April 30, 2016 League 1 Ontario--Windsor Stars vs ProStars FC (from League 1 Ontario website)

Carapau Shoots Stars To First Victory
05/02/2016, 5:00pm EDT
By League1 Ontario staff

Eager to get the 2016 season underway, the Windsor Stars were looking forward to hosting 
ProStars FC at Alumni Field on Saturday at the University of Windsor. Despite the overcast 
and chilly day, the Stars didn’t take long to get on the score sheet en route 
to a 3-nil victory.

In just the fourth minute, Celso Carapau was sent through and caught the far corner 
behind Pro Stars keeper Alessandro Famele. The teams then settled down with much 
of the play involving short passes in the midfield until the Stars’ Mike Pio headed 
the ball to the back of the net from a free kick in the 22nd.

The Pro Stars were not out of the game, however, and did not let up in their attack 
toward Windsor’s goal and keeper Kyle Vizirakis. Only five minutes after the Pio goal, 
the ProStars attempted a shot from 22 yards out, which Vizirakis gathered in to negate 
the danger.

“Feels good coming with a clean sheet in the first game,” Vizirakis said after 
the game. “The team worked well and hopefully we can keep it up for the year.”

But, just two minutes later, Windsor took advantage of a defensive lapse when Carapau 
stole the ball and buried it for his second of the match and a 3-nil Windsor lead.

The Pro Stars’ Borowski was awarded a yellow card in the 35th minute, and it would 
be the first of six for the visitors. However, the game was never a chippy affair 
as the two sides played cleanly throughout.

With the half in the books, the goal of Pro Stars was to win or draw the 
remaining 45 minutes. That they did despite the continued push forward by the 
Pio brothers, Carapau, and the rest of the Stars. But for bad luck, both Mike Pio 
and Carapau could have scored further, as well Jack Sargent who struck the goal 
post from 30 yards.

"Jack just saw a really good opening and he took it for the hot one," said Stars' 
head coach Shane Topalovic.

"He’s got a great shot. Same with Chris (Al-Youssif). We're not going to hold 
back for anything."

After three minutes of extra time, the sides retired with Windsor holding the 
advantage with their first win of the campaign.

Pro Stars’ head coach Omar Jbaihi found some learning points for his young 
players from the loss.

"It was a rough start. I think some of the players weren’t ready for the 
level of intensity," Jbaihi said.

"We asked them to win or tie the second half. I think we achieved that. 
We definitely saw an improvement from the first half to the second half. 
It's about improving half to half, game to game."

Vizirakis also saw room for improvement for the Stars going forward.

"I think we can improve on switching the ball through the middle, as well 
as possession in the middle," the Stars keeper said.

"I think we’re too rushed and too direct. We need to just move the ball 
along and keep the ball on the ground."

Carapau was ready to off-load the credit to the midfield for his success 
on the day.

"Chris Al-Youssif and Jack Sargent really helped out in the midfield 
today," he said. "They made it really easy for everyone else to do their job."

Windsor will continue at home with a May 7 match against 
the Oakville Blue Devils at 4:00pm again at Alumni Field, while the Pro Stars 
welcome North Mississauga to Victoria Park Stadium in Brampton at 7 p.m., 
in what could develop into a hotly contested derby.

back to 2016 League 1 Ontario Men's index

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