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Tim Hortons Field Triple-Header Sees One Winner
By It was an action-packed day at Tim Hortons Field as fans were treated to not one, not two, but three matches.
A pair of League1 Ontario games sandwiched the CPL clash between Forge and Halifax Wanderers. For the first time, this included a L1O women’s match, too.
Here is a look back at what went down in the three matches.
Sigma 4-1 ProStars: Welshman Hat Trick earns Sigma another win
For the second week running, Sigma was in Hamilton to play a L1O match. This time, they were the home side, as the Mississauga outfit hosted ProStars. The match was played in the rain, with the conditions not pleasant for both players and spectators.
It took just five minutes for Sigma to get their noses in front: Gabriel Goransson played a cross to captain Faisal Ghaffur, who was afforded too much space. The midfielder would make ProStars pay, as he slotted the ball home with aplomb.
The hosts would double their advantage at the 20 minute mark, as former Forge FC attacker Emery Welshman was brought down by ProStars keeper Jesus Jose Carbajal Flores. Welshman stepped up and sent Carbajal Flores the wrong way to put Sigma two to the good.
Five minutes later, however, ProStars grabbed a goal back. A corner was played into a group of players, with the Sigma defense unable to clear. In the end, the ball fell to Keegan Wilson, who fired past Dino Bontis to give the guests some hope.
That would be the closest ProStars came, as Welshman was back at it in the second half. First, the Guynaian headed a Malcolm Duncan cross into the net to reestablish Sigma’s two-goal cushion. Then, just five minutes later, the pair would combine again. This time, Welshman was played in with a wicked pass from Duncan. The former converted to complete a hattrick and round out the scoring.
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The result leaves Sigma tied for first with Simcoe County Rovers – who also won on Saturday – and Darby, who won their second game on Thursday. ProStars ended the day in ninth place with three points from two games.
Sigma’s next game is against Unionville Milliken at the Ontario Soccer Centre next week Saturday. As for ProStars, they host Simcoe County Rovers on Friday, looking to win at home for the second time in as many matches.
Forge 1-1 Halifax Wanderers: Late goal denies HFX the win
Forge and HFX Wanderers met in what was each clubs’ third game in eight days. After contrasting results in the Canadian Championship in midweek, the Wanderers came to Hamilton searching for their first win of the season.
The visitors made five changes to their midweek reverse to Atletico Ottawa, three of which came in the backline. Forge also came into the match with multiple adjustments to their squad, six in all.
Prematch, Tristan Borges was commemorated for playing his 100th match in a Forge jersey during their 3-0 success against FC Laval on Tuesday. The winger joins teammates Kyle Bekker, Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, Triston Henry, and Dominic Samuel in reaching that milestone.
The Hammers nearly opened the match in perfect fashion, as Noah Jensen saw his effort thunder off the crossbar. That came three minutes in. The Wanderers had a glorious chance of their own 10 minutes later, as Callum Watson got on to a Wes Timoteo cross, but Henry denied him.
The guests had the most clear-cut chanches of the opening period as Massimo Ferrin also had an opportunity to put his team in front. Henry denied him there, with Timoteo’s follow-up shot missing the target.
The Wanderers would take the lead a few minutes before the break. A well-worked one-two by Ferrin and Andre Rampersad allowed the former to cut into the middle and place his shot into the bottom corner. For the third match this season, Patrice Gheisar’s team scored the opener.
Forge came out in the second half in search for the leveler. While they struggled to create high quality matches, they did have the Wanderers under pressure for most of the half. It seemed as if Forge was going to lose the match, only for Woobens Pacius to save them.
Moments before the end of normal time, Manjrekar James found Aboubacar Sissoko with his cross. The midfielder’s shot was tipped by Halifax keeper Yann Fillion onto Pacius for the goal. Pacius, who came on for Jordan Hamilton 25 minutes earlier, got his second goal in as many matches.
That was the last notable opportunity of the game, as HFX Wanderers spurned another chance at a victory. Both teams go to two points from two games as a result of the draw. Forge will head out west for their first away game of the season next week Sunday to take on Pacific. As for the Wanderers, their home opener will be next Saturday against Vancouver FC.
Hamilton United Elite 0-0 Electric City: Game With Few Chances Ends Goalless
In a game of little goalmouth action, Hamilton United Elite and Electric City played to a 0-0 draw in their first L1O women’s match of the campaign.
The first half saw practically no serious chance be created. The action was primarily in the middle of the park, but key passes failed to find their mark. That resulted in no serious chances for either side.
In the second half, things did open up a bit more. Hamilton United pressed for much of the game and looked the likelier of the two teams to find the net. In the end, the result was accurate of how the game went.
Hamilton United will host defending champions NDC Ontario in their next game, which will be on Thursday. That match will take place at McMaster University. As for Electric City, they will head to Toronto to battle North Toronto Nitros. That game is next Saturday.