Report: St. Anthony's 2, Ottawa Royals 1

Brave Royals slip to controversial injury time defeat
July 19, 2007

Ottawa Royals slipped to a controversial last-gasp defeat against reigning national champions St. Anthony’s at Mooney’s Bay, when Simon Bonk converted a header from a corner that was a throw in and finally managed to breach the Royals defence from open play.

Despite the defeat and the controversy, there was much to admire about the Royals performance in this match. How can a team that is so insipid against weaker opposition play as determinedly and spiritedly against the better sides? For every Gloucester and UNIDOS and Limestone City, there has been an Outremont and a Hearts Azzurri and a St. Anthony’s.

It seems that the only thing stopping Ottawa Royals from regaining its place at the top of the tree is the team itself. It is not enough to bemoan the lack of a consistent side, regular fixtures or the injury hex that has settled over the team, the attitude and commitment of numerous players has to be called into question.

If players cannot motivate themselves – or be motivated by their coach – to wear the Royals shirt, then there is a serious issue at stake. This is one of the best clubs in Ontario. Playing for the team is a privilege, something to be excited about and to aspire to. With the possible exception of St. Anthony’s, no team is the equal of the Royals in this city. And very few in the province can claim to be either.

The performance put in by many of the team against St. Anthony’s has set a level of focus, commitment and determination that must be matched in every game.

It was a performance that started early in this thrilling end-to-end match, initiated perhaps by Tyler Wallace’s superb one-handed diving save in the third minute.

But this was no mere defensive shell set up to frustrate a powerhouse team. The Royals were a match for St. Anthony’s in every department, running channels and playing clever, intricate balls that at times had the home side chasing shadows.

On nine minutes, Marc Anthony Viscosi and Ryan Devereaux linked well down the right-hand side, with Viscosi’s final ball releasing Devereaux into the area where Simon Bonk launched himself into a sliding tackle to save the day and push the ball out for a corner.

On 20 minutes, the Royals constant probing and running paid dividends. With Boyle having an excellent game as linkman, he and Devereaux combined to create danger around the box. First Boyle, then Devereaux shot, each forcing Wong into an acrobatic save. When the ball rebounded once again to Boyle, he made no mistake, thrashing the ball under the despairing keeper into the corner of the net.

Within minutes, Wallace was called into action again, coming out to save bravely at the feet of Gago to deny the home side an equalizer. The cut and thrust of the match was first rate – with the Royals being the more likely to score in the first half. Indeed, on 29 minutes, the visitors should have doubled their lead.

Devereaux’s tireless efforts at hassling the home defence paid dividends as he won the ball and reached down to the bye-line. Looking up, he saw Boyle running into the area, so he cut the ball back accurately to the striker’s feet and watched in dismay as Boyle’s shot sailed high over the empty net.

Within seconds though, Boyle had almost made amends, when his first time half volley from a Jonathan Brooks cross was sailing into the net before Wong’s reaction save deflected it to safety.

With the Royals fighting for every ball and contesting every challenge with vigour, the game kept its spirited nature right the way through to half time.

The tempo of the second half dropped a little in the second half – but was still the feisty affair that is expected from these two teams. Ottawa Royals kept up the pressure on the home team and prevented any real danger throughout the half. The defenders were very impressive in this match, with Zegers, MacMillan and Labrom denying any space to the mobile and persistent home team.

On 68 minutes though, St. Anthony’s were awarded a penalty when Zegers was adjudged to have brought down Soglo in the penalty area. It was a soft penalty to concede as the striker was looking for it and went to ground very easily. It provided the home team with its first clear-cut chance of the half, and Some made no mistake to even things up.

Tensions were mounting in the game as St. Anthony’s started to pile on the pressure and the Royals mounted a dogged resistance. With the limited numbers for the visitors, every substitution meant a huge tactical reshuffle – usually involving four or five players. Despite this, the Royals coped admirably, with Labrom and Deganutti and the midfield adapting well to the incomers.

The visitors were not helped by the red card shown to substitute Jeff Dennis – while still on the bench. Dennis abused linesman Dayfallah and can have no complaints about the card or the three-match suspension he will receive as a result of it. All it really meant to this game was one less option open to coach Michael Adams – and when right midfielder Marc Anthony Viscosi pulled up with cramp, it provided rookie 17-year old midfielder Alan Morgan with a chance to impress.

On 81 minutes, Wallace made a superb point-blank save from a St. Anthony’s attacker – and it seemed as if the Royals would settle for a point.

With the clock ticking down, the Royals played a ball out for a throw in near the corner flag, which referee Audi somehow decided was a corner. Despite the protests, the decision stood. From the resulting corner, Bonk rose highest and planted the ball under the crossbar for the winning goal. Cue unbridled celebrations from the home team.

Twenty seconds later, Audi blew the final whistle and the Royals trudged off, having lost the game, but pushed the home side all the way.

This game could yet prove to be a turning point for the Royals team. With a record of 2-2-2 from its six games this season, it needs to regroup and push on. The next match is against UNIDOS de Hull – and then after that, it is St. Anthony’s once again. Six points from these two games would provide the league table with a completely different look.

Man of the Match: 3 points – Ryan Devereaux, 2 points – Tyler Wallace, 1 point – Richard Boyle

Statistics

St. Anthony’s
1-Angus Wong; 6-Simon Bonk, 4-Ladislas Bustiri, 2-Daniel Carracus, 11-Souleymane Gagou, 7-Christian Hoefler, 21-John Legakis, 13-Loui Legakis, 15-Kwesi Loney, 14-Stefano Iaconi, 8-Alain Nijima, 9-Abraham Osman, 20-Alain Popazzi, 10-John Schieda, 12-Edgar Soglo, 19-Urbain Some, 18-Claudio Vennegas, 28-Roland Tiamuh

Yellow Cards
Abraham Osman

Goals: Some (pen. 68 mins); Bonk (93 mins)

Ottawa Royals
1-Tyler Wallace; 2-Frank Zegers, 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom; 5-Marc Anthony Viscosi (14-Alan Morgan, 74 mins), 20-Steve Kowlessar, 11-Dom Rochon, 22-Ewan Lyttle (9-Dan Deganutti, 56 mins), 16-Jonathan Brooks; 14-Richard Boyle, 23-Ryan Devereaux (8-Dimitri Koutras, 88 mins)

Substitutes not used: 13-Jeff Dennis, 18-Alan Farant

Yellow Cards: Richard Boyle, Steve Kowlessar, Dom Rochon

Red Card: Jeff Dennis

Goal: Richard Boyle (20 mins)

Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo 11; Boyle 6; Devereaux 5; Kowlessar 4; Koutras 3, Clouthier, J. Gutierrez, Ntwari 2; Brooks, MacMillan 1

Assists: Brooks, 5; Deganutti, Koutras, Rochon 4; Boyle, 3; Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, 2; D’Angelo, Dennis, Kowlessar, Lyttle 1