August 27, 2024...Special Preview: Men's L1 Cup - semifinals (from League1 Ontario website)
27 August 2024
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special preview: men’s l1 cup – semifinals
North Toronto take on Vaughan Azzurri and Simcoe County Rovers visit Blue Devils.
North Toronto vs Vaughan Azzurri – Tuesday, August 27
Premier Division leaders Vaughan Azzurri visit North Toronto on Tuesday as they both look to earn themselves a spot
in the Men’s L1 Cup Final.
The two sides recently met on Saturday, August 24 where the Azzurri came out on top with an incredible 8-0 victory – which
North Toronto will be looking to quickly forget – as they compete against Scrosoppi for the Men’s Premier title.
The L1 Cup provides Vaughan with another chance for silverware this summer, and they made light work of Sigma with a 4-1
win away from home in the tournament’s quarterfinals. North Toronto defeated Master’s FA 2-1 with a Fadi Salback brace
to book their spot in the final four.
Salback is the cup’s top scorer with five goals, and a proven threat against Premier opposition with 14 goals in the league.
However, the visitors are not without their own firepower as Reshaun Walkes scored four himself against North Toronto
on Saturday, bringing him level with Salback in the division rankings. He will be looking to challenge Salback not only
for a place in the final, but for the Golden Boot.
Can the league leaders add to their undefeated August form by securing a spot in the Men’s L1 Cup Final, or will the home
side defy the odds and win their first silverware in senior League1 Ontario competition?
Blue Devils vs Simcoe County Rovers – Wednesday, August 28
Fighting for the other place in the final will be Blue Devils and Simcoe County Rovers – two sides who have left their
league title chances behind them this season and will be looking to add to their trophy cabinets through the L1 Cup.
Wednesday’s hosts overcame Burlington in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win, despite conceding early on inside the first
seven minutes. Simcoe also conceded early in the 15th minute against Guelph United, but clawed back a 2-1 victory with
a Jevontae Layne second-half winner to book a spot in the semifinals.
On paper, Simcoe are favourites after a 5-0 win when the teams met in late July, and since then they have only lost to the
title-chasing Scrosoppi. The visitors outrank their Oakville opposition in the Premier standings with a slender
three-point advantage.
Layne will be one to watch in this tie as the forward has 13 goals to his name in the Men’s Premier this season, but the
Blue Devils’ defence will be looking to shut him down to earn just their second clean sheet in August.
Can Blue Devils make their home advantage count and shake Simcoe’s solid form, or will July’s outcome repeat itself and see
the Rovers come out on top?
Published On: 27 August 2024
League1 Ontario staff
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