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Match Recap: FC London 0 - 3 Oakville Blue Devils

By League1 Ontario staff, 05/20/17, 8:45PM EDT

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Oakville Blue Devils showed a continuation of the type of form that brought them the League1 championship in 2015, with a 3-0 away win over 2016 League1 finalists FC London on Friday night. 

The win marks the third in a row for the Oakville side, who are coming off a spectacular 3-2 comeback victory over Toronto FC III in their previous fixture. 

Anthony Novak (20') and Judah Hernandez (33') did the business for the Blue Devils in the first half against London, forcing the home side to have to risk numbers forward in the second half and leave space behind to attack. 

The Blue Devils found this space and more when Victor Gallo (87') tallied a remarkable insurance goal from 40 yards over the head of London keeper Anthony Sokalaski.


(Photo: SGL247MEDIA/FC LONDON)

"London is a very good team and if you switch off for a second they can hurt you," said Oakville head coach, Duncan Wilde.

"You have to be concentrated here for 90 minutes. They play with energy, they look to release their front men, they are not afraid to attack at all." 

"We came here with a defensive type of road game, to try and contain, and try and take our chances when they came," he added. 

"It worked well for us in the first half and the third one was really a bonus goal, I think he's just hit a speculative effort from the half-way line and I think the game was done by then." 

"The work-rate and the effort and the togetherness in the squad is growing week by week and with Felipe [Vilela] missing tonight and a few others not back yet - this bodes well for the future. We're excited right now, this is a good start to the season."


Oakville Blue Devils (Photo: SGL247MEDIA/FC LONDON)

At the other end, Blue Devils keeper Matt George kept a clean sheet - his second of the last four games. FC London had much of the ball, but could not find a way to truly threaten George in the Oakville net.

"We had some problems today controlling the game, although we managed it for long periods," said FC London assistant coach, Eduard Schmidt. 

"Coming into the final third though we couldn't create enough to win the game today. We had some issues in the transition moments also, just as we had in weeks before."

"They used the chances they had, and having won 3-0 it is clear they were the better team, and congratulations to them for that," he continued. "We need to continue working on our patience in the final third, and focus on moving the opponent more. We were too static in the final third as well." 

"Next week is a new start but there is a very bitter feeling right now," Schmidt concluded. 

"You don't want to lose like this, there were two goals from outside the box and it's just frustrating." 

FC London will next play Pro Stars FC on Friday May 26 at Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton.

Oakville Blue Devils will next play North Mississauga Panthers on Sunday May 28 at Sheridan College Campus, Oakville. 


FC London (Photo: SGL247MEDIA/FC LONDON)