skip navigation

Vaughan Rounds Out Perfect Group Stage With 3-2 Defeat Of London

By Mike Albert, 10/14/18, 11:00AM EDT

Share

It was a cool and rainy Friday evening in London as the hosts and Vaughan played their last round robin game in Group A.

FC London was playing for pride as they had been eliminated from the finals last week, which combined with Vaughan's perfect record helped punch the Azzurri's ticket to the finals.

Vaughan struck early in the first half after earning a corner in the first minute, with striker Mario Kovacevic (2') powering a header past FC London keeper Sokalski.

The goal galvanized the hosts, with London then starting to knock the ball around and gain momentum.

It paid off in just over ten minutes, with FC London's Ethan Gopaul driving down the left side and slamming a shot off the far post.Teammate Sean Fawsitt (15') was in the right spot at the right time to put the rebound behind Vaughan keeper Matt George to level the score at 1-1.

FC London continued to put pressure on the Vaughan back-line, and just fifteen minutes later London's Seymour smashed a great effort off the crossbar. London had turned the tables from the early deficit and were quickly growing in presence.

Vaughan had a great chance to reclaim the lead minutes later when Kovacevic was sent in on goal, but his shot missed the net and left the 1-1 scoreline intact at half.

The second frame started the same as the first, with Vaughan scoring an early goal to retake the lead; Jashua Mills (46') was given a great ball across the box that he buried behind Sokalski.

Once again, FC London was able to respond. July's Gatorade Player of the Month, Connor Wilson, pressured the Vaughan keeper into making an error that conceded possession. Wilson quickly found teammate Mohamed Reza Nafar (53'), who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.

Late in the game Vaughan was able to seal the victory and their perfect round robin record when substitute and former Canadian youth national Massimo Mirabelli (90' + 1') calmly placed the ball behind Sokalski.

FC London's season come to end with the loss, but the Southern Ontario side will be well able to hold their heads high after securing the best record in the regular season.

Vaughan will shift their focus to the finals as they await the winner of Group B.

The League1 Ontario 2018 Championship Final will take place at the Ontario Soccer Centre, Toronto on October 20 (3 p.m.).