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Match Recap: North Miss 1 - 2 Durham United FA

By Anthony Gallo, 06/17/17, 3:30PM EDT

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It was a classic east meets west match at Hershey Field 1 which saw host North Mississauga Panthers go down late against Durham United FA 2-1.

The match started with Durham having two goals called back after being offside. The away side were closing in on North Mississauga, but after fourteen minutes played, the game had to be postponed due to lightning. Both teams, officials and fans had to wait just over an hour for play to resume.

After the restart, it was the home team that seemed to have more energy, and got on the board first after a nice solo run and finish from Jonathan Jebbison (20’).

Play was fairly even after the first goal, but some players were struggling with fitness due to sitting out for an hour without stretching properly.


Edward Lay (Photo: Martin Bazyl)

"It's always tough to come back from a rain delay. We probably lost a couple guys because of the conditions, because of the warm up," said Durham coach Felix Dirienzo.

In the second half, North Mississauga were dealt a decisive blow, when goalscorer Jebbison earned a red card in the 49' for his high elbow on Durham’s Bruce Cullen.

The home side were now forced to change their 4-3-3 formation into a more defensive 4-4-1.

"It was the only option I could do because they were constantly switching the ball out of the back and into the flanks," said North Mississauga head coach Sam Medeiros.

After the red card, Durham were able to create more space and push players up, making defending difficult for North Miss with only ten men.

"We didn’t have anything to lose at that point," said Dirienzo.

"We were down a goal and we came for the [win]. Even when we tied it up, [the players] weren't happy with the draw."


(Photo: Martin Bazyl)

This pressure from an experienced team like Durham was tough for a North Mississauga team that had started nine U-23 players.

"Because of our youthfulness, we didn’t recognize moments in the game to slow things down, pick up the pace or pick up the extra numbers of players pushing up," said Medeiros.

In the last ten minutes of the match, the home side were able to push forward and had two quality chances from distance, but Durham keeper Benjamin Cowman made the easy saves.

With two minutes left before added time, Durham's Edward Lay (88') fired a shot from the top of the box and slotted it bottom left past keeper Roberto Carranza-Custodio to tie the game 1-1.

Then, two minutes into added time, Durham captain Joseph Zupo (90' + 2) was able to finish off the match with a rocket of a shot from the top of the 18 yard box.


(Photo: Martin Bazyl)

Dirienzo mentioned that this match was a team win, and that even though they might not be satisfied with having to score two late goals, this win was important for the Pickering club.

"No one gave up on anybody... it was a team win."

"It wasn't pretty. We're not proud of what happened, but those types of wins are the wins that help you get over the hump sometimes."

Durham now move two points behind second placed teams North Toronto Nitros and Vaughan Azzurri and will look to grab a second straight win against Toronto FC III on June 23 at Kinsmen Park Turf Field.

With the loss, North Mississauga have now lost six games from eight matches, and sit third last in the west. They will take on Aurora FC on June 24 at Highland Park.