November 12, 2016 Inter Provincial Cup 2nd Leg--Vaughan Azzurri vs CS Mont Royal Outremont Griffons (by Rocket Robin)

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Result and details of the Saturday November 12, 2016 game between Vaughan Azzurri and CS Mont Royal Outremont Griffons played at Pickering Soccer Centre in Pickering at 5:00pm. This was the second leg of the Canadian Division 3 National Championship for the Inter-Provincial Cup.

Vaughan Azzurri (all navy, white numbers, red trim)

................1 Colm Vance
2 Jarred Phillips...14 Shiquan Lowe...6 Adrian Butters...3 Joseph Amato (cpt)
8 Jahsua Mills..15 Matthew Stinson...10 Brandon Mills...11 Jason Mills
............9 Jarek Whiteman...27 Mario Kovacevic

Subs:...12 Shvon Gaeeni (gk)...5 Tre Crosby...7 Massimo Mirabelli...16 Marcus Brooks
...18 Zachary Zitoli...20 Hector Mackie...23 Adam Parda...25 Luca Trivissonno
team officials:...head coach Carmine Isacco...assistant coaches Patrice Gheisar and Wayne Mills
...physio Esteban Clavijo...manager Tony De Palma

CS Mont Royal Outremont Griffons (all white, blue numbers)

...................91 Jason Stock
4 Riccardo Teoli...22 Stephen Meterissian...5 Abraham Francois (cpt)...20 Renan Dias
14 Maxime Oliveri...16 Yannick Damian Toker...10 Sean Rosa...11 Adam Sissoko
.............6 Abdelmouhaimen Nboucha...19 Jean Pierre Ritch Andy

Subs:...1 Francis Monongo (gk)...2 Anis Galiz...3 Lester Gariba...7 Leo Gerbelli-Gauthier
8 Mohamed Zakariaj Belguendouz...9 Mouad Ouzane...13 Jonathan Hurtis...15 Mohamed Aziz Bejaoui
...18 Samuel Thomas
team officials:...head coach Luc Brutus...assistant coach Eduard-Nick Pascalau
...goalkeeping coach Georges-Eric Painson...physio Natalie Barcelo...manager Ahmed Abdul Rahman
...team official Maxime Parrette

Game officials:...referee Brian Butler...referee's assistants Sean Hornsby and Jason Olinski
...fourth official John Vlahos...(teal shirts, black shorts and socks)

