August 8, 2023...Weekly Rewind by League1 Ontario staff (from League1 Ontario website)

Weekly Rewind
By League1 Ontario staff, 08/08/23, 9:45AM EDT

STILL ALL TO PLAY FOR IN THE MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION PLAYOFF AND ROAD TO 2024 BATTLES AFTER A TOPSY-TURVY WEEKEND OF RESULTS.

Guelph picked up a big three points at Electric City

Movement in the regular-season table

After North Mississauga’s clash with St Catharines Roma Wolves was postponed on Friday, the first game of the Men’s Premier Division weekend saw Sigma’s winless streak continue on Saturday as they drew 2-2 with Darby. Ryan Khedoo gave a brilliant performance as he netted a brace, scoring the game’s opener for Sigma after 22 minutes and then the equalizer just after the hour mark.

Darby had a strong start to the second half as Tyler Sukovski and Dylan Campbell scored within four minutes of one another to come from behind and take the lead, but Khedoo’s second goal saw the points shared.

Guelph United ensured they stayed within the top six with a statement 3-0 win over playoff rivals Electric City. Jared Agyemang scored in the first half with Leo Shrimpton, and Cole Fernandez scoring in the second to take the victory that now sees Guelph sit fifth in the regular-season table.

Masters FA took their second win of the season by beating Unionville Milliken, and they moved up to 19th. Masters looked in complete control of the game as they were 3-0 up within 31 minutes, but Unionville Milliken started a comeback as they netted two goals of their own; ultimately it was not enough to steal a point.

It’s now five games undefeated for Vaughan Azzurri as they moved to three points behind leaders Scrosoppi with a 4-0 win over Prostars FC. Christopher Campoli scored a brace for Vaughan with goals in the sixth and 75th minutes as Jeronimo Sabbatasso and Raheem Rose also contributed goals.

Alliance United dropped out of the playoff positions after a 2-2 tie at FC London. It was looking dire for United who were down by two goals at the break, but they went into attack mode in the second half to salvage a point which could still prove important come the end of the regular season.

Simcoe County Rovers took three points from Blue Devils in a six-goal thriller

Season-defining games

Replacing Alliance in the current playoff positions are Burlington, separated by number of wins. Burlington won 3-1 at Hamilton United on Sunday, Augustus Oku scoring a hat-trick with goals in the 38th, 46th, and 90th minutes.

This game could also have major repercussions in the battle to qualify for the 2024 Premier Division. Hamilton were on a five-match undefeated streak and put themselves back in contention for the top tier, while Woodbridge Strikers tied 1-1 against Windsor City and were ultimately bunny-hopped by Burlington so now teeter on the dotted line, 0.50 points ahead of Hamilton.

The top of the regular-season table is getting tight, with Simcoe County Rovers now only two points behind Vaughan and Blue Devils after they beat the latter 4-2. The game was only 1-1 with 52 minutes played but two goals from Orlendis Benitez-Hernandez in the 61st and 89th minutes put Simcoe 3-1 up and instigated a frantic finish that saw both teams find the net in stoppage time.

Blue Devils had beaten Scrosoppi on Wednesday in what was a huge game in the battle for top spot. It was Scrosoppi’s first defeat since May, but Blue Devils’ loss to Simcoe on Sunday still saw Vaughan slip into second, pushing the Oakville side out of the bye positions to the playoff semifinals on goal difference.

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