Still in it: North Toronto could make a late playoff surge
Important Friday night matches
The first of two games on Friday is Alliance United visiting Hamilton United, a must-win if Alliance want to get back in the playoff positions. Alliance have one win in their last five matches and are currently below Burlington on goal difference, so points dropped this weekend could be costly with just two fixtures remaining.
Darby also take on Simcoe County Rovers – two teams in good form. Rovers have only lost one game in their last eight and have won the rest; meanwhile, Darby are undefeated in their last six – the longest run in their five years in the Men’s Premier Division.
Movement all over the table
Starting Saturday’s soccer action is Unionville Milliken’s trip to Electric City. Both are struggling with form; Unionville are currently only one point off the bottom of the table and have conceded three or more goals in their last three games, and Electric City have fallen out of the playoffs after losing their last two matches. As favourites to win, could the Peterborough side claw some points back? Ticket proceeds from this game will go towards supporting the great work done by Canopy Cares Support Fund.
Ninth-placed North Toronto Nitros face St Catherines Roma Wolves with both teams looking to change their fortunes; they have identical records of two wins in their last five matches. The Nitros also have a game in hand on teams above and could still make the playoffs.
Also hunting for the final playoff spot are tenth-placed Sigma who face FC London. Sigma sit five points out of the playoffs but could gain six points in their remaining two games, giving them an outside chance of the postseason. FC London are four points behind them in the table.
At the other end of the standings, North Mississauga have a match against ProStars which they will want to win to create some space between themselves and Master’s FA who are two points behind them. ProStars have lost six of their last eight games.
Who can make their last games count?
A pressure-filled Sunday
Master’s FA will apply some pressure when they play one of four matches on Sunday. They face bottom side BVB IA Waterloo, and if Master’s were to win then it would be their third victory in a row for the first time since 2019. Waterloo will be fighting for three points that could help them climb from the foot of the standings.
At the top of end of the table Vaughan Azzurri visit Blue Devils in an almighty clash that could see the Azzurri secure second position and the final bye spot in the playoffs.
Vaughan secured a top-six spot after their midweek 1-0 win against North Mississauga, and if they are victorious again this weekend, they’ll go six points clear of Blue Devils. Yet, if the hosts win, both teams will be sitting on the same number of points heading into a nailbiting last game of the season.
Woodbridge Strikers and Guelph United face each other as they both fight Burlington in the Road to 2024 and regular-season tables respectively. A win for either team would be vital; Woodbridge are just 1.5 points behind Burlington and teeter on the dotted line for next season, whereas Guelph are only two points ahead in the playoff race and currently sit fifth.
Burlington will be facing 14th-placed Windsor City in a crucial game for the Bayhawks. Windsor have not won in their last three matches, whereas Burlington are unbeaten in four with Augustus Oku scoring six goals in three appearances.