1st Half:...game starts 5:05pm...Vaughan defends east end.
1 min...VA defender slides to poke ball away at 15 yards in middle to prevent shot.
1 min...MRO Oliveri 30 yard freekick from right is headed away by defender at 15 yards in middle of box.
2 min...MRO Teoli long throw-in from right is headed away by defender at 7 yards in middle.
3 min...MRO Rosa receives short backheel pass and short cross from right is cleared by defender at 15 yards.
6 min...MRO Oliveri long run down right and short crossing pass to MRO Nboucha at 20 yards who taps pass over to MRO Rosa who rolls ball forward for Nboucha who hits short side right post on 10 yard shot. Ball deflects over to left and VA defender makes huge block on MRO player's 12 yard shot from left.
7 min...VA Brandon Mills wins freekick when he was fouled by sliding tackle at MRO 45 yard line.
8 min...VA Stinson chips 45 yard freekick from left that leaping defender heads away at 8 yards.
8 min...VA goalie runs forward and left to smother ball before MRO Sissoko can get to it.
12 min...MRO Oliveri 30 yard freekick from middle is rolled right and MRO Rosa crosses into box from 20 yards that goalie jumps to try to catch ball on left post but ball headed wide left for goalkick.
13 min...VA Kovacevic rolls pass across 18 yard line from left and VA Jason Mills taps it further into middle and VA Whiteman blasts low shot up middle that goalie dives to save at 5 yards.
14 min...VA Stinson 45 yard freekick from left has defender head out of box on right side.
14 min...VA Whiteman 22 yard low shot from right has goalie dive and push ball wide left of post.
15 min...VA Shiquan Lowe GOAL...VA Jahsua Mills sends in low cornerkick from left and Lowe shoots low 20 yarder through crowd of players into left corner of net beyond diving goalie Jason Stock.
16 min...MRO YELLOW card...Dias earns it for pulling down VA Jahsua Mills on long run down right.
17 min...VA Kovacevic rolls 22 yard freekick from right that goalie smothers at 4 yards.
18 min...MRO Teoli long throw-in from right has VA Butters at 8 yards injured in crash in box while jumping for ball on botched MRO player's bicycle kick attempt. Trainer is needed and VA are awarded a freekick.
23 min...MRO Sissoko rolls cross from 20 yards on right that defender is able to clear from left side of box.
23 min...VA YELLOW card...Kovacevic earns it for crash with MRO Teoli at VA 45 yards injurying him.
24 min...MRO Oliveri 50 yard freekick from right has goalie leap to catch on left post.
25 min...VA Lowe rolls 15 yard shot from left that's wide right of post.
26 min...MRO Rosa rolls cross from 25 yards on right that defender clears from just inside box.
26 min...MRO YELLOW card...Toker earns it for flicking away ball after VA Stinson is injured at 30 yard line.
27 min...MRO Rosa 35 yard freekick from left has goalie and MRO Meterissian crash together at 7 yards on right but goalie is there with fist to punch ball away.
29 min...VA goalie catches 75 yard chip from MRO Teoli on bounce to beat a charging MRO player at 15 yards.
30 min...MRO YELLOW card...Olivera earns it for body check on VA Amato at center line flipping him over.
31 min...MRO Meterissian is injured cramping up waiting for freekick.
31 min...VA Stinson 60 yard freekick from far left down left line and VA player crosses into box but ball is headed away.
33 min...MRO Oliveri cornerkick from right has leapin MRO Ritch Andy head 8 yarder from left over bar.
34 min...MRO Teoli chips 30 yarder down middle that's headed away.
35 min...MRO player's work out quick cornerkick from left has defenders clear for throw-in.
37 min...VA Kovacevic is tapped pass and low 20 yard shot on right is stopped by defender at 15 yards.
39 min...MRO Oliveri on run up middle rolls pass forward and left to MRO Rosa who shoots 25 yarder from left that's wide right of net.
40 min...MRO Jean Pierre Ritch Andy GOAL...MRO Abraham Francois runs down left wing and centers pass to MRO Abdelmouhaimen Nboucha at 22 yards in middle and he jumps and taps pass over to Ritch Andy who charging forward rolls 10 yarder into left corner of net.
41 min...VA Stinson ends VA offensive pressure with 22 yard roller up middle wide right of net.
43 min...VA Stinson gets back to prevent MRO Rosa from getting shot at 10 yards.
43 min...MRO player's long throw-in from right has defender clear ball from box.
44 min...MRO Oliveri cornerkick from right has MRO Sissoko head down at 10 yards but defender clears.
45 min...VA goalie catches deflected ball off defender that was popped up on MRO Oliveri's 22 yard shot.
47 min...half ends 5:52pm.

At Halftime an announcement was made that there was a food truck outside and that inside there was water and Thundersticks available to purchase.

