ONTARIO LEAGUE DIVISION 1: Woodbridge Strikers 0 - Sigma FC 2

Tue Jun 17
Written By: Meertins, Tyrrell

Sigma FC recorded their first win against the previously undefeated Woodbridge Strikers on Sunday June 15. While only a handful of legitimate goal-scoring opportunities were created, this was an entertaining and open game between two attack-minded sides.

Within the opening ten minutes, Sigma forced Woodbridge goalkeeper Michael Scavone to make two sensational saves to keep the score-line level. Woodbridge, however, received the better opportunity in the third minute when Michael Holder outmuscled Sigma’s defenders and latched onto a long ball from Scavone, but the striker placed his shot wide of the net from six-yards out.

Despite an obvious preference to play in a 4-3-3 formation, there were significant differences in interpretation. Sigma consistently combined in the final third with tight, intricate passing, but were often missing the final ball around the eighteen-yard box. Woodbridge, on the other hand, adopted a more direct approach, aiming to exploit the flank by playing the ball into wide left forward Nicholas Chiarot.

This was logical due to the advanced positioning of Sigma's right-back Johnny Grant, which in turn ignited a battle down the left flank with his Striker counterpart Vince Sasso; neither side seemed willing to track the runs of the full-backs so both charged forward with abandon. Sasso, in particular, combined with central midfielder Oscar Cordon, who would regularly surge into the left channel with the aim of creating overloads. Unfortunately, for Woodbridge, Chiarot’s first half injury decreased their attacking impetus. Armin Tankovic replaced the winger and moved upfront, pushing Holder to the flanks, but Woodbridge’s attacking zeal did not reignite.

Sigma’s midfield trio was led by Richmond Laryea, who offered potent passing and dynamism in midfield. Although ball retention was pivotal to Sigma's attack, they quickly aimed to facilitate passes to their forwards. In the thirty-eighth minute, Alex Halis played a forward pass into Emery Welshman, who laid the ball off to Jordan Stoddart, whose shot was in turn saved by Scavone, but Halis was there to tap in the rebound.

Minutes later, Sigma nearly doubled their lead when Laryea slithered through midfield and played a pass to Mark Anthony Gonzalez, who cut in from the left flank and fired his shot inches wide of the net. In the forty-fourth minute, Scavone was called upon again to make an instinctive save, stopping an unmarked Gonzalez from steering home a header from free-kick. The Sigma attacker proceeded to guide the rebound wide of the net as well.

The main issue that Woodbridge faced throughout the match was in regards to their poor delivery from the flanks, while their midfield trio lacked the necessary gusto to keep up with their Sigma opponents. There was no link between the Strikers' midfield and attack, and they preferred to play conservative sideways passes as opposed to penetrating balls behind the defence.

However, the Strikers received some fortune in the second half when Laryea received his second booking of the match for committing a clumsy challenge on Holder. Conversely, this actually seemed to push Sigma forward. In the fifty-fifth minute, Sigma fullback Grant flew past Sasso, forcing the left-back to concede a penalty that Welshman skied over the net.

Despite the man advantage, Woodbridge was teetering. Again and again, neither winger nor midfield shuttler would track Grant runs into their final third. Sigma doubled their lead on the hour mark as Welshman latched onto a simple long ball over the Woodbridge back-line, and placed his shot past Scavone.

Sigma quickly retreated to a 4-4-1 without the ball, as Woodbridge introduced Mario Kovacevic upfront, and transitioned into a 4-4-2. Apart from direct running from Woodbridge’s attackers in the latter stages of the match – which resulted in several fouls and free-kick opportunities – the Strikers lacked penetration in the final third. In the final five minutes there was a chance to pull the game within one goal, as Woodbridge were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh denied Marco Lo Presti to preserve Sigma’s two goal lead and clean sheet.

Woodbridge’s functional midfield showed a real inability to create chances, and this combined with a lack of productivity from wide areas ultimately led to their downfall. 

The advanced positioning of Sigma’s right-back proved to be a beneficial gamble, but quick intricate passing, combined with efficient finishing, would finally guide the club past the Strikers on the night.