2010 Ontario Cup Final -- U16B T1 Ajax Strikers 4 v 2 Woodbridge Strikers (Shoot-Out)

VAUGHAN, ON -- The Under 16 boys Tier 1 game kicked off at 3:00 pm in windy conditions, so both teams had to concentrate throughout the game to prevent any mistakes.

The first real chance on goal came in the 8th minute when a through-ball put #7 Luke Melosso through on goal, but he dragged his shot just wide of the post.

It was Melosso again with the next chance of the game when he met a deep ball at the back post, but his header failed to hit the target. It was the Ajax right winger who looked the most likely to break the deadlock in this game.

The first chance for Woodbridge came when their #7 Joseph Cicchillo broke free in the box and whipped a left-foot shot across the goalkeeper, but he had nothing to worry about as it curled wide of the goal and out of play for a goal kick.

Ajax hit back quickly, though, and opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when a defence-splitting through-ball put #15 Jay Chapman, running deep from the midfield, through on goal and he lofted the ball over the keeper and into the net to give the Ajax Strikers a 1-0 lead in the Under 16 Boys Tier 1 Final.

At half-time, the Ajax Strikers went into the break with a 1-0 lead having dominated most of the half.

Woodbridge had to come out and attack in the second half if they were to redeem themselves in this game.




And that's exactly what they did when, in the 48th minute, a Woodbridge free-kick was lofted deep to the back post.

The Ajax defenders tried to push out and leave the Woodbride attackers off-side, but this failed and the ball found #17 Mikhail Farquharson whose header sailed wide of the goal.

It was an auspicious start to the second half for the Woodbridge Strikers

However, the Ajax Strikers quickly countered and extended their lead in the 50th minute when a cross found #16 Bruce Cullen running in.

His header left the keeper stranded as the ball found the back of the net to give Ajax a 2-0 lead and solidifying their claim to the Ontario Cup.

Woodbridge missed a huge chance to get back in the game in the 56th minute when #7 Joesph Cicchillo had a great chance as the ball fell to him in the six yard box, but Ajax goalkeeper #1 Benjamin Cowman pulled off a magnificent save to deny the Woodbridge midfielder.

The rebound then fell back to Cicchillo who squared to his teammate #20 Alton Woods-Alexander, but his effort from 8 yards out flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

With the Woodbridge supporters getting desperate and staring to to invoke the higher spirits, the Strikers finally did find the net in the 69th minute when #7 Joey Cicchillo brought down a long ball, ducked inside and unleashed a perfect strike into the bottom corner to get his team back into the game.

Shortly after, they had another chance to get the equalizer when #17 Alton Woods-Alexander stepped up to a free kick 25 yards from goal.

He bent the ball around the wall and it looked destined for the top corner but for an unbelievable save from the Ajax goalkeeper Benjamin Cowman who somehow got a hand to the ball and pushed it away from danger.

Woodbridge pressed hard in their search for an equalizer and they thought it came when Woods-Alexander was put through on goal, but his powerful effort flew inches over the crossbar and left the Woodbridge players wondering what they had to do to tie the game.

The equalizer finally came in the 88th minute when #16 Michael Caccavo met a cross at the back post.

His header hit the top corner of the post and rebounded straight back for him to head the ball a second time into the open net and give his team a dramatic late-game equalizer, sending the game into a penalty shoot-out.

The hard-fought Woodbridge comeback was not enough, however, as the Ajax Strikers won the penalty shoot out 4-2, and were crowned Under 16 Boys Tier 1 Ontario Cup Champions.

Both teams will represent Ontario in the National Club Championship to be held later this Fall.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• ontario
• soccer
• association
• cup
• final
• u16B
• t1
• ajax
• strikers
• woodbridge