League1 Canada Review: Week 19

The season is coming to a fast end in League1 Canada, with only a few leagues still going on. There is still plenty of action to look back on, particularly since the battle for promotion is heating up.

This is Northern Tribune’s roundup of everything that has happened across Ontario and Quebec in the League1 circle.

League1 Ontario Premier: Scrosoppi Keeps Title Hopes Alive

The Premier Division in Ontario saw 15 goals on what was the penultimate week of the season. Seven of those goals came at St. Francis Xavier on Saturday, as Scrosoppi rallied to edge Woodbridge Strikers 4-3. Despite going down just eight minutes in, the hosts took a 3-1 lead shortly past the hour. After Gianluca Condello reduced the deficit to one, Tomasz Skublak scored a fourth late on. The former HFX Wanderer received a red card just before full time, but his team held on for a huge three points.

Also on Saturday, North Toronto Nitros topped Vaughan Azzurri 1-0. Cyrus Rollocks’ ninth minute goal proved to be the difference in the contest. In London, Oakville SC took a three-goal advantage twice, ultimately holding on for a 4-2 defeat of FC London. Sunday’s lone match ended 1-0 in favour of Alliance United away to Simcoe County Rovers.

Scrosoppi’s win keeps them in the title race going into the final round. They will seal the title with a victory, coupled with a Woodbridge draw or loss. Otherwise, there will be a new champion in Ontario’s top tier. At the other end, FC London confirmed they will be returning to the Championship Division next season with their loss. North Toronto will hope to avoid joining them, but will be involved in a playoff.

Next Saturday sees Scrosoppi host North Toronto, and FC London welcome Woodbridge. That means the league champion will be decided that day. Sunday will see Oakville take on Sigma, Alliance battle St. Catharines Roma Wolves, and Vaughan meet Burlington.

League1 Ontario Championship: Unionville, Sudbury Nearing Promotion

The race for the title and promotion in the Championship Division also head to the final round after last week’s play. Tuesday had the opening game of footy, as Unionville Milliken overturned a 2-0 deficit by beating Guelph United 5-2 on the road. Both Omar Marzouk and George Akpabio netted a brace for the visitors in their hunt for the title.

On Friday, Whitby FC prevailed 4-0 over Windsor City thanks to a four-goal haul from Nigel Buckley, while Waterloo United came away 6-0 winners at North Mississauga. Saturday Pickering FC and Master’s FA play to a 1-1 draw. Daniel Avila’s opener for the guests was cancelled out at the death by Ameer Madden.

The other match that was due to occur on Saturday ended up being a 3-0 forfeit win for Sudbury Cyclones over Hamilton United Elite. The Borough and York United Academy drew 0-0 on Sunday, with Unionville earning another win over Guelph. This time, it was a 2-1 home win at Centennial College.

Both Unionville and Sudbury head into the final round knowing that a win will seal automatic promotion. If either of them falter, The Borough will steal a top two spot with a pair of wins in their remaining matches. Sudbury can only claim the title if they win and Unionville does not, or if they draw, Unionville loses, and The Borough does not win at least one of their last two games. The Borough can win the title if they win both of their remaining matches, and neither Unionville or Sudbury manage to do so.

While The Borough is a win away from securing at least third place, they can still lose out on the promotion spots altogether. York Academy will pass them if they fail to win both of their matches, plus York wins their final game. A draw would be enough for them if The Borough loses both games. As for Whitby, their only hope for the playoff spot would be if they were to win, The Borough loses both games, and York Academy fails to collect three points.

A busy final round of play commences on Wednesday, when Guelph hosts Sudbury. Master’s hosts The Borough on Friday, with Waterloo facing Whitby. Hamilton United will conclude their season on Saturday at home to Pickering. On Sunday, York Academy faces Unionville, Master’s takes on North Misssissauga, and Windsor meets The Borough.

Ligue1 Quebec: Home Sides Dominate Penultimate Weekend

The second-to-last weekend of regular season football in Ligue1 Quebec took place. While the title was already decided last time out, there the teams are still jockeying for places in the top eight. Saturday’s lone match ended in a 2-1 victory for CS Longueuil over CS St-Hubert. A pair of first half goals were enough for the hosts to claim victory.

On Sunday, FC Laval topped their rivals AS Laval 2-1 in a close contest. It was not as close at CEGEP Vanier College, as league winners CS St-Laurent defeated Royal Select Beauport 6-1. Adam Libera managed a hattrick for the home team. AS Blainville got past Celtix de Haut-Richelieu 2-0, while Ottawa South United was the only visiting team to win this round, beating CS Mont-Royal Outremont 4-2.

Six of the top eight spots have already been decided for the Coupe L1Q. St-Hubert, Celtix, Ottawa, and Longueuil still have work to do in order to grab a berth in the tournament. Three of the four teams have it all in their hands, knowing a particular victory will see them claim a top eight spot. Ottawa must win and get some help.

