October 31, 2021 League1 Ontario Men's Premier--Semi-Final Vaughan Azzurri vs Blue Devils FC game report (by Rocket Robin)

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Result and details of the Sunday October 31, 2021 League1 Ontario game between Vaughan Azzurri and Blue Devils FC
played at North Maple Regional Park in Maple at 2:00pm. This was one of the semi-finals to decide the teams
in the L1O playoff championship next Sunday.

Vaughan Azzurri (all navy, white numbers, red trim)

.................1 Christian Calabro
2 Jarred Phillips...15 Reginald Laryea...18 Alain Sargeant...4 Daniel Cramarossa
8 Orlendis Carlos Benitez Hernandez...13 Jason Gajadhar...21 Dylan Carriero...5 Raheem Rose (cpt)
...........10 Jason Mills...17 Ryan Robinson

Subs:...12 Filip Zendelek (gk)...6 Julian De Sousa...7 Jahsua Mills...9 Dujon Martin
...11 Gianluca Sciortino...14 Justyn Thomas...16 Thomas Bielanski...19 Jesse Andoh...20 Zac Zitoli
team officials:...head coach Patrice Gheisar...assistant coaches Anthony Vadori, Jorden Feliciano, and
Sergio De Luca...manager Nick Raimondo...therapist Esaban Clavijo

Blue Devils FC (all white uniforms, black numbers)

.................1 Lucas Birnstingle
18 Carlo Difeo...5 Shaq Lowe...11 Adam Czerkawski...2 Zac Drake
..........6 Victor Gallo (cpt)...7 Matt Santos...9 David Velastegui
.........17 Brandon Duarte...25 Leaford Allen...16 Khody Ellis

Subs:...26 Ethan Cagalj (gk)...8 Faris Ammari...12 Cyrus Rollocks...19 Evan James
...20 Hitesh Joshi...21 Guramol Pabla...23 Milos Grahovac...24 Mario McLellan
team officials:...head coach cuncan Wilde...assistant coaches Billy Steele and Glenn McNamara
...manager Kim Ashton...therapist Mark Heathcote

Game officials:...referee Hassane Rifai...referee's assistants Jason Vaillancourt and Ryan Schwenger
...fourth official not listed...(neon green shirts, black short and socks)

First Half:...game starts 2:05pm...VA defends north end on this cool sunny afternoon with a strong wind from the west.
1 min...BD Allen tries to elude VA Laryea on right but rolls ball over end line.
2 min...VA Phillips chest ball back from 6 yards to goalie on BD player's cross from right.
3 min...BD goalie beats VA Robinson to through ball up middle.
5 min...VA Carriero blasts 25 yarder from left and wins cornerkick as ball misses tor right corner of net.
5 min...VA Carriero cornerkick from right results in goalkick although ball look like it deflected off defender behind end line.
8 min...BD Santos low 18 yard shot is stopped and cleared by VA Phillips at 6 yard line.
10 min...VA Hernandez run on right ad cross near end line deflects off BD Drake.
10 min...VA Carriero cornerkick from right has BD Drake head ball on right high over box.
11 min...VA Carriero 30 yard shot deflects off defender that goalie catches.
12 min...Blue Devils Leaford Allen GOAL...Allen holds off VA Reginald Laryea on run down left enough for card but
cutting to middle and rolls 12 yards hot into right corner with goalie Christian Calabro protecting near post.
13 min...VA Rose can't save through ball pass rolling is over end line on left before he can cross.
15 min...VA Gajadhar surives bumps in middle to chip 35 yarder down middle that VA Hernandez can't keep in on right
end line.
18 min...VA Rose and Carriero 33 yard freekick tap-over down is blasted down middle and well over net and back fence.
19 min...VA Hernandez low cross from 25 yards on right is stopped by BD Drake.
21 min...BD Velastegui 45 yard freekick from left has BD player on right end line head ball away from box for VA throw-in.
22 min...BD long throw-in from left has BD Allen pop header over box from near side and defender clears.
22 min...BE Allen blasts 20 yarder from slight left just over bar.
24 min...BD YELLOW card...Santos earns it for grabbing VA Jason Mills on run up left.
25 min...Blue Devils Leaford Allen GOAL...VA Dylan Carriero takes 30 yard freekick from right that defender heads
away and starts fast break. BD Matt Santos passes to Allen who rushes in from 45 yards on right holding off
VA Reginald Laryea and blasts 18 yarder from right over goalie just under bar in center of net.
26 min...BD Czerkawski needs trainer for head injury at BD 30 yard line.
32 min...VA Hernandez cross from 15 yard line on right has flying BD Difeo head ball outside lelft side of box.
34 min...VA Carriero cross from right has BD Duarte head ball away from 6 yard box.
36 min...BD Allen double teamed in left corner and can't win Penalty kick.
38 min...BD Velastegui cornerkick from right has goalie catch in crowd of players.
39 min...BD Ellis high cross from riht has BD player not able to control ball in VA box.
40 min...BD Santos cornerkick from left is low and cleared back to him on near post. He then crosses high over box
for VA throw-in.
41 min...BD YELLOW card...Lowe earns it on a delayed call for knock down at VA 40 yard line.
42 min...VA Jasson Mills taps back in box has VA player's shot deflect out of bounds.
42 min...VA Phillips long throw-in from right is headed away in box.
43 min...BD YELLOW card...Velastegui earns it for grab on VA Jason Mills at BD 30 yard line.
44 min...VA Carriero 30 yard freekick chip down middle is just high and wide left.
45 min...VA YELLOW card...Jason Mills earns it for chop on VD Ellis at center line who had just clipped
VA Duarte that went unpunished. Ellis needs trainer.
48 min...BD Gallo 55 yard freekick down left is wide left for goalkick as the wind had died.
49 min...half ends 2:54pm.

