July 21, 2022...The Wizard of Oz: Lawrie-Lattanzio A Standout in his First Start (from York United FC website)

THE WIZARD OF OZ: LAWRIE-LATTANZIO A STANDOUT IN HIS FIRST START

The newly-acquired Australian was in uncharted territory as a wing-back.

A first start, a first assist and three points for his new side.

Not a bad trip to Calgary for new recruit Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio.

With a multitude of players still unavailable due to injury, the Australian had barely arrived
in Toronto when he was named on the bench for the clash against Forge FC at York Lions Stadium earlier
this month, while the circumstances of his debut - coming on as a late substitute as The Nine Stripes
desperately attempted to rescue something from another home assignment against Pacific FC - were
a little frenzied.

Facing the league leaders in their own backyard saw Martin Nash change things around. With five
clean sheets in their first 11 games of the CPL season, they inexplicably leaked 12 goals in the next
four fixtures. With Roger Thompson able to continue at the heart of the defence for the clash
in Spruce Meadows, both Dominick Zator and another Aussie, Tass Mourdoukoutas, slotted in alongside him.
And as Chrisnovic N'sa was pushed higher up the pitch on the right flank, Nash elected to drop
Lawrie-Lattanzio in at the deep-end.

For the first time in his career, the 20-year-old was tasked with operating as a wing-back. And though
the Cavs targeted the area throughout the first-half with a series of diagonal balls,
Lawrie-Lattanzio's positioning and pace ensured he was never caught on his heels.

Nash's masterplan worked a treat, exemplified by what occurred just shy of the half hour mark.

Jordan Wilson picked the ball up from Isaiah Johnston on the halfway line and sprung an immediate
pass to the left side and into the path of Lawrie-Lattanzio, whose run wasn't tracked.
As Karifa Yao was forced to move across to cover, Osaze De Rosario hovered dangerously on the edge
of the six-yard area. With David Norman keeping close to Ronan Kratt, the striker had found crucial
space between the centre-back and covering midfielder Elijah Adekugbe. Now, it was up
to Lawrie-Lattanzio to find the right cross.

And as Yao got his body set in preparation for a left-footed delivery, Lawrie-Lattanzio cut onto
his right instead - showing the full value of his ambidexterity. He instantly whipped in a cross
that wrong-footed a paralysed Adekugbe and arrived perfectly for De Rosario to flick home
at the near post.

Later, as a 10-man York United held firm against a range of Cavalry attacks, Lawrie-Lattanzio
remained solid and sound defensively as the visitors ran out 1-0 winners in the end.

"I thought Luis did really well," said Nash after the game.

"He's talented and pacy and quick. I played him out of position, to be honest, but he did a job
for me tonight. A real gutsy effort from him playing as a wing-back. I'm proud of him."

It's early doors but with Diyaeddine Abzi's departure leaving a sizeable hole on the left side,
Lawrie-Lattanzio has certainly proved he's more than capable of filling it.

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