September 2, 2023...League1 Ontario Men's Premier League...Scrosoppi FC vs Simcoe County Rovers game report (by Rocket Robin)

...............

Result and details of the Saturday September 2, 2023 of the League1 Ontario Men's Premier Division game between Scrosoppi FC
and Simcoe County Rovers played at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 7:00pm. This was the Championship Final game.

Scrosoppi FC (all black uniforms, white numbers)

.........................1 Andreas Vaikla
..........6 Victor Gallo (cpt)...4 Joshua Parades...12 Luke Rankin
..........2 Carlo Difeo...13 Manveer Gill...3 Luka Frankovich
..........7 Omari Cotterell...21 Alexander Zis...18 Khody Ellis
.........................8 Tomasz Skublak

Subs:...22 Stanislaw Skublak (gk)...9 Mauro Lulli...10 Nickolas Blaskovic...11 Voldymyer Kharyton
...19 Sebastian Lopez...23 Santiago Ubate...28 Justin Hu...36 Danny Medeiros...66 Baryal Khan
team officials:...team head coach John Yacou...assistant coach Luis Domingos...manager Shayne Griffin
...therapist Michael Wong...team oficial Milan Samardzija

Simcoe County Rovers (white socks and shirts, navy shorts, light blue numbers)

.....................1 Baj Maan
8 Alejandro Portal...3 Tajay Reid...19 Justin Earle (cpt)...24 Cameron Dasilva
18 Ijah Halley...9 Jevontae Layne...12 Javier George...11 Shawn-Claud Lawson
............10 Orlendis Benitez...20 Paul Karagianakos

Subs:...13 Michael Markac (gk)...25 Peter Sheberstov (gk)...7 Gabriel Boakye...14 Feargod Ozomba
...16 Allen Saye-Blegay...17 CJ Smith...21 Chiemeka Azurunwa...22 Shamir Akbar...27 Luc Ihama
team officials:...team head coach Jason Beckford...assistant coaches Paul Smith and Zak Zico Mahrady
...manager Donte Henry...equipment manager Bola Avolonto...therapist Mark De Lange and Milad Mohib

Game officials;...referee Scott Bowman...referee's assistants Joey Filipic and Vasyl Dzikh
...fourth official Ryan Schwenger...(chartreuse socks and shirts, black shorts)

