (1987) and Akeem Priestley (1985). Usual captain Triston Frankson (1989)
wasn't here as he was still grieving a family loss (revealed in the LiveStream post game interview
with coach Rick Titus).  

Masters long playoff run means I got to attend nine of their games this season--that is the most
for me of any L1O team.  I saw every team a minimum of three times this season.  A total
of 39 men's games (regular season, playoffs, the Canadian Championship home game involving Vaughan
Azzurri, one preseason game involving Oakville against a PLSQ league team plus the Women's
L1O Championship game.   

Masters win their first championship!  This is the first time they've even made the playoffs.
Last season they started off with two ties then two wins then went ten games without winning
again and had players leave the team to join playoff contenders.  This season they were
consistently one of the better teams and finished fourth of the sixteeen teams in the regular 
season then beat a weakened (by school returnees) Sigma FC in the quarterfinals and beat
regular season champions Oakville Blue Devils on the away goal rule in the semifinals to advance 
to tonight's game.

FC London had finished seventh in the regular season then beat Vaughan Azzurri (also weakened
by players returning to school) in the quarterfinals and smashing Alliance United 15-0 on
aggregate in their semi-final series (AU had their entire lineup return to schools).  FCL had
won the regular season title in 2018 but didn't make the title game by failing to advance
from the playoff table group they were drawn into.  They were waiting for this year's final!  
They also had their women's team win the L1O Women's title on this ground just four weeks ago.  
Michael Marcoccia is coach of both the FCL men's and women's teams.

After tonight's announcer/DJ Ari Soroka who is also the Oakville Blue Devils announcer packed 
up his equipment, the music continued as some Masters fans had brought in reggae music. 

On my way in I said hello to Morey Doner who played in this league for Aurora last season
but is a defender for York 9 FC this year.  I was surprised to see him as York had a game
the next afternoon and he said "I support local soccer" which is a catchphrase of certain
groups of Canadian soccer fan organizations(including one that had t-shirts with that slogan 
on them). Next day I also double checked by asking York 9 forward Cyrus Rollocks what
he thought of the Master's news.  He said he'd been in attendance.  Rollocks played for Masters 
last season.  

Both Forge FC and York 9 FC had a tent just inside the entrance to sign up new members.
That would be popular to shelter from the rain which came down for periods of the first
half quite hard.  

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01 

Masters FA Saints starters

FC London starters

FC London Tomas Alvarez (11) takes opening kickoff.

Masters Francis Ameyah (20) takes second half kickoff.

FC London Belal Halbouni (12) and Patrick Melo (2) line up freekick.

The trophy table

Masters Yasin Shawan (70) with medal has had his face patched up.

Happy Masters goalie Spiridon Koskinas with his medal.

Hat-trick scoring Masters Akeem Priestley (30).

Masters players hoist the trophy.

Someone has slapped a decal on the trophy for this year's winner.

There was a Forge FC and York 9 FC tent set up near the entrance setting I'll assume selling tickets
but I'm sure popular as a shelter from the rain for the first half.

back to League 1 Ontario index

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