United Takes the Win: Off to the Finals
Photography by Paul Hendren/L1O
October 30th 2021, Guelph, ON - The historic inaugural season for your Guelph United FC will continue, after a hard fought battle with Masters FA at Alumni Stadium in Guelph. Tonight’s game was a tightly contested fight which ended with your Guelph United winning the game on penalty kicks after a long war of a penalty shootout. With this win GUFC advance to the League 1 Ontario final to face off with either Blue Devils or Vaughan Azzurri at the Ontario Soccer Centre. The winner of League 1 Ontario will earn qualification into the Canadian Championship.
The match was a very cagey affair. Early in the game both teams had chances. Both the GUFC goalkeeper Svyatik Artemenko and Master FA’s Spiridon Koskinas (#1) made goal savingsaves. While midfielder Evan Dick (#11) had multiple great chances with no avail. Finally it was GUFC who found the breakthrough. Evan Dick (#11) whipped in a corner to Luke Rankin (#13) who headed the ball into the middle of the box and into a crowd of players. When finally Lucas Doros (#14) found the ball and slotted into the back of the Masters FA net. But the lead did not last for long, right before the half time break, Masters FA player Reshon Philips (#18) scored twice in rapid succession to give the visitors the lead 2-1. They took this lead into half time. When the second half began GUFC took control. They possessed the ball for the majority of the second half and their amount of corners was overwhelming compared to the number of corners Masters FA faired.
Although GUFC looked like the better team, Masters FA had a golden chance to double their advantage cleared off the line by defender Ian Vidovich (#6). GUFC’s most notable chance came when GUFC midfielder Dion Stergiotis (#15) shot an absolute rocket towards the masters goal that missed the far post by a matter inches. After knocking on the door profusely for the majority of the second half GUFC got their due reward in a goal. Forward TomaszSkublak’s (#8) effort and determination to get the to the ball allowed him to play a great switch of play across the field to fan favourite defender, Amardo Oakley (#4) who played the perfect ball for a diving header from GUFC’s captain and League 1 Ontarios top goal scorer in the regular season, Jace Kotsopoulos (#10). With the game now locked at 2-2 GUFC kept pushing for thewinner, when finally around the 83rd minute a golden opportunity presented itself. After pursuing a threw ball, Tomasz Skublak (#8) was taken down in the box by Masters FA goalkeeper Spiridon Koskinas (#1) and GUFC were awarded a penalty kick. Jace Kotsopoulos (#10) stepped up to take it however, he shot the ball over the bar. Masters FA had one last chance in the dying embers of the second half but the chance was cleared off the line by Dion Stergiotis (#15).
The full time score was GUFC 2 Masters FA 2 and due to League 1 Ontario’s new COVID rules the game headed straight into a penalty shoot out. GUFC won the coin toss a head of the shoot out and elected to shoot first. The penalty shootout had many twists and turns including two points in which with a goal Masters FA would win the game. However after many good penalties a few misses and a couple dramatic saves it came down to the goalkeepers penalties to decide who would make it to the final. Svyatik Artemenko stepped up first. He stuck his laces through the ball and with a deflection off of fellow his goalkeeper Koskinas (#1) the ball flew into the net. When asked about the penalty Artemenko admitted that as a goalkeeper he wasn’t the best at placing shots he said “I just put my head down put my laces through it and hoped for the best”.
Although he was happy to have scored the penalty, Artemenko knew he had a glorious opportunity to end the game by saving his opposite numbers penalty. Spiridon Koskinas (#1) stepped up to take the penalty but Artemenko (#1) guessed the right way and saved the penalty! He became Guelph United’s hero. The save now leads Guelph United to the final game of the League 1 Ontario season. The final.
Guelph United fans, don’t miss your chance to see your Guelph United play in the League 1Ontario finals at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan! GUFC will be taking on either Blue Devils or Vaughan Azzurri The game will take place on Sunday November 7th at 4 PM. Make sure to check the website and Guelph United FC’s social media for more information about the final this week. Let’s fill the stands in Vaughan with the #UnitedFront and make sure to wear your United merch!
Article Written by Baden Klein.