A win and a loss in an encouraging first weekend
After what seemed like an interminable off-season, our Guelph United teams were back in action this weekend, in two difficult matches from League1 Ontario’s opening gameweek. And, despite different results - our men’s team won at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, while the women lost against NDC Ontario - both matches offered plenty of reasons for optimism.
Justin Springer returned to Hamilton, on the stadium where he played in the first-ever CPL match back in 2019, this time as a head coach - and walked out of Tim Hortons Field with all 3 points. GUFC faced Forge FC affiliate club Hamilton United on Saturday evening, in front of about 150 fans - some of them coming from Guelph to support our team in the first match of the season. With a lineup featuring plenty of returning players, but also a few new faces, Guelph United took control of the match from the very beginning, and dominated a large part of the first half, creating multiple chances to score - including a couple of big ones missed by Jared Agyemang. The second half started the same way, with GUFC in control, creating chances but unable to convert - until the 66th minute, when a penalty kick for a foul in the box was coolly converted by Agyemang. The end of the game saw Hamilton go for the equalizer, with GUFC trying to close the match on the counter. Our defense held strong, and, despite an injury time red card to new forward Donart Beqiri, Guelph United held on for the valuable 3 points.
Hamilton United - Guelph United 0-1 (0-0)
Goal: Agyemang (‘66, pen)
Yellow cards: Ahmat, Hecimovic, Waja / Beqiri, Gander
Red card: Beqiri (‘90)
Guelph United: Robart - Ferdinand (‘46 Bain), Green, Fernandez, Davison, Gander - Marchant (‘71 Cabral) - Cordeiro, Sears, Yates - Agyemang (‘67 Beqiri).
The day before, our women’s team travelled to Vaughan for a very tough matchup against, arguably, the big favorites for the League1 Ontario title, NDC Ontario. It was, on paper, the most difficult match of the season, and our team, throughout large parts of the match, held their own against their opponents. We mostly defended well and managed to create a few chances to score, but eventually conceded two goals for a 0-2 loss. It was, however, a gutsy, encouraging performance, that should bring our team plenty of confidence heading into next weekend.
NDC Ontario - Guelph United 2-0 (1-0)
Goals: Gaynor (‘26), Coore-Pascal (‘57)
Yellow cards: - / Falkenstein, Marikano
Guelph United: Carreiro (‘67 Mazier) - Ward (‘61 Knafelc), Van Der Laan, Crichton, Ladhani - VanderHoef (‘46 Hipkin), Canning (‘67 Falkenstein), Oliveira (‘67 Brown) - Johnston (‘61 Sealy), Hinchliffe (‘80 Marikano), Rizakos.
Next up for both our teams is a trip to Vaughan, on May 5th, for a Sunday doubleheader against the Vaughan Azzurri. The women’s match is scheduled for 4 PM, while the men will kick off at 8 PM.
2024 Season Tickets can now be purchased from our shop. They include all 19 league home matches played at the Centennial Bowl, for both our men’s and women’s teams, as well as the home match in Cambridge (including free transportation), plus the 2 confirmed L1 Cup home games.
That’s a total of 22 matches, with prices starting at only $65, for adults, and $30, for kids and seniors. Get yours now!