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Nitros Stun Sigma With 3-1 Result At Varsity Stadium

By League1 Ontario staff, 07/18/16, 6:15PM EDT

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North Toronto Nitros continued a brilliant start to their first League1 Ontario season, taking down the west division first-place side Sigma FC 3-1 at University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium. 

"I think [North Toronto] did a great job at defending, we had twelve corners for instance and I don't think we got a head on any of them," said Sigma head coach, Bobby Smyrniotis. 

"We had the opportunities from that aspect and you always expect something on net from one of those, but unfortunately it never came and they did a great job of hitting on the counter," he added. 

"They put us on the back foot and then we had to open up at the end of the match, which led to their third goal."

Nikolay Saveliev (21') put the Nitros ahead early, but current Golden Boot leader Leaford Allen (45') leveled terms for Sigma just before the half-time break. 

"Leaford's work ethic has been great, he's done a great job for us working up top, and he has a great attitude about the game in that he keeps on going," said Sigma FC head coach, Bobby Smyrniotis. 

"He knows that he only needs one or two chances in a game, and he had one right before he scored and then the second he finished right away. He's doing a good job out there."

North Toronto appeared to come out with fresh resolve in the second half, and were rewarded for their focus and industry after Killian Elkinson (61') grabbed his fifth goal in four league outings, and Russell Rodrigues (85') completed three on the day for Nitros with a marker just before full-time.

"I think we played too much with Sigma in the first half, allowing them too much time in possession and letting them do what they wanted," said North Toronto head coach, Hermann Kingue. "However, we adjusted in the second half by exploiting the space behind the defence and that is how we got those two goals." 

"We all know Killian's ability," he added. "Killian is a former player for Toronto FC and there is no doubt that he makes a difference out there." 

Sigma remains atop the west division standings with 31 points, but FC London is only three points behind and has two matches in hand. 

North Toronto is in fifth position in the east division, but hold matches in hand on all four teams above them. 

North Toronto will play next on July 24 (3 p.m.) at University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium against Toronto FC Academy.

Sigma FC will play Woodbridge Strikers on July 23 (4 p.m.) at Hershey Centre, Mississauga - a match-up between the top teams from both west and east divisions.