Report: Ottawa Royals 2, Rockers 0

Royals beat Rockers to seal second spot in OCSL
September 6, 2007

Ottawa Royals finished their season in some style, turning in a solid performance to defeat high-flying Rockers United 2-0 at Maple Leaf, leapfrogging them in the process to seal second place in the standings.

Sylvain Clouthier scored twice late in the encounter to give the home side the points, after an entertaining and competitive match. Jeff Dennis turned in an excellent performance, setting up Clouthier’s first goal and excelling in the second half.

The match marked the Royals’ third straight shut out and the team has scored ten unanswered goals in the process.

A final flurry on the injury and unavailability list meant an experimental line up in part, with Dom Rochon sufficiently recovered from injury to play 90 minutes. Frank Dicaria donned the goalkeeping gloves, with Frank Zegers, Kevin Sheehan and James MacMillan in the back three. Dimitri Koutras started out right, with Ewan Lyttle in the defensive midfield role, Rochon partnered by Matt D’Angelo in an offensive midfield unit, and Jeff Dennis out left. Up front, Sylvain Clouthier and Ryan Devereaux were the two principle target men.

The game started as it carried on for much of the first half; both sides cancelling each other out and creating the occasional good chance that was either just wide or forced a good save from the keeper. Nonetheless, there was a pleasing flow to the game and it was played in a good spirit and was generally very competitive.

The Royals first good chance came on 22 minutes. Koutras played a good ball into to Ryan Devereaux, who cut in from the right and fired a thunderous shot at Romero in the Rockers goal. Romero could only parry the ball away, but recovered sufficiently to grasp it at the second chance.

The visitors were quick to respond and on 27 minutes, the excellent Jamar Dixon hit the outside of Dicaria’s post from an acute angle.

The Royals defended well in numbers, and despite the occasional fright, closed the Rockers down quickly and snuffed out any danger.

In the second half though, the tempo of the Royals’ game changed and the home side took control of the match. With Clouthier moved to right midfield and D’Angelo up front, the Royals had more purpose and vigour about their game, and fed both Clouthier and Dennis on numerous occasions.

On 50 minutes, Dicaria’s long clearance was controlled by D’Angelo, who swivelled and released Devereaux with one move. Devereaux was unable to keep his shot down and it flew inches over the crossbar.

The Royals forced a series of corners and Devereaux made space for another effort on 56 minutes.

The only surprise about the opening goal was that it took so long to come. On 84 minutes, Jeff Dennis received the ball on the left-hand side of the box and looped in a centre for Clouthier, who had made an angled run from the right. Timing his movement to perfection, Clouthier met the ball on the 6-yard box and powered it past the helpless Romero with his head.

On 90 minutes, Matt D’Angelo was upended in the box and the Royals were awarded a penalty. With Steve Kowlessar absent, Clouthier stepped up and thrashed it past the helpless keeper to make it 2-0 for the home team.

It was an excellent second-half performance from the Royals, who stepped up to the plate when faced with one of the stronger teams in the OCSL. Let’s not forget that the Rockers had already beaten both the Royals and St. Anthony’s this season – and this was only their second defeat of the season – so this was a very good win against an up-and-coming young side.

Jeff Dennis shaded Sylvain Clouthier for man-of-the-match, with Kevin Sheehan receiving an honourable mention.

Man of the Match: 3 points – Jeff Dennis, 2 points – Sylvain Clouthier, 1 point – Kevin Sheehan

Statistics
Ottawa Royals
1-Frank Dicaria; 8-Frank Zegers (20-Ewan Lyttle, 70), 18-Kevin Sheehan, 3-James MacMillan; 20-Ewan Lyttle (9-Dan Deganutti, 30), 11-Dom Rochon, 12-Matt D’Angelo (21-Dimitri Koutras, 87), 13-Jeff Dennis, 21-Dimitri Koutras (5-Alan Morgan, 30); 7-Sylvain Clouthier, 19-Ryan Devereaux


Yellow Cards: none

Goals: Sylvain Clouthier (84 mins, 90 mins penalty)

Rockers United
1-Jose Romero, 3-Phil Janzen, 21-Jessie Bergins, 15-Newton Carnegie, 6-Michael Daguilh, 14-Justin Dasah, 10-Jamar Dixon, 20-Dakin Drake, 16-Andrew Latty, 18-Donald MacGregor, 9-Alan Nkasham, 8-Phil Amahazion, 7-Huffman Eja-Tabe, 22-Kingsley Cunningham, 2-Julian Rodriguez, 13-Belance Ricardo, 19-Etienne Feno, 5-Geoff Shitanda, 4-Chris Callander, 17-Philippe Savary

Yellow Cards: none

Goals: none

Season Tally:
Goals: Devereaux, 16; D’Angelo, 12; Boyle 8; Clouthier, 7; Koutras, J. Gutierrez, Kowlessar 5; MacMillan 4; Ntwari 3; Brooks, Cheney 1

Assists: Boyle, Brooks, 10; Deganutti, 5; , D’Angelo, Koutras, Kowlessar, Rochon 4; Clouthier, Dennis, J. Gutierrez, 3;, Devereaux, Donnard, Ntwari, 2; Lyttle, Morgan 1