Durham United FC 1 - Toronto FC Academy 1

Durham United played arguably its best game of the season Friday in holding the undefeated Toronto FC Academy to a hard fought 1-1 draw in front of a lively crowd of about five hundred in Pickering.

Both teams traded opportunities in a fanatic final five minutes, in a display that showed just how exciting League1 can be.

After the game, Durham head coach Tony La Ferrara was ecstatic with his team's performance. 

"It was a good game, good fight from both teams," he said. "Right to the last minute - we were pushing, they were pushing. It was an excellent game."

Although the coach refused to highlight any single player for their performance - he said they all "worked hard," and deserved equal credit - Durham might feel unlucky to have lost the services of Joseph Roccaslava in the first half to injury.

The midfielder was causing all kinds of problems for the TFCA left flank with his probing runs. It was one of these runs, in the ninth minute, that opened the game's scoring. 

Taking a long pass from Taylor Lord, Roccaslava controlled on the first touch and hammered it home past a diving Mark Rogal. The goal was a bit against the run of play, but not unfair based on Durham's effort on the counter.

TFCA responded. The Young Reds cranked up the effort, seemingly determined not to lose their undefeated status. However, Durham stood tall in the defence and weathered the storm, even creating chances themselves on the counter.

However, when Roccaslava went down - slipping on standing water in the middle of the pitch - the game changed.

TFCA were suddenly less concerned by the left flank attacks and were able to get forward more aggressively. The equalizing goal, however, would come on a bit of a misplay. A seemingly simple ball in the thirty-second minute from about forty-five yards was ever so slightly mishandled by Durham keeper Benjamin Cowman. Under most circumstances, it was a play that would have no consequence. However, golden boot leader Molham Babouli was the player that was in the perfect spot to capitalize.

Babouli would dribble past the keeper, hold the ball a half second to allow a defender to overcommit and then slot the ball home perfectly while moving in the opposite direction of the goal.

It was a goal scorer's goal and a bit harsh on Durham, who did a wonderful job containing Babouli otherwise.

That would be all the scoring for the game, but not because of a lack of opportunities. Both teams battled hard in an action-packed second half.

The best chance to find a winner likely came in stoppage time, when TFCA's Dylan Sacramento pounced on a loose ball to fire on goal from fifteen yards. However, Cowman made up for his earlier bobble with an athletic kick save to save the points for Durham.

Despite failing to get the full three points, TFCA head coach Michael Stefano was happy with his young team's overall performance. 

"We controlled the game from start to finish," he said. "Unfortunately we got caught on one break, but overall I was pleased with the way we played."

For Stefano the end result, while important, isn't all that he's looking at when evaluating the game.

"We'd be foolish to think results don't matter," he said. "Especially at this age.  Part of their development at this age is understanding the competitive edge you need to be a pro.

"But, it's not everything. It's secondary to how we play."