Match Recap: Darby FC 1 - 4 Toronto Azzurri Blizzard
By League1 Ontario staff, 10/01/17, 11:00PM EDT
Selah Hopkins (6') had home side Darby FC off to an excellent start on Friday night against Toronto Blizzard with her early opener, but the Blizzard came alive and ultimately won the contest 4-1 after goals from Natalie Abba (24'), Makenzie Kavanagh (25'), Jalana Ellis (76') and Ryanne Hawthorn (90').
"I think our team did well and the other team was a good team also," said Toronto Blizzard team official, Ernest Ellis.
"I think in the second half there was some weather fatigue and one team began to have momentum over the other, but I thought the game was even for the most part."
"We knew the field would be slick in these conditions so the approach was to try and keep the ball out of our end and also just to keep the ball. We knew because of the wet conditions to try and get as many shots on net because that ball was going to slide."
After such a positive start, Darby head coach Mirco Schroff was disappointed his side couldn't find the crucial finish to put the result to bed, despite some good chances throughout the match.
"We got into the game and applied pressure on them, trying to control the game from the beginning," he said. "An early goal for us helped us settle down a bit and make sure we were on top of things."
"However their two goals in two minutes certainly changed the game and it took us a while to recover. It took probably until the last five minutes of the first half," he added.
"The game plan at half-time was to push more and play like the first twenty minutes of the first half. I think we did a good job actually of controlling most of the game in the second half. The ball possession was decent and there was good intent in some of the decisions we made. We couldn't connect the last ball and I'm going to say that was the problem today, that we couldn't get more shots and chances."
Darby FC will next play FC London on October 6 at Whitby Soccer Centre, Whitby.
Darby, Mirco -
I think we started well the first fifteen or twenty minutes before we had an injury to take care of.
We got into the game and applied pressure on them, trying to control the game from the beginning. An early goal for us helped us settle down a bit and make sure we were on top of things.
However their two goals in two minutes certainly changed the game and it took us a while to recover. It took probably until the last five minutes of the first half.
Overall conditions were the same for both teams and I think we handled them okay, but certainly on the two occasions where we conceded we needed to take care of business better.
The game plan at half-time was to push more and play like the first twenty minutes of the first half. I think we did a good job actually of controlling most of the game in the second half. The ball possession was decent and there was good intent in some of the decisions we made. We couldn't connect the last ball and I'm going to say that was the problem today, that we couldn't get more shots and chances.
Couple times the keeper dropped the ball in the wet conditions and we missed those opportunities as well to get more out of it. With their few chances in the second half, Toronto Blizzard were obviously much more clinical.
I thought Shelby ? in the holding midfield position was very disciplined, organized and holding her position, but we didn't get her on the ball as often to switch the play as we would have liked. We addressed that at half-time and it happened a bit more in the second half.
I thought Lauren ? also had a good game, trying to go forward, engage and create situations that were positive for us. I think both of them did well today. It's the youngest team we have ever put on the field and I'm quite happy with the performance.
Ernest Ellis -
I think our team did well and the other team was a good team also. I think in the second half there was some weather fatigue and one team began to have momentum over the other, but I thought the game was even for the most part.
We knew the field would be slick in these conditions so the approach was to try and keep the ball out of our end and also just to keep the ball. We knew because of the wet conditions to try and get as many shots on net because that ball was going to slide.
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