First Half:...game starts 7:06pm...Scrosoppi defends north end. There's a blindingly bright sun in the north west
and a strong breeze from the south west.
50 sec...SCR Lawson cornerkick from right has Scr Rankin dive forward at 8 yards aligned with right post and heads ball away.
SCR Halley chips ball back into box as he slips and play is flagged offside.
4 min...Simcoe County Rovers Shawn-Claud Lawson GOAL...SCR Jevontae Layne slides on right end line to keep ball
in play after an SCR player blocked a defender's clearance and sends ball low centering pass past sliding defender
on right edge of 6 yard box and goalie Andreas Vaikla on the near post. Lawson has 2 yard tap-in on left side into
empty net before lunge by another SCR defender's sliding attempt to block.
7 min...SCR Halley can't win freekick on run down right trying to cut in on Scr Frankovich.
8 min...Simcoe Country Rovers Paul Karagianakos GOAL...SCR Orlendis Benitez pushes Scr Luke Rankin off ball
on run down right and low cross along 8 yard line has Karagianakos charging up the middle redirect low 8 yarder
past sprawling goalie at 6 yards into left corner of net.
8 min...SCR Zis 65 yard chip down middle right after kickoff is down middle and goalie bats down on right post rather
than catch to waste time.
10 min...Scr goalie out to left side of box to catch SCR throw-in from left that was headed into the bos.
12 min...SCR Benitez is injured on tackle at Scr 50 yard line on tackle by Scr Gill.
14 min...SCR Benitez steals ball off Scr Zis at 30 yards on left and runs to 20 yards and blasts low shot that sprawling goalie
saves on right side of net. SCR Halley intercepts Scr Frankovich clearance of rebound at 20 yards and rolls centering pass that
SCR Karagianakos hits left post on roller up middle from 10 yards.
14 min...SCR Karagianakos misses connecting on bicycle kick in box.
15 min...Scr Skublak is injured on knock down near right corner flag in SCR end.
16 min...Scr Zis 25 yard freekick has Scr Frankovich at 12 yards twist header well wide left of net.
17 min...Scr Cotterell rolls cross from 15 yard line on right and retreating SCR Reid slides to stop it at 6 yards on right.
17 min...Scr YELLOW card...Parades earns it for sliding tackle on SCR Benitez at SCR 50 yard line.
19 min...SCR Benitez cross from right is into box and cleared away.
19 min...SCR DaSilva chips 30 yarder from left is wide right.
22 min...SCR goalie is out to 20 yards on left to clear ball before Scr Skublak can get to bouncer.
24 min...SCR Halley receives cross from left and has his 20 yard shot bend wide right of net.
26 min...Scr YELLOW card...Skublak earns it for foot up for ball and kicks goalie as both come to 15 yard line to play ball.
27 min...SCR goalie needs trainer and a water break is called.
28 min...Scr Skublak goes back to pat SCR goalie who finially is up to his feet.
29 min...Scr Ellis high cross from 25 yards on far right drifts behind net.
(I notice that Scr Cotterell and Scr Ellis have switched wings.
33 min...Scr Zis cornerkick from right is a roller to center and Scr Parades from middle shoots 25 yarder just over net.
34 min...Scr Frankovich passes up left for Scr Cotterell who cuts into box and sends short cross and defender behind Scr Skublak
at 7 yards knocks ball away.
35 min...SCR Halley wins cornerkick on Scr Frankovich blocking his cross.
36 min...SCR Benitez cornerkick from right has defender clear for fast breakout.
36 min...SCR YELLOW card...Karagianakos earns it for sliding tackle on Scr Frankovich at SCR 45 yard line.
38 min...Scr Gallo 60 yard chip downfield bounces for goalie when Scr Skublak pops up header at 15 yards in middle.
38 min...SCR goalie is out to 25 yard line to beat Scr Skublak to ball on right to head ball away.
40 min...SCR Reid slides to give up cornerkick on Scr Skublak.
40 min...Scr Zis cornerkick from left has Scr Cotterell head 5 yarder downward onto right post and defenders are able to run it out
right side of box.
41 min...Scr Frankovich sends short cross from left along 7 yards line and Scr Cotterell partially heads ball dropping it from 10 yards
and Scr Ellis cutting over from right kicks 3 yard loose ball over bar.
42 min...SCR DaSilva gives up cornerkick blocking Scr Ellis shot on right side of box.
43 min...Scr Omari Cotterell GOAL...Scr Alexander Zis crosses in from 25 yard line on right and Cotterell receives pass
in open at 10 yards and he knocks ball down and shoots low 8 yarder to right side of net and over sliding goalie
Baj Maan at 8 yards.
44 min...Scr Zis high cross from 30 yards on right is over left end line too far for two players waiting.
47 min...Scr Parades 40 yard freekick from right is cleared away on header by SCR Lawson for fast breakout.
48 min...SCR Benitez 25 yard shot through players up middle is caught by goalie.
49 min...half ends 7:55pm.

Halftime: both teams's subs warm up as the starters return to the dressing room.

