Sun Devils torment Croatia
July 25, 2003 Author: Soccer Online - It's Called Futbol
July 25, 2003
The conditions were perfect for soccer on a calm cool Friday evening at Dufferin Clark Stadium…but only the home team showed up ready to play. The result -- a convincing 4-0 victory for the Vaughan Sun Devils over a struggling Toronto Croatia in Canadian Professional Soccer League action.
Joe Todaro opened the scoring after 27 evenly contested minutes had elapsed -- the first of two goals for the fleet Sun Devils striker. Croatia defenders failed to clear the ball in a scramble in front of their goal, and the opportunistic Vaughan striker was first to lay claim to the bouncing sphere and volley it past goalkeeper George Aczura.
Sloppy Croatia defending was a recurring theme on this evening. Again, in the 52nd minute, Croatia defenders failed to dispose of a harmless crossing pass in their penalty area. Sun Devils midfielder Andre Rollins – who seemed to be in thick of the action for the entire 90 minutes – pounced on the miscue and slotted the ball underneath Azcura from close range.
Rollins’ goal seemed to sap all the energy out of a weary Croatia squad, which was already lacking bench reinforcements due to suspensions and injuries. The visiting team prepared to insert speedy striker Haliburto Harris into the match, but before he could set foot on the field, Todaro struck again, in the 59th minute. This time Rollins became the provider, as he intercepted a weak Croatia lateral pass and sent Todaro in alone on Azcura from the right side. Todaro smartly dispatched a low drive into the far side of the goal.
With 250 home supporters urging them on, the Sun Devils players pressed forward and were soon rewarded with an astonishing fourth goal in the 81st minute. Substitute Fitzroy Powell received the ball by the sideline, 35 yards from the Croatia goal. He quickly struck a long skyward shot – some would swear it was a crossing pass – which swerved wickedly in the air and began plummeting toward the far top corner of the goal behind Azcura. The Croatia goalkeeper heroically dived backward to tip the ball against the crossbar, but the ensuing rebound was calmly tapped into the gaping goal by Sun Devils striker Paul Sinisi.
After the match, the Toronto Croatia players were gracious in defeat. “They’re younger and they play fast,” commented veteran Croatia midfielder Samir Karaga. “We lost the midfield, but I think we have a couple of guys coming into the team from Croatia who will help us. I expect us to play much better.”
Sun Devils owner Tony DeThomasis was beaming as his team improved its league won-lost-tied record to 2-1-3. “We’re really playing well.” he remarked. “Croatia was missing some of its better players, but we have more speed and team play than we had last year.”
The Sun Devils players were equally jubilant after the match: “If we keep on playing this way, there’s no telling what we can do,” exclaimed veteran defender Tony Marshall during the post-game celebrations on the field. “The sky is the limit.”
Sun Devils coach Dave Benning was slightly more reserved in his assessment of the match, but even he could only speak positively about his team’s display. “We have depth this year, and we are also getting a bit luckier than we did last year,” he observed. “The ball is bouncing for us now and we’re clicking. Most importantly, when each guy gets a chance to play, he is performing well.”
“We’re flying right now,” agreed Todaro after the match. “For my first game back (from injury), things went well. I couldn’t ask for more. I think we’ll do well in the Cups.”
Match Rating: 4 out of 5
The Sun Devils have transformed themselves into quite an entertaining outfit. With no-nonsense veterans like Tilley, Marshall and Smith at the rear, a solid midfield of DeThomasis, Rollins, Giumarra and a surplus of potent attackers, the entertainment value at Dufferin-Clark is much improved from last year.
Although Friday’s match was one-sided, the goals and action were plentiful, the spectators were noisy and the on-field nonsense was kept to a minimum. It was heartening, again, to see so many young Glen Shields players taking in the match. Their presence has certainly added to the buoyant atmosphere that is pervading the Sun Devils’ matches this season. Winning helps too.
Futnotes: Dave Benning argues that Fitzroy’s Powell’s 81st-minute shot should win goal-of-the-year honours. “You’ll only see shots like that in the Premiership!” declared the Sun Devils’ head coach.
It is still debatable whether or not Powell actually scored the goal – officially awarded to Paul Sinisi -- and even more uncertain what his intent was when he unleashed the shot/pass. Still, the strike was a sight to behold once it left his foot.
Stay tuned: On Monday Aug.3, the CPSL’s Open Canada Cup Round-Three triple-header at Dufferin Clark takes place. Kanata SC plays the Toronto Supra at 3:00 p.m., the Sun Devils tackle the Metro Lions at 5:30 p.m. and London City takes on London AEK at 8:00 p.m., in what should be a fiercely contested derby match.
Former National Soccer League president and Toronto Italia owner Rocco Lofranco cannot help but make a big splash when he enters the pool. Less than two weeks after joining the Hamilton Thunder front office, Lofranco has brought in his former Italia coach Ivan Markovic to coach the team, leaving Duncan Wilde – who had brought the team to the top of the Western Conference table – as the odd man out. Wilde and most of his assistants announced that they were leaving the club last week, and Markovic has brought in several recruits from Croatia to solidify his roster.
Judging by the Thunder’s first result under Markovic -- a 3-0 loss at Cove Road against London City on Friday night -- it will take some time for Hamilton’s new recruits to gel with the old regime.
Watch for more news coming out of Hamilton shortly.
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