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Match Recap: Vaughan Azzurri 1 - 1 Darby FC

By League1 Ontario staff, 05/21/17, 3:15PM EDT

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Vaughan Azzurri and Darby FC battled to a share of the points on the Saturday afternoon of Matchweek Four, with Darby's Selah Hopkins (20') and Vaughan's Olivia Lukasewich (71') sinking quality goals from distance to knot up the final score at 1-1.

Darby began well, pressing the Azzurri well in midfield and forcing their hosts to cough up possession in dangerous positions.

"The gameplan today, especially after a 9-0 defeat last year, it was clear to us that we needed to stay more compact and it was going to be more of a defensive task for us today than trying to play with them or out-possess them," said Darby head coach, Mirco Schroff. 

"Vaughan is a good team and every player on the team is very mature, very composed, and we knew that. We said before the game that anything can happen if we stay compact, stay connected and have that mentality to embrace the challenges and win the challenges."

Darby capitalized from just such a situation early in the half, and quickly sprung Hopkins into a mazy run from midfield that resulted in a left-footed curler dropping over the head of keeper Courtney Davis and nestling inside the back post.

"Credit to Derby, they worked hard and were organized," said Vaughan head coach, Carmine Isacco. 

"I think we thought this would be three points for us and it turned into one. A lot of us have to look in the mirror, just in regards to individual technique and the complacency - that was disheartening."

"We dominated the game, I thought," he added. "But we did make some adjustments. We went to a 4-2-4 for example."

"But today it wasn't the lack of opportunity, it was the lack of concentration in front of the net. How many open nets did we miss, how many opportunities - that is down to the execution. If we were not creating chances than there is a problem, but the chances we created were fantastic."

As the match went into the second half, Vaughan gradually began to take charge of their home fixture and probe the Derby defence, which held firm.

Lukasewich began to increasingly find space on the Darby left flank, and eventually made it count when she cut inside her defender on the edge of the box, dropped the shoulder, and hit a right footed equalizer that knuckled into the far corner.

Darby keeper Alyssa Smidgeon gave an inspired performance for the visitors, and earned the praise of manager Schroff. 

"Alyssa is only 18 years of age and new to League1, and we want to make sure that confidence grows with her, but I think in the last twenty minutes especially she was outstanding," he said.

"She was very brave always and although sometimes she needs to work on her starting position, it is getting better."

"Today we noticed that she had taken a big step forward in being more aggressive and making sure the timing was right, so certainly a good game on her part."

Vaughan will next play Durham United FA on Friday May 26 at Kinsmen Park, Pickering.

Darby will next play West Ottawa SC on Friday May 26 at South Courtice Turf, Ottawa.