July 7, 2024 League1 Ontario...Vaughan Azzurri vs North Toronto game report (by Rocket Robin)

Result and details of the Sunday July 7, 2024 League1 Ontario Men's Premier game between Vaughan Azzurri and North Toronto
played at North Maple Regional Park in Vaughan at 7:00pm.

I will be posting pictures, logos, and more of a play-by-play about this game someday (ie. the offseason).

18 min...Vaughan Chris Campoli GOAL...VA Andy Baquero cuts over from right to middle and has shot blocked but Campoli gets loose ball and blasts 18 yarder forward into top right corner of net beyond reach of goalie Kevon Grant.

63 min...Vaughan Reshaun Walkes GOAL...VA Mateo Caride taps pass forward up right sideline at 40 yards and Walkes cuts towards centre and sends 25 yarder down middle into right corner of net beyond diving goalie.

76 min...VA Kelvin Ramirez brings down NT player running in from right towards the center along the 3 yard line. Referee Kevin McEleney awards NT a Penalty kick.

77 min...North Toronto Fadi Salback GOAL...Salback blasts Penalty kick low and to left side as goalie Alessio Carbone dives to right.

78 min...Vaughan Raouf Mohamed GOAL...Mohamed on short run down middle suddenly stops and blasts midair shot from 25 yards between defenders to top left side of net.

Final Score:.....Vaughan Azzurri.........3.......North Toronto.........1.......

Attendance started off slow but reached about 180 by halftime. This had to be the game I've attended that was the hottest day of the year (and July as only started!). It started at 7:00pm which was one hour earlier than their home game times up until now. It means the games are over before it gets dark but also risks that the temperature will still be hot. The schedulers have no more pairing up Vaughan's Women's team home games into double headers with the men and with the women playing midweek home games or home games while the Men aren't playing, they can have evening games too until their season wraps up on the first weekend in August (one month before the men). Good thing as today would have been unbearable for any team playing at 4:00pm.

Referee Kevin McEleney scheduled a water break in each half but the teams squeezed out one more at only 17 minutes while a North Toronto player was being treated by a trainer for an injury.

McEleney gave out four Yellow cards, two to each team and all for contact in a game with a lot of tough checks.

There wasn't really a turning point in this game but Raouf Mohamed's goal one minute after North Toronto closed to within one was huge as it turned off so quickly any thoughts of a comeback. North Toronto had three more fair chances to score after that goal. Mohamed had at least two other chances to score again for Vaughan.

North Toronto had almost responded right after Vaughan's second goal with Jaylen Drummond hitting the bar on a shot from 15 yards at 65 minutes.

The win pulls the Azzurri into a tie for first place (and one game in hand) with Woodbridge Strikers who were playing a home game, at exactly the same time as ours, against ProStars FC and were upset 1-0. There are six of the twelve teams all within five points of first place. With no playoffs for the first time, all the glory will be given to who will be in first after the Labour Day weekend. Azzurri's record improves to 6 wins, 5 ties, 1 loss for 23 points.

North Toronto's record falls to 3 wins, 4 ties, 5 losses for 13 points. That puts them in a tie for eighth place with five teams now within four points and trying to avoid eleventh, the second possible relegation spot which means a one game playoff against the second place Championship Division team. Top two spots in that group are the TFC Academy and FC London—both related to Toronto FC with the Academy being their official U-19 team. There's a good chance that both will in the Premier next season.

Rocket Robin
robin.glover.1958@gmail.com
X @RocketRobin01

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