Playoffs Roundup: Blue Devils upset twice, Guelph & Strikers take PK showdowns

Guelph United celebrate. Paul Hendren/L1O)

By Marty Thompson, 10/31/21.

The League1 Ontario Premier Division Finals have been set after four exhilarating semi-finals this weekend.

Men’s final will be played between expansion side Guelph United and Blue Devils FC while the Women’s will see the Blue Devils’ female side take on Woodbridge Strikers.

Blue Devils were, again, the story of the week after posting two major upsets to book their spot on L1O’s Super Sunday at Ontario Soccer Centre next weekend.

Mens: Guelph win 11-round PKs, Allen sends Devils past favourites Vaughan

League1 Ontario men’s division final has been set as Guelph United and Blue Devils FC are set to face off for the title and the right to play in the 2022 Canadian Championship next Sunday at 4:00pm at Ontario Soccer Centre.

The Blue Devils advanced through, who else, striker Leaford Allen who racked up a brace their 2-1 win over a previously undefeated Vaughan Azzurri.

Vaughan, who went into Sunday’s contest with an 11-1-0 record, were left shocked by back-to-back goals from Allen through 26 minutes. The Blue Devils were on the front foot through the opening frame but saw the momentum switch in the second – a big save from Luke Birnstingl kept them at bay. L1O veteran Dylan Carreiro found the net after 73 minutes but it wasn’t enough for a star-studded Vaughan side.

“We’re ecstatic – Vaughan is always going to be a tough team,” Blue Devils coach Duncan Wilde said after the match. “We knew we had to defend really well in the second half that was the most pleasing part.”

In the other semi-final played Saturday we learned L1O will have a new champion. Guelph downed title defenders Masters FA in an 11-round penalty shootout – a bizarre match played out at Alumni Stadium in Guelph. Reshon Phillips scored twice in the span of two minutes to give the visitors a lead at halftime. Guelph talisman Jace Kotsopoulos scored in the second half and had a chance from the spot late to take the lead… But skied his penalty over the bar.

That led to the marathon penalty shootout that concluded on the boot – and the gloves – of Svyatoslav Artemenko who scored and saved the all-keeper final round.

The men’s L1O final will take place Saturday at Ontario Soccer Centre Stadium at 4:00pm ET.