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Match Recap: FC London 1 - 2 Toronto Azzurri Blizzard

By League1 Ontario staff, 05/21/17, 4:15PM EDT

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FC London dropped their first home league loss ever in League1 Ontario play on Saturday of Matchweek Four after Toronto Azzurri Blizzard came to town and won 2-1 with a late Rebecca Bartosh (82') goal.   

Bartosh benefitted from a scramble in the box following a Blizzard corner, and stuck away the winner in a match that was very much a tactical battle. 

"We had a gameplan and we stuck to it," said Blizzard coach, Ron Clarke. 

"Coming here and getting a point would have been big, to get three is tremendous. London has never lost at home, so for us this was a massive victory and a good start. We have a lot of players that are gelling, they were being disciplined, and I thought we played a great game."

"This was a tactical battle between [FCL head coach] Mike [Marcoccia] and I," revealed Clarke.

"We're good friends and I knew it would be a chess match. We ended up getting the advantage this time. I felt confident we could get at least get a point." 


(Photo: SGL247MEDIA/FC LONDON)

2016 League1 Ontario MVP and Golden Boot winner Jade Kovacevic (7') had her second in two matches with an early penalty for the Londoners, but Diamond Simpson (18') responded shortly thereafter with a free kick that eluded everyone to drop-in at the back post. 

"We tell the players if they see an opportunity, take it," said Clarke. "I don't care how it goes in as long as it does go in. If we see opportunity, we're a high risk team, we will always go for it."

Both teams had outstanding forwards, but neither side in their build-up play could find a way through the well-organized defensive lines on both sides. 

"We have a lot of strikers on our team, and a lot of strength," said Clarke. 

"I think that is going to be our mantra this season, we're going to be an up and down team. The strength and speed we have with our forwards will be very dangerous throughout the season I think."


FC London (Photo: SGL247MEDIA/FC LONDON)

"From a striking standpoint, our striker is the league MVP from last year and the top goal-scorer," said Marcoccia. 

"She destroyed their back four tonight, she tore them apart all night, and was creating multiple chances. She won that battle tonight but just couldn't finish the last bit, which is completely normal."

FC London will next play West Ottawa SC on Saturday May 27 at German Canadian Club, London.

Toronto Azzurri Blizzard will next play Unionville Milliken SC on Sunday May 28 at Azzurri Village Main, Toronto. 


Toronto Azzurri Blizzard (Photo: SGL247MEDIA/FC LONDON)