Second Half:...starts 3:13pm...There's now a bright sun in the south west and a strong wind from the west.
Since I'm on the player's bench side, I had the sun and wind at my back but it wouldn't be so great for
the fans squinting into the sun.
48 min...VA Hernanadez high cross from right hangs in wind and defender clears. VA Phillips cross into box
and defender clears.
50 min...BD Velastegui cornerkick from right is over BD Czerkawski on left side of bocc and out for throw-in.
50 min...BD YELLOW card...Czerkawski earns it for injurying VA player at VA 40 yard line.
51 min...VA Carriero cross from left into 6 yard box and flying BD Lowe heads ball forward and away.
52 min...VA Hernandez 25 yard shot from right is high wide left.
55 min...VA Carriero cornerkick from left lands 6 yard box but is cleared.
55 min...VA Rose cuts around defender running to center and 15 yard shot is caught by goalie in center of net.
56 min...A BD goal is called back as it was flagged offside almost 10 seconds earlier.
56 min...BD Allen is injured at BD 40 yard line and needs trainer.
59 min...VA Hernandez can't win Penalty kick on bump at top right of BD box.
61 min...BD sub...Rollocks replaces Allen.
62 min...VA Rose eventual cross from left wins a cornerkick on deflection.
63 min...BD YELLOW card...Difeo earns it for flattening VA player at BD 45 yard line.
64 min...BD Gallo 25 yard freekick from left is high over net.
66 min...VA Robinson and VA Rose in multi-pass play down left and into box has 7 yard shot from left swatted wide
left on short side by goalie.
67 min...VA cornerkick from left is eventually called offside and BD goalie is injured and needs trainer.
69 min...VA Rose cornerkick from left is low and through box and cleared.
71 min...VA Carriero and VA Hernandez work up quick freekick from center line upfield and Carriero blasts 20 yard shot
from left is over net.
72 min...Vaughan Dylan Carriero GOAL...A VA player had shot a 30 yarder up the middle which was only
partially cleared. Carriero blasts 18 yarder low up the left under diving goalie Lucas Birnstingle into
short left side of net.
73 min...BD Difeo long throw-in from right is headed away in box.
75 min...VA Carriero cornerkick from right can't win a hand ball call and ball is cleared from the box.
75 min...BD Rollocks blasts 25 yarder high from left over net and back fence.
77 min...VA sub...Bielanski replaces Gajadhar.
77 min...VA Hernandez run down right and cuts cross on end line and wins cornerkick on deflection.
78 min...VA Hernandez cornerkick from right has VA Laryea in crowd of players head 6 yarder over net.
79 min...BD sub...Grahovac replaces Velastegui.
79 min...VA Carriero is tapped freekick from 50 yards on right ad he rushes down field and rolls 18 yarder wie right.
81 min...BD players 35 yard freekick is batted up then caught by goalie in crowd of players at 8 yards.
82 min...VA Cramarossa chips ball forward on left but VA Robinson can't keep it in play on flick.
83 min...VA goalie is wide right of net clearing ball off BD Rollocks for goalkick.
84 min..VA Hernandez chips 30 yarder from right and VA player tries cross but collides and injures BD goalie on end line.
85 min...VA sub...Jahsua Mills replaces Sargeant.
87 min...VA Rose rush down right and 25 yard low shot is wide right.
88 min...VA Rose cross is high and held up in wind and defenders are able to clear.
89 min...BD Rollocks with ball from 45 yards on right with VA Laryea shadowing him rolls 15 yard shot to diving goalie.
90 min...VA Robinson has shot blocked from 20 yards.
90 min...VA Rose cornerkick from right wins another cornerkick.
90 min...VA Rose cornerkick is cleared from box.
91 min...VA Cramarossa high cross from 35 yards is caught by goalie.
93 min...VA Jason Mills holds off defender on right to shoot 15 yarder wide right of net.
93 min...BD YELLOW card...goalie Birnstingle earns it for time wasting.
84 min...BD Drake 33 yard shot from elft is wide right a being tackled and injured and wins freekick and needs trainer.
95 min...BD Gallo 30 yard freekick from left deflects off player wall to diving goalie.
96 min...VA Hernandez corxnerkick from right has defender pop out on left. VA Robinson has 22 yard shot blocked and ball
is cleared to end the game.
96 min...game ends 4:04pm.

