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Masters Finish Season With 2-0 Win Over Darby FC

By Mahdi Ghaffaribarzi, 09/23/18, 4:30PM EDT

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Thanks to Maleik De Freitas (47') and Cyrus Rollocks (90 + 4'), Masters FA finished their 2018 campaign with a 2-0 win over Darby FC, who had already clinched playoff status earlier in the week.

Darby had a better start to the game, largely dominating possession, but Masters began to impose themselves as the half went on. However, neither side was able to open up the opponent's defence and manage any shots on target in the first forty-five minutes.

Masters started the second half with three substitutions.

Keeper Spiridon Koskinas and Jaden Atwal, Nathan Ferguson were replaced by Justin Barrett, Sam Northcott, and Kavante Walters.

Just two minutes after the match restart, Masters took the lead through Maleik De Freitas' (47') cross slash shot on a free-kick from the right side.

After the goal, Darby pushed forward to tie it up, leaving spaces in the back-line for Masters' counter-attacks.

The most dangerous player for the host team was forward Cyrus Rollocks. His best chance was at the 66th minute, when he took on his direct marker in the corner of the box, but his final shot was beaten away by Darby keeper Ile Naumoski from close range.

Minutes later, Rollocks had another great chance, but he mis-kicked the ball right into the hands of the keeper.

On 80 minutes, Masters' substitute keeper Justin Barrett saved his side with two outstanding saves; first, he denied a bicycle kick from inside the box, and then a header from almost the same position.

In the fourth minute of the seven minutes of stoppage time, Rollocks (90'+ 4') finally found the net and finished the game off in a one-on-one situation with the keeper.

Two minutes later, Kavante Walters, who came off the bench at halftime, made his second bookable offence and was sent off as Masters finished their last game of the season with ten men and a 2-0 win.

With this result, Masters Futbol earned their second win in a row and the fourth win of the season, amassing 19 points but unable to find a spot in an eight-team playoff zone.

On the other hand, it was the third consecutive match that Darby failed to win, though they have qualified for playoffs and will have at least three more group stage games to try and get to the League1 Ontario 2018 Championship Final.

Darby will begin their playoff action next weekend away to Vaughan Azzurri (location, date and time TBA).