August 10, 2024...League1 Ontario...Sigma FC vs Burlington SC game report (by Rocket Robin)
Result and details of the Saturday August 10, 2024 League1 Ontario Premier Division game between Sigma FCFinal Score:....Sigma FC..........1..........Burlington SC..............1..............
Attendance was about 40 on this mild early afternoon with the temperature cooler than what we've had in the last few weeks. A gusty crossfield breeze from the west made me not uncomfortable wearing my hoodie rather than just using it as a seat cushion. A Burlington player was called for a foul throw-in when he tossed a ball down the line and the wind blew it out of play. A storm cloud blew over at 70 minutes but kept moving and we had more sunny skies. I'll give credit to both teams' defenders for keeping the shot down and making it easier for each goalie. Sigma used a backline of Soji Olatoye, Alex Cordon, Kyle Walton (captain), and Leshawn Facey while Burlington lined up Andra Neptune, Juan Jaramillo (captain), Joseph Willingham-Murphy, and Jameel Durhan. Note it was defenders who scored both goals. With Kofi Awuah coming in for injured Leshawn Facey at 77 minutes, four of the six Yellow cards went to defenders. In noticed Sigma players were rushing their freekicks and cornerkicks many times today to get a quick start on restarts. Referee Ryan Schwenger gave out six Yellow cards today with Sigma earning four in a game that had some tough tackles at times. There were calls from players and Burlington fans (I was close to them in the stands) for 'Hand ball' for every ball that hit anywhere above the knee. I only saw one mixed call and the referee probably played the advantage as play carried on downfield and a Burlington player finally attempted a shot about 15 seconds later. A few freekicks from just outside the box which weren't questionable as Penalty kicks that may mean that the defenders were smart enough to make their frantic tackle attempt before the attacker got into the box. No water breaks needed today! There were Sigma players I didn't recognize or were never starters. I asked head coach John Zervos after the game if the roster migration to NCAA schools has started already. He answered they've lost ten players already. I noticed a lot of Burlington players I've watched earlier in the season on the bench today. Zervos said they may be trying to meet the league's U-23 minutes minimum. By the time I got settled late tonight (I was expected at a party by suppertime that had been postponed from two weeks ago) today's other league games had taken place. The result improves Sigma's record to 4 wins, 4 ties, 10 losses for 16 points which puts them in tenth place. Hamilton United lost tonight so they are now guaranteed of finishing twelfth and being relegated. Guelph United holds eleventh place with 14 points and a game in hand and plays Blue Devils FC on Sunday afternoon. An eleventh place finish means a one game playoff with the second tier Championship Division's second place team. That would have meant a game against the runner up in the first place duel between FC London and the Toronto FC Academy (their official U-19 team) however a few days ago TFC announced they would not be competing in L1 Ontario next year now that MLS NEXT Pro is starting a U-18 Division and expects all their MLS teams to participate. Looks like the next choice is between third and fourth place teams St Catharines Roma Wolves and Unionville Millken SC who currently both have 29 points. Burlington improves to 7 wins, 2 ties, 9 losses for 23 points and are all alone in eighth place. They have fizzled after starting this season with a record of 6-0-0 out of the gate (eight opening wins when L1 Cup games are considered). Their one win since then was against Guelph. I hadn't thought of the U-23 minutes rule thinking maybe the vets were in the coach's doghouse. Vets I've watched over the years either with them or other L1O teams include Leaford Allen, Yordan Stoyanov, Daniel Jodah, and Lucas Raposo. One play that outlines their struggles was at 60 minutes when Leaford Allen who'd only come on two minutes earlier found himself with an open net on the left post with a 2 yard tap-in but he swiped at it and it spun backwards with the crowd near me raising their arms. I was even fooled with the optical illusion of seeing him strike the ball and thought it was in the net until he had to turn back. Somewhat like last week when I saw a 97th minute defender's clearance spin backwards into his own net that forced Alliance to settle for a tie with Woodbridge. Rocket Robinback to 2024 League1 Ontario menu
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