2nd Half:...starts 6:08pm.
46 min...MRO Oliveri blasts low 25 yard shot from right wide right of net.
48 min...MRO Oliveri cornerkick from right has MRO Meterissian head 10 yarder in crowd of players over bar.
50 min...VA Jahsua Mills crosses 25 yarder from right that's cleared by defender on header in box.
52 min...VA Stinson 30 yard freekick from far right has MRO Teoli leap to head over box from 7 yards on right and out left side of box.
53 min...VA Phillips pass back to VA Brandon Mills who shoots 25 yarder that deflects off defender at 18 yards and goalie pushes wide left of post.
54 min...VA Whiteman bicycle kick attempt can't be turned after VA Brandon Mills short cornerkick from left is then crossed over box and finds him at 12 yards.
55 min...MRO Dias cross to MRO Oliveri and VA Amato blocks his 18 yard shot.
57 min...MRO Rosa rush down middle and 25 yard shot is high and wide right of net.
57 min...MRO goalie beats VA Jahsua Mills to boot away ball at 15 yards.
59 min...VA Whiteman rush down middle on 3 on 2 rush and chips 25 yard shot over bar.
60 min...MRO goalie steps forward to catch bouncer ahead of VA Jahsua Mills at 15 yards on left.
61 min...MRO Nboucha run down left wing and rolls cross but MRO Sissoko can't control and rolls it over left end line.
62 min...VA sub...Mirabelli replaces Jahsua Mills.
64 min...VA Whiteman heads MRO Teoli throw-in from right behind end line.
65 min...MRO Oliveri cornerkick from right is over players in box. MRO Rosa cross from left has MRO Francois head 10 yarder that bounces wide right of post.
65 min...VA goalie out to 22 yards to boot away through ball pass.
66 min...VA Jason Mills earns YELLOW card for sliding tackle on MRO Sean Rosa inside VA box who'd intercepted partial clearance. Referee Brian Butler also awards MRO a Penalty kick.
67 min...MRO Maxime Oliveri GOAL...Oliveri blasts Penalty kick low to left corner of net beyond diving Colm Vance.
70 min...VA Stinson 30 yard freekick from right has defender head ball away at 10 yards.
72 min...VA Whiteman wins cornerkick on deflection as he cuts into box near right end line.
72 min...VA Brandon Mills short cornerkick from right is wasted on poor passing play.
73 min...VA Jason Mills wins freekick when pushed over.
73 min...VA Brandon Mills 22 yard freekick from left hits left post. VA Phillips rebound from 10 yards in crowd of players is caught by sprawling goalie.
76 min...VA Stinson 35 yard freekick from right has ball drop in box on left but cleared.
77 min...VA sub...Mackie replaces Amato.
.........MRO sub...Belguendouz replaces Sissoko.
78 min...MRO Rosa rush down left and 15 yard shot is into short side webbing of net.
79 min...VA Phillips chips 30 yard shot from left that goalie catches near left post.
81 min...MRO Belguendouz has 20 yard shot from left that's blocked but wins throw-in on deflection.
82 min...MRO Oliveri is injured on check at VA 25 yard line. A pushing match ensues between players on both teams.
84 min...MRO Rosa 28 yard freekick from right. MRO Meterissian pops up header at 10 yards and ball is cleared by defenders.
85 min...VA Mackie low cross from 25 yards on right is just a step ahead of sliding VA Kovacevic at 10 yards and bounces out left side of box.
86 min...VA Mackie cross from 28 yards on right has defender head away in box out right for throw-in.
86 min...MRO sub...Hurtis replaces Ritch Andy.
87 min...VA Mackie long throw-in from right is cleared by defenders in box.
87 min...MRO sub...Gerbelli-Gauthier replaces Rosa.
88 min...VA Brandon Mills cornerkick from left has nearest defender on left edge of box head ball away.
90 min...MRO Hurtis rush on left and near end line rolls ball into box but a defender clears it to start rush upfield.
91 min...MRO YELLOW card...Hurtis earns it for time wasting by not giving 10 yards on VA Stinson's freekick from center line.
91 min...VA Stinson 60 yard freekick from right has goalie catch and fall forward but hang on at 12 yards on left.
92 min...MRO Oliveri is pushed through ball pass forward and hiw 12 yard shot is stopped point blank by sprawling goalie.
94 min...MRO Hurtis rebound of blocked shot from 20 yards is just wide left.
94 min...game ends 6:57pm.

Final Score:....Vaughan Azzurri......1.......CS Mont Royal Outremont Griffons.....2....

MRO win the two game series 3-2 after the first leg last week ended in a 1-1 tie. Away goal rules applied in that a tie result would then double the away goals so the game was pretty much over when MRO scored their second goal because that meant Vaughan had to score two goals with less than 30 minutes to go not to lose. The MRO second goal assured there'd be no extra time.

[Not that it ended up mattering but I was told before the game that away goals would not disappear after regulation so if today's game had ended up 1-1 (only way to force extra time) if both teams scored once in extra time, MRO would win because they'd have scored more away goals]. Just slightly different than the MLS league.

The game was held at Pickering Soccer Centre which is an indoor facility. Although it was supposedly 8 C outside I was grateful that this game was not in the cold and windy conditions of the parking lot. The first game in Montreal was at a similar indoor facility.

Attendance looked to me about 250 noisy fans. L1O commissioner Dino Rossi estimated 300 including about 50 traveling supporters. Bylaw capacity is supposedly 450. Lots of young kids were there in Vaughan soccer jerseys with Thundersticks but they ended up using them as swords agaainst each other down in one end of the stands. Others in the crowd were chanting "V-S-C" for Vaughan Soccer Club which to me from a distance sounded like "T-F-C" for the MLS team in these parts. Dino had to translate that for me.

