July 20, 2024...League1 Ontario...Alliance United vs Simcoe County Rovers game report (by Rocket Robin)
Result and details of the Saturday July 20, 2024 League1 Ontario Men's Premier game between Alliance UnitedFinal Score:.....Alliance United........1......Simcoe County Rovers.........1.......
Attendance started off slow but reached almost 100 by halftime on this hot late afternoon. This was a fairly even game with more accurate shooting by both teams needed as both teams sent shots over the net and/or back fence. Defenders on each side caused the forwards to rush their shots or they blocked them and the goaltending had to be good to keep the game low scoring. There were a lot of sharp transitions of end to end action within the 30 yard lines although most were broken up. This was a close checking game but referee Hassane Rifai let play continue for much of the contest. He ended up giving out five Yellow cards (three to the Rovers). Two Rovers and one Alliance card were for delaying freekicks, dissent, and kicking the ball away. Hard to say if water breaks were officially scheduled but they were improvised when AU defender Jacob Maurutto Robinson was injured at 25 minutes and needed to be subbed off then at 79 minutes when SCR goalie Dikola Douglas was injured and needed the trainer. Strange as both these injuries appeared to happen well away from the play upfield. Most memorable was at 66 minutes when Rifai stopped the game when the ball went out for a throw-in and ran over to the fourth official's table to take a few gulps of water and and gargle with it. He said he'd swallowed a mosquito. Both teams pushed for the winning goal and in that last ten minutes plus injury time, I'd definately give the edge in chances to Alliance. A 1-1 tie was a fair result. At the same time in CPL action, York United had to settle for that scoreline by giving up a goal in the 93rd minute. Today's Rovers' starters Aidan Hugo and Ijah Haley have played for York in prior seasons. This is only the second time this season I've seen the Rovers—the other time was in Week 1 where they salvaged a 1-1 tie with Vaughan Azzurri on an injury time header. I don't know why their record this season is middle of the pack. I asked a player after the game if 'the four names/Cuban guy' is still on the team. He said 'Yes'. I looked on the app and Orlendis Carlos Benitez Hernandez hasn't played since an L1 Cup game on May 28th so it's probably an injury. His 15 goals from the 2023 season have been missed. Nikola Stakic who took so many of the Alliance cornerkicks and freekicks has not played a game for them since scoring two goals on May 25 in a game against Hamilton United. By the time I got home, the three games of today were over. The result moves Alliance to a record of 6 wins, 4 ties, 3 losses for 22 points. That leaves them in fourth place with them now falling behind league leaders Scrosoppi FC by 5 points who were beating North Toronto across town in Downsview. Even though Scrosoppi played today, they still have at least one game in hand on all the teams chasing them. Vaughan Azzurri hasn't played yet this weekend and are only one point behind but if they win and pass Scrosoppi, they will have played two more games. Rovers record improves to 4 wins, 5 ties, 5 losses for 17 points. They move a point ahead of North Toronto and have sole position of eighth place in the twelve team division. Rocket Robinback to 2024 League1 Ontario menu
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