Second Half:...starts 8:13 pm.
45 min...Scr Cotterell gets to long punt by goalie downfield that Scr Skublak flicks header forward to 25 yards on left
and Cotterell deflects shot off defender and ball bounces to Scr Ellis who shoots at open net up middle from 18 yards and rolls ball
with SCR Earle stops and makes clearance at 8 yards.
46 min...Scr goalie catches Scr Zis low 25 yard cross from right on bounce.
47 min...SCR Karagianakos 25 yard shot down middle is well over net as he slips.
49 min...SCR Lawson high cross from left end line has SCR Layne not able to get away shot at 5 yards on right post before it bounces
out for goalkick.
51 min...Scr Cotterell wins cornerkick as he is knocked down on left side of box.
52 min...Scr Zis cornerkick from left has Scr Ellis head 10 yarder in crowd of players over bar.
53 min...Scr Zis 30 yard freekick on far left has SCR Layne tip with foot on jump sending ball back to goalie.
54 min...Scr Zis low cross from right has Scr Parades blast low 10 yard shot off left post and defender concedes cornerkick.
54 min...Scr Zis cornerkick from left is rolled out to middle for Scr Parades to shoot 22 yarder from left that's deflected over net
for another cornerkick.
55 min...Scr Zis high cornerkick from right has Scr Rankin pop header from left back into box and Scr Zis wins thrown-in
on deflection.
58 min...SCR Benitez rolls ball up middle and Scr goalie is out to 20 yards up middle to clear before SCR Halley gets to it.
59 min...Scr Zis chips 50 yarder from right that goalie punches away at 10 yards to stop Scr Skublak getting to it on right.
61 min...Scr Cotterell run on left and 25 yard roller is wide left.
63 min...Scr Parades rolls ball up left and Scr Skublak wins cornerkick on cross from left end line.
63 min...Scr Zis high cornerkick from left has Scr Frankovich head ball into box from right and ball is cleared.
65 min...SCR Benitez wins Penalty kick call on knock over by Scr Gallo on right as he cuts into box.
66 min...Simcoe County Rovers Jevonte Layne GOAL...Layne blasts Penalty kick after stutter step approach to left
and flying goalie gets hands to it but just pushes it to left corner of net.
68 min...SCR Layne is centered ball on low cross from SCR Halley and one-touch blasts 10 yarder over net.
69 min...Scr sub...Medeiros replaces Gill.
69 min...Scr Zis freekick from 40 yards on right has defenders block two shots in box.
70 min...SCR Benitez is forced by officials to come off field with bloody arm and blood on his jersey.
.........Scr YELLOW card...Head coach Yacao on the bench earns it for complaining about the delay in Benitez leaving the field.
71 min...Scr Zis blasts low 30 yard freekick up middle that wins cornerkick on deflection by goalie diving to left post.
72 min...Scr Zis cornerkick from left has goslie swat at it with Scr Rankin jumping for it in 6 yard box. Ball bounces forward
and out of box.
72 min...SCR Benitez returns to the field wearing #14 jersey (he started game as #10).
73 min...SCR Lawson low freekick from left cornerflag has Scr Skublak clear ball at top left of box.
75 min...Simcoe County Rovers RED card...Cameron DaSilva earns a direct ejection for pulling Scr Khody Ellis's
braided hair at Scr 35 yard line as the two jostle for the ball.
76 min...Scr Zis 45 yard freekick from left has Scr Rankin pop header 15 yarder on left that goalie catches on left post.
78 min...SCR Layne is injured at Scr 45 yard line and needs trainer.
79 min...Scr Skublak wins cornerkick when retreating defender pokes ball away.
79 min...Scr Zis cornerkick from left has SCR players stop and start fast breakout. SCR Halley runs up middle and defender
gets in to block him at 15 yards.
80 min...Scr Cotterell is checked off left side of box by SCR Lawson.
80 min...SCR sub...Saye-Blegay replaces Karagianakos.
.........Scr sub...Blaskovic replaces Gallo.
81 min...SCR goalie is out to 25 yard line on left to clear ball out ahead of Scr Ellis getting to through ball.
82 min...Scrosoppi Tomasz Skublak GOAL...Scr Joshua Parades chips 30 yarder over players in box and goalie bats down
at top right corner but he falls backwards into net. Skublak stops ball almost falling over but then roofs in 5 yarder from
right post into short right side of empty net.
83 min...SCR sub...Boakye replaces Halley.
83 min...SCR defenders clear ball as Scr Blaskovic breaks into box up middle.
84 min...SCR YELLOW card...Benitez earns it for delay after whistle by kicking ball away.
84 min...Scr Frankovich heads 10 yarder down middle popping it over bar and back fence!
86 min...Simcoe County Rovers Jevontae Layne GOAL...SCR Shawn-Claud Lawson from center line on left chips cross
down field to SCR Gabriel Boakye at 25 yards on right who runs forward and chips short cross from 12 yard line on right
to Layne who one-touches mid air shot from 8 yards into short left corner of net.
87 min...SCR YELLOW card...Layne earns it for pulling his jersey off celebrating goal after he ran to the Rovers bench.
88 min...SCR sub...Ihama replaces Layne.
..........Scr sub...Lulli replaces Ellis.
..........Scr sub...Lopez replaces Parades.
90 min...SCR goalie catches 40 yard chip on bounce.
92 min...SCR YELLOW card...George earns it for sliding tackle on Scr Zis. A pushing match breaks out between multiple players.
92 min...SCR YELLOW card...Saye-Blegay earns it for complaining about call.
93 min...Scr Zis freekick from center line has Scr Medeiros tip header from 20 yards well wide right of net.
94 min...Scr Zis cross from 30 yard line on left has Scr Medeiros slide at 8 yards to try to connect in middle but misses
and ball bounces past goalie at 3 yards but retreating defender clears from right post before Scr Skublak can tap in from 3 yards
on right.
94 min...Scr Lopez chip from 30 yards on right is cleared. Scr Blaskovich recovers and chips 22 yarder that bounces through box
wide left but wins cornerkick on deflection.
95 min...Scr Zis high cornerkick from left has flying Scr player on right head ball back into box but defender clears on left edge of box.
95 min...Scr Skublak blasts low 20 yarder that's stopped by sliding SCR Reid at 8 yards.
96 min...Scr YELLOW card...Zis earns it for sliding tackle on SCR Boakye on his run up left in front of SCR bench.
97 min...SCR sub...Smith replaces Layne.
98 min...game ends 9:06pm.