Final Score:.....Vaughan Azzurri.....1.......Blue Devils FC........2......

Attendance climbed to about 150 by the second half on a cool but bright sunny day with a strong crossfield
wind from the west which had a great effect on crosses and cornerkicks.

Referee Hassane Rifai who I've seen officiate often over the years and gives out very few cards gave out
seven Yellows that I counted (six to Blue Devils). Blue Devils were pulling down Vaughan players when
there was a threat of break-ins. The second half was dominated with the action in the Blue Devils end
with Leaford Allen left all alone until his injury at 56 minutes and finally subbing off at 61 minutes
with Cyrus Rollocks who played the same position but was not able to get away a shot on target until
a roller from a bad angle at 89 minutes.

Vaughan players started complaining that the Blue Devils were time wasting from about the 30 minute mark
from how long it took BD goalie Lucas Birnstingl to pick up a ball behind the net and mock counting how
long to take a goal kick. At halftime Birnstingl told a Vaughan official something like “I'm not
required to run, where are the ball boys?”. That was enough to get the official to draft six boys
to put on a pinney and spread out to keep a ball available. The field is surrounded by chain link fence
so there's a danger the kid would get smashed by a ball standing close to the sidelines but only
if he was seven years old so it was teenagers who were recruited and kept the game moving.

I'll have to give credit to the Blue Devils backline of Carlo Difeo, Shaq Lowe, Adam Czerkawski,
and Zack Drake in keeping the number of shots directly at Birnstingl to a minimum.

Leaford Allen had a great day as the only true upfield forward getting played in with a lot of long balls.
He ended up being in alone against Reggie Laryea and just pushed him off the ball. Laryea could only
do so much with being the last man back and risking being Red carded with a football tackle so tried
to turn him to the outside. There was a huge size difference.

At the end of an interview with the L1O media guy after the game where the defender remained nameless,
I mentioned to Allen that this was a Canadian national team player's brother and he of course knew
and said to me they used to play and practice with each other when they were both with Sigma FC.
Yes! I had been at a few of their games...yeah as recently as 2019, the season before the pandemic.

The result sets up the L1O Men's Premier Final (against last night's other semi-final winner
Guelph United FC) next Sunday November 7th at Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 5:00pm. At 2:00pm
the Women's Final will be held at the same stadium. Neither the choice of stadium nor 'ladies play
first' credo is different than previous years. This will be the first women's game I will attend
this season which is no different than other years but I don't have the time trying to see so many
men's games. There were a few seasons when Toronto Lady Lynx were my favourite team even with
the start of MLS Toronto FC.

An overall great day for the Blue Devils as their women's team has made the finals and will play
Woodbridge Strikers. Ooh that means I can see a former Lady Lynx player as Christabel Oduro
of Woodbridge played for the Lady Lynx in 2010.

Maybe a jinx for Vaughan was being presented with a L1O trophy before the game for finishing with
the most points in the shortened 12 game regular season. No prior team names were on the trophy
from previous years so I'd say the hardware was 'new'. It's much smaller than the Championship
trophy to be given out next week (that makes sense). The league must have the 'Cup' trophy put
in storage somewhere and probably never presented again because clubs have so many teams to get
through in a normal season there isn't time for a separate competition anymore.

*The cup is named the 'Supporters Trophy' and is sponsored by the supporter's group The Rogue
Street Elite which is a group supporting North Mississauga SC. More notorious this year in that
they got Blue Devils FC banned from their home field this year--Bronte Park when some tough guys
roughed up a parking lot attendant.

Vaughan had an 11 win, 1 tie season in their seven team Eastern Conference. Both finalists this
year are from the eight team Western Conference though. Was that conference stronger? Well today
after attending my 29th L1O game this season I'd say 'No'. Last night's 11 round Penalty shoot
out to decide a winner could have gone either way and today was a close one but I don't know
if Vaughan would scored even with another half hour. Next year they should be back to a full
season with possibly all the teams piled into one conference and possibly without a division
split much like happened this year with some teams who were full of college players ducking down
to the 'championship' division to play an even shorter season that broke up at the end of August.
With more teams joining next year, this may be a wise choice rather than a strictly East/West
breakdown where Toronto is the great divide and more than half the teams are within the GTA
anyway so geography doesn't really matter. East/West this year worked well enough (better
than the original plan of four conferences of four teams when Covid rules were even more
restrictive). There were still teams in each conference getting pounded most games. Maybe
promotion/relegation is a possibility? Right now new teams are buying the licences
of non-Premier league teams so it looks like Aurora FC and Toronto Skillz will never be back.

There will be no awards banquet this year but a Zoom conference call where individual trophies
will be awarded. Hopefully there will be a 'state of the league address' given.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01

Vaughan players with the Supporters Trophy for finishing first in the league.