Wednesday will have Longueuil try to get off last spot as they host FC Laval. Friday’s match has St-Hubert hosting St-Laurent, with the home team clinching seventh with a win. On Saturday, Ottawa battles Blainville, and AS Laval faces CSMRO. The regular season concludes on Sunday, where Beauport takes on FC Laval, and Celtix meets Longueuil in a match that will likely decide the final playoff place.

Ligue2 Quebec Masculin: Playoff Hopefuls Pull Clear

The Ligue2 Quebec regular season is now in its final few weeks of play. Places in the top five, as well as top 14, are heating up. Friday commenced the round, as CS Roussillon defeated CS Trois-Rivieres 3-0. On Saturday, AS Gatineau made it nine wins in a row with a 4-1 success at CS Trident. Four players got on the scoreboard for the visitors in another impressive victory.

Revolution FC edged Union Lanaudiere Sud 2-1 in a key result. Danis Armand Koama scored the winner five minutes after the hosts levelled the score. CF L’International de Quebec topped Boreal FC 3-0, while Mistral de Sherbrooke stunned CS Montreal-Centre 2-1. It was goals galore for Phenix des Rivieres as they came away with a 13-0 result over CS Boucherville. Eight different players found the back of the net in the win.

CSRDP edged St-Jerome 2-1, with CS St-Lazare Hudson beating CS Braves Ahuntsic 4-1. CS LaSalle continued their winning ways with a 5-1 defeat of AS Chaudiere-Ouest. CS Levis-Est beat AS Leonard 4-2, as Lakeshore SC prevailed 4-0 over Panellinios St-Michel. AS Montis completed the day with a 6-1 result over AS Brossard.

The only change in the top five saw AS Gatineau jump ahead of Montreal-Centre. As both Union Lanaudiere Sud and Chaudiere-Ouest lost, the four teams in the playoff spots saw their gap increase. L’International de Quebec currently holds the pivotal 14th spot by just two points over Phenix des Rivieres. There is still time for that to change though.

St-Lazare-Hudson and Chaudiere-Ouest face off next week in a crucial match for both. Failure to win will see their promotion hopes fall. Union will have it rough once more, as they face Montreal-Centre on the road. The other key game sees Trois-Rivieres meet Phenix des Rivieres as the pair are still trying to climb into the top 14.

Ligue2 Quebec Feminin: St-Laurent Reaches Promotion Final

The penultimate match of the women’s League1 season came in Quebec City, as the postponed Ligue2 Quebec second semifinal finally took place. CS St-Laurent caused an upset, beating CS Trident 3-1 away to book their place in the final.

Juliana Faustini put her side ahead inside the opening 15 minutes, before Danica Banham doubled St-Laurent’s lead just before the break. Charline Massy got one back for the home side, who just missed out on the title, with 17 minutes to go. Unfortunately for them, it would not be enough, as Banham netted a second at the end to give the visitors the win.

St-Laurent moves on to the final, which is on 30 August. There, they will face AS Brossard, who finished third in the regular season. Brossard defeated CS Trois-Rivieres on penalties in their semifinal at the end of July. The winner will claim the final spot in Ligue1 Quebec next term.

Ligue3 Quebec: Playoff Field Now Set

There are still a couple of games left for most clubs in Ligue3 Quebec, but the four sides involved in the playoffs are already confirmed. Wednesday’s pair of games ended in a 5-0 Chevaliers NDMC win over FC Anjou, and AS Laval B topping FS Salaberry 2-0.

AS Laval B’s joy was short-lived, as they then lost 3-2 at Senior Venturi on Saturday. The hosts got a brace from Rachid Kafando as they raced to a 3-0 lead. They ultimately held on for a key victory. Also on Saturday, Boreal d’Alma topped Notre-Dame-de-Grace SA 3-0, Fury de Rimouski edged CSMRO B 2-1, and CS Longueuil B defeated CS Haute-St-Charles 4-1.

Fury was again involved in the action on Sunday, as they prevailed 4-0 at FC Anjou. Kekoro Konate got a goal in either half to give his side their 10th win of the season.

The top four of Longueuil B, Boreal d’Alma, Senior Venturi, and Fury de Rimouski have all sealed their places in the playoffs. It is now a matter of seeding. Longueuil B is a victory and/or a Fury defeat away from securing top spot. Boreal d’Alma and Venturi can finish anywhere between second and fourth, while Fury can claim any of the top four spots.

For the exception of Longueuil B, the playoff-bound teams will complete their regular season play next week. Fury is at Celtix B on Saturday, and then away to Vallee Blizz’Or on Sunday. Boreal d’Alma has their final regular season game on Saturday versus Chevaliers. Venturi plays the same day, meeting FC Anjou at home.

Header Image Photo Credit: Martin Bazyl / League1 Ontario