Rocket Robin’s Ontario Round Up

On short notice for an article for this month's edition, I will save my time-consuming analysis of League1 Ontario for the 2023 (there will be plenty of time for that in the months to come) and just go through the 2022 Final but also do a timely review of CPL York United FC and MLSNEXT Pro Toronto FC II's season as they are finished their home dates in Toronto last weekend. League1 Ontario Final: This year the final was held at its usual home, the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan. The final was held on Sunday September 3 during the Labour Day weekend and drew a good crowd of 1200. Last year because of Covid, the final was held November 7 as the entire shortened season had a late start because of pandemic fears and better than 2020 when the entire season was cancelled. The game was between the undefeated Vaughan Azzurri and Blue Devils FC (from Oakville). Vaughan could be considered the home team in fan support (they play their home games at North Maple Regional Park in Maple) but their fan base overlaps this area.

Azzurri came into the game with the best regular season record, undefeated at 18 wins, 0 losses, 3 ties for 57 points while Blue Devils finished second of the twenty two teams with 14 wins, 2 losses, 5 ties for 47 points. As reviewed in last month's edition, both got a bye from the quarterfinals and won their semifinal match. This match was played on an extremely hot summer day with a burning sun beating down. Interesting that the starting time was at 1:00pm which meant it was the hottest time of the day. No doubleheader this year (unlike 2021) as the Women's final had been held almost a full month earlier and no OneSoccer coverage. Azzurri had met Blue Devils in last year's semifinal and seemed taken aback by being presented with a supporter's trophy for finishing first in the league (they were undefeated in the 12 game schedule that year too) and awkwardly posed for pictures undoing their mindset of their pregame warmup. That game they were behind 2-0 at 25 minutes and their 72 minute goal was only a consolation. Today they changed that with goals at 15, 29, 41 (a penalty kick), and 45 minutes with Blue Devils scoring in added time. A halftime 4-1 lead and the game was in effect over. Vaughan scored again at 47 minutes that made it a hat trick for Koisochukwu Nwafornso and that was the end of any comeback chance. A 5-1 score! I had seen Vaughan nine times this season (a tenth time only got to halftime before lightning cancelled the game) and except for their first home game when they beat an evolving ProStars FC 5-1, all their games had been close. During the last half of the season, I noticed some scores coming through that they'd scored 7 or 8 goals in a game. Their last three regular season games their linescore was 7-2, 6-3, 5-2. Their 76 goals were 16 more than the next closest team. I suppose it was within chance that I'd see Vaughan breakout and it was today. Vaughan had played a preseason game against the traveling CPL HFX Wanderers who tuned up in Southern Ontario against local teams. HFX head coach Stephen Hart was so impressed that he signed forward Ryan Robinson to a contract. Later in the season another forward Orlendis Carlos Benitez Hernandez was signed to an emergency CPL contract (which was extended) to Forge FC for what turned out to be three game appearances. He had tried out for Forge in pre-season. When he came back to Vaughan, he could not regain his spot in the starting lineup. After the game Vaughan was presented with the L1O Championship trophy and that was the time that the Supporters' trophy was also given to them.

Last Friday marked the final home game for York United FC. That Friday night they kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 3-1 victory over Valour FC but they were hanging onto post season play by their fingernails for over a month. They had only won two of their first fifteen games and turned things around with winning seven of their last eleven. It was their first time taking any points from Valour in their four games this season. I remember their game at York Lions Stadium June 26, the other home game against Valour when they lost 3-1 as being the low point of the season. Their back up goalie disappeared after being on the game sheet and they almost had to use 16 year old Michael Williams when Niko Giantsopoulos was injured early but he was able to shake it off and let an outfielder take goal kicks for a time after that. York only had one regular player on the substitutes bench. They had signed six players to emergency contracts to fill their obligations. They were only brought on after the game was lost. Injuries had decimated the team and that left the remaining players having to stay in the game longer than they should have and that in turn got them injured which made the situation worse. Only bright spot that game was a goal by new signing Osaze De Rosario. Later in the season more players were signed and the team improved to become one of the hottest in the league but alas, too late. Toronto FC II

Last Saturday was the final home game of Toronto FC II of the new MLS NEXT Pro league. It is a collection of the II, 2, and B teams of the MLS squads pulled out of the USL Championship and League One divisions. There are still some marooned there for this season. One independent (non-affiliated) team and no future restrictions so sounds like some kind of tug of war within the American soccer structure.

TFC II made the playoffs for the first time in the eight year history of the team. At the beginning of the season, I was worried about how they would fit in as they had sank to USL League One a few seasons ago but that turned out to be more about lower stadium standards required than the USL Championship. They could no longer play at their training centre and so rented out York Lions Stadium (also the home of York United FC). I've been told it was because of broadcasting standards of the league. Strange because although the games are live-streamed, as soon as the game is over, nothing exists but a two minute highlight package even if the game goes to penalty kicks to break a tie (a bonus point is given to the team that wins that). The team actively discouraged fans from coming out to their games. I should have framed their e-mail reply. I initially thought it was because of the Covid restrictions that were ending most everywhere. I was scared off from even trying to get into their home opener but the second home game I took my chances. The security team had a clipboard and only their selected guests could get in (translation: relatives of the players). It might have been easier to get in to the El Mo to see The Rolling Stones then here. I wasn't going to stand outside against the iron gates for two hours and was ready to turn home after the national anthem when a game day official announced to the ten of us still there “Does anyone else want to come in?” and I took him up on his invite. Future games it was still the same procedure but a game day official I nicknamed 'Tiger Woods 2005' (when the golfer looked his best) would see me with my 'sad puppy in a pet store look', point and say, “And let that guy in”. Security must have relaxed as the crowds eventually grew to 400+ which is a lot of friends and relatives.

Saturday's playoff game was held at BMO Field while the MLS was on an international break. I expect York was impossible to rent out now that school was back in session. Although the main subway line was not running on the weekend (happens about once every three weeks while a crosstown link is built) it was a good night out with a crowd of about 1000 understandably squeezed into a few sections of the 30,000 seat stadium so the security and concessions staff could be kept to a minimum. Free admission. TFC had played two regular season games here after MLS games. I expect sometime in the off season someone in their office will answer my e-mail if I can see their BMO Field games if I don't have an MLS ticket.

TFC II scored at 5 minutes with a goal by Hugo Mbongue (right) and that goal stood up for the 90. Philadelphia Union II had some visa issues and had a bench of four outfield players and a spare goalie. Five of their leading seven scorers were not here.

TFC II move on to play on the road against Columbus Crew 2 this Sunday as Crew is the top seed in the Eastern Division. The four playoff teams in the West all have more points than TFC II so they would host if TFC pulled the upset. Crew 2 have some Canadian fans with players including exCPLer Ryan Telfer and Mo Farsi, and league MVP Jacen Russell-Rowe who was in the TFC Academy for many years. Telfer was also a TFC II player. TFC II is always a good place to see homegrown talent. Hugo Mbongue was just signed to the MLS club as the 35th ever home grown player. I expect goaltender Luka Gavran (below right) should be given a serious look at moving up to the big club as analysts have been saying there will be a review of goaltending needs for next season. Rocket Robin

robing@eol.ca You can always follow Robin on Twitter @RocketRobin01 If you haven’t already, please visit his excellent website. An amazing record on soccer in the Greater Toronto Area.