Final Score:...Scrosoppi FC......2.......Simcoe County Rovers........4.......

Attendance was 1150. The crowd was predominantly Rovers fans who had come 100km south to get here from Barrie. Scrosoppi from Milton (45 km to the west) have been using this field as their home ground this season as their own field, a high school ground, is under renovation. I got the attendance number from the league commissioner after the game as I had asked him for a pregame estimate of tickets sold. There looked to be 50 or more outside the grounds in the south end peeking through the fencing. They either didn't have tickets or wanted the freedom to stand as security guards had to move fans away from standing against the front row pathway as they were blocking the view of the fans in those first few rows.

This game got more competitive after the first 15 minutes. Rovers almost had a third goal at 14 minutes when Paul Karagiankos hit the left post post on a 10 yard roller from the middle. Rovers were holding on at the end of the first half. I then thought the Penalty kick goal at 66 minutes would end it as it gave Rovers a 3-1 lead. Even with Cameron DaSilva earning a straight Red card for pulling Scr Khody Ellis's pony tailed tied braided hair while both players scuffled for a ball, I thought Rovers would just go into a defensive shell but Tomasz Skublak got one back at 82 minutes. It was Rovers fourth at 86 minutes with Scrosoppi players pressing that sealed the win.

Referee Scott Bowman gave out five Yellows and one Red to the Rovers and four to Scrosoppi including one to their bench in a game that featured hard tackles at different times in the game. A few dustups were quickly broken up before they escalated.

Rovers Orlendis Benitez was ordered off the field for a bloody arm and #10 jersey which couldn't just be wiped off and came back on a few minutes later. The bench complained that they hadn't brought any spare jerseys and by 72 minutes (for those watching the replay) he came back as #14. That jersey belongs to unused sub Feargod Ozomba.

Fans invaded the field after the final whistle to celebrate with the victorious Rovers. The largest amount of smoke was set off after their fourth goal as that clinched the win after some nervous moments.

The medals were given out within minutes of the game ending. Scrosoppi's silver were given in bulk to be distributed to each member of the team. The photographers and tv cameras wanted to zoom in on Rovers being given their gold medals after prying the players away from the fence separating the field from the grandstand where their supporters had pressed against. Cameron DaSilva who had drawn a Red card earlier and was forced to leave the grounds was back on the field to receive his medal. Someone threw a lighted flare on the field and an angry groundskeeper came over to tell the commissioner. Other officials ensured that sticky Gatorade would not be dumped over Rovers head coach Jason Beckford's head in celebration (staining the field I suppose). Beckford had water dumped on him from another container. The league championship had a Simcoe County Rovers plaque adhesed to it by the time it was presented. They are the ninth winner since the league started in 2014. That's one short but there were no games played in the 2020 pandemic year.

Simcoe County Rovers win their first Men's Premier League title after only two years of league play. Scrosoppi has only been in the league three years. Since it's too soon to expect that each team after setting up their links to youth teams in their area would have developed their own players yet, both teams stocked their teams with 'free agents' from the more established teams in the league.

The win earns them a berth in the 2024 Canadian Championship expected to be in the preliminary round and because of how early the tournament has been played this year at the request of MLS teams, it will probably mean a road game because of field availability and facility requirements. Even the Ontario Soccer Centre where tonight's game took place is considered too small to hold a game and that's what ensured that Vaughan Azzurri was placed in the 'Away' fishbowl for last year's tourney.

Both Orlendis Benitez and Alejandro Portal are the only players that can say they won the championship the last two years as they both played for Vaughan Azzurri in 2022.

Rovers president Julian de Guzman was here to watch and get a chance to hoist the trophy. I asked him if he'd worked his afternoon shift at TSN network in the studio analysizing MLS games. “Yes, and then I drove here”. “Did you get to drop in any comments about today's game?” “Yes” he answered.
(I played just the studio segments over of the NYCFC vs Whitecaps on Sunday and didn't notice any mention).

Rovers CEO Peter Raco took the time before leaving for the dressing room to celebrate to have an interview with me about his feelings tonight and the past and future of the team. Thank you sir!

Rocket Robin
robin.glover.1958@gmail.com
twitter @RocketRobin01

Scrosoppi FC starters