This was a rough game throughout with referee Brian Butler giving out six Yellow cards in total (four to MRO) including four in the first half to try and keep this game under control. There were lots of sliding tackles and knock overs. Both teams' trainers were called to treat injuries although no player actually left the game because of an injury .

MRO player Maxime Oliveri was awarded the MVP for the two game series. The L1O write up of this game says he passed the ball for their goal from open play but I asked goalscorer Ritch Andy and he said it was Nboucha who passed him the ball. At this time the website for the Livestream replay of the game only has saved the game's last two minutes and the players running on the field after the game so I can't replay anything earlier than that. Sean Rosa scored the MRO goal in the first game. I'd say this game Oliveri did get away a few good shots.

The Penalty awarded I felt was justified as VA Jason Mills slid and tripped MRO Sean Rosa in the box as he ran even with the 15 yard line from the right and was ready to cut in a shot. Vaughan had been awarded and scored an equalizer on a Penalty kick in the first leg last weekend to escape Montreal with a 1-1 tie.

Best non-scoring chances were when Rosa received a pass at 6 mknutes and hit the post with a 10 yard shot. At 12 minutes MRO Maxime Oliveri freekick from 30 yards in the middle was rolled to the right and MRO Sean Rosa crossed into the box and the goalie jumped on the left post to make a catch. Next minute had VA Jason Mills roll a pass along the 18 yard line from the left and VA Jarek Whiteman blasted a low shot that the goalie dove to save at 5 yards. 25 minutes had VA Shiquan Lowe roll a 15 yard shot from the left just wide right of the post. At 33 minutes MRO Maxime Oliveri's cornerkick from the right had MRO Jean Pierre Ritch Andy head an 8 yarder from the left over the net. 48 minutes had Oliveri's cornerkick from the right and an MRO Meterissian in a crowd of players in the VA box headed a 10 yarder over the bar. 53 minutes had VA Jarred Phillips pass back to VA Brandon Mills who shot a 25 yarder that deflected off a defender at 18 yards and the goalie pushed the ball wide left of the post. 73 minutes had VA Brandon Mills take a 22 yard freekick from the left that hit the left post. VA Phillips rebound from 10 yards in a crowd of players was caught by the goalie. Extra time with VA pressing found MRO Oliveri being pushed a through ball pass and and his 12 yard shot was stopped point blank by the sprawling goalie.

There is an advantage for Vaughan Azzurri to have such a large roster. Although York University lost in the semi-finals of the OUA (Ontario Univesity Association) playoffs last week this week they were playing in the CIS (Canadian University) tournament in Guelph Ontario. There is a great overlap of players. Their last weeks have gone like this: OUA playoffs October 30th beat Western Mustangs 3-0 in a home game, November 5th beat U of Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0 at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough (Toronto), next day lost the championship 3-1 against University of Guelph Griffins also at Birchmount. This weekend...Thursday lose to Alberta Golden Bears 2-0, Friday beat U of Toronto 4-1, today (and that meant 4:00pm in Guelph) lose to UBC Thunderbirds 2-1 in the consolation final game. Wow three games in two and a half days! Even that would require a large roster. Vaughan head coach Carmine Isaaco who is also head coach of York was away at that game this afternoon.

Hey both CSMRO Griffons and University of Guelph Gryphons (mythical fire breathing flying dragons) beat Vaughan Azzurri/York University out of a championship!

It was pointed out to me before the game that MRO captain/defender Abraham Francois was 39 years old. That name did sound familiar. I looked back and saw that his previous teams included Ottawa Wizards 2002, Montreal Impact 2003-2005, Toronto Lynx 2005, Laval Dynamites 2006-2008, and MRO since 2013. That was a Wikipedia search I made after I got home and I found out that the reference to five of the eight entries linked with my own web page!

MRO had been the Quebec representatives last year and they lost to Oakville Blue Devils in the two game championship. (Interesting that OBD were the only team that beat Vaughan in League and Cup play this year) The MRO team was more experienced just in having eight players return from the 2015 team and all of their coaching staff this year from their 2015 edition. Last year's Ontario leg was played outdoors but eleven days earlier.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

Vaughan Azzurri starters