Lacklustre Royals get what they deserve
August 9, 2007
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Ottawa Royals, fresh from three convincing victories over tough opposition, were supposed to turn up, play well and pick up three easy points against basement dwellers Gloucester Hornets.
Apparently neither side read the script.
The result was a game of abject quality, where neither side was capable of stringing together a succession of decent passes, where basic mistakes were compounded with low intensity, where both sides struggled to get out of first gear, where communication and concentration were basically next to nil.
Gloucester Hornets deserved their victory. Fully and completely. There were no controversial decisions and no inexplicable offside calls. Gloucester Hornets have done the double over the Ottawa Royals, who appear to have learned nothing in the process.
The seeds of this latest humiliation were sown in training on Tuesday, where 11 people ambled through the motions during drills and then slowed down during the 5-a-side game at the end. The lack of intensity and desire was carried through to the game.
Make no mistake, this was a watershed defeat for the Royals.
The Royals started with their 3-5-2 system in place. Tyler Wallace was in goal, not fully recovered from his dislocated finger perhaps, and a back three of Marc Anthony Viscosi, Frank Zegers and Alan Farant. In midfield, Jonathan Brooks played his last game of the season before heading down to the States for college, Dom Rochon, Steve Kowlessar and Richard Boyle formed an offensive trio in the middle, and Dan Deganutti was on the left. Dimitri Koutras and Sylvain Clouthier led the attack.
The game started with the Royals on the offensive. On 3 minutes, Koutras was released by Boyle but his first time shot missed the target.
On 9 minutes, Gloucester took the lead, somewhat against the run of play, it has to be said. With Wallace in no man’s land and the defence at sixes and sevens, Wellington had the easy job of slipping the ball into the empty net.
The Royals were stunned and struggled to respond. Passes were underhit, channels unused, challenges not made. Still the home team managed to create a couple of chances, all of which were missed.
On 31 minutes, Michael Adams replaced Alan Farant with Jorge Gutierrez, dropping Dan Deganutti back to left back.
The response was instantaneous. With his first touch of the ball, Gutierrez released Clouthier who elected to blast the ball from the edge of the area. Lemieux made a good save to keep the visitors in front.
Two minutes later though, the scores were even. Clouthier whipped in a strong free kick that Lemieux could only parry. In rushed Gutierrez to nod the ball past him into the net.
It seemed as if the Royals had sparked into life. Several more chances were created and spurned, but at least the home side had moved into a higher gear for a brief period.
At half time, Adams replaced the hard-working Koutras with rookie striker Thierry Ntwari – but it was Gloucester who scored next, two minutes after the break.
Following a good period of Royals pressure, the Hornets broke quickly and Walker capitalized on abysmal defending to beat Wallace. Once more, avoidable mistakes lead to goals conceded.
On 65 minutes, Wellington scored his second goal of the game from the right wing.
Trailing 3-1 at home, the Royals finally started to exert an influence on the game. On came Kevin Sheehan to offer more height at set pieces and on 80 minutes, Boyle came back on for Lyttle, moving up front to provide a three-pronged attack.
As the Royals finally started fighting for every ball, they forced Gloucester back into their own half, penning them into the area and probing at every opportunity. Lemieux made a couple more fine saves to keep the visitors in the lead.
On 86 minutes though, the pressure finally started to pay dividends. Thierry Ntwari’s glancing header from Brooks’ corner hit the back of the net. And the Royals continued to pour forward in search of the equalizer.
On 90 minutes, Kevin Sheehan nearly got it, when his header was cleared off the line and Brooks’ resulting shot was hit over the bar.
It was too little, too late though for the Royals, who were left to rue 80 minutes of poor football.
There needs to be a response from the team now, starting in the very next training session and carrying on through to the end of the season. With four league games and the Ottawa Cup final left to play, there needs to be a refocusing of players and a reaffirmation of commitment.
Or else we may as well just not bother showing up.
Man of the Match: 3 points – Dom Rochon, 2 points – Kevin Sheehan, 1 point – Jorge Gutierrez
Statistics
Ottawa Royals
1-Tyler Wallace; 16-Alan Farant (18-Jorge Gutierrez (31 mins); 3-Frank Zegers (6-Kevin Sheehan, 69 mins), 20-Marc Anthony Viscosi; 14-Jonathan Brooks, 17-Richard Boyle (13-Jeff Dennis, 36 mins), 11-Dom Rochon, 15-Steve Kowlessar (2-Ewan Lyttle, 57 mins; 17-Richard Boyle, 80 mins), 9-Dan Deganutti; 8-Sylvain Clouthier, 21-Dimitri Koutras (4-Thierry Ntwari, 46 mins)
Substitute not used: 5-Alan Morgan,
Yellow Cards: None
Goals: Jorge Gutierrez (33 mins); Thierry Ntwari (86 mins)
Gloucester Hornets
1-Matt Lemieux; 16-Cyril Dehoppre, 2-Jason Da Costa, 4-Kwek Francis, 5-Stephane Lemay, 10-Nicko Stoikis, 12-Brendan Walker, 15-Schipy Joffy,11-Pat Violette, 9-Andrew Gilchrist, 17-Andrew Peterson, 8-Pat Wellington
Yellow Cards: Stephane Lemay, Pat Wellington
Goals: Pat Wellington (9, 65 mins); Brendan Walker (47 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo, Devereaux 11; Boyle 8; J. Gutierrez, Kowlessar 5; Clouthier, Koutras, MacMillan, Ntwari 3; Brooks, 1
Assists: Brooks, 10; Boyle, Deganutti, 5; Koutras, Rochon 4; Kowlessar, 3; Clouthier, D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, 2; Dennis, Lyttle, Ntwari 1
Friday, August 10, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
Report: Internationals 0, Ottawa Royals 4
Royals record first league clean sheet in third win over Internationals
August 2, 2007
Ottawa Royals recorded their third league win on the trot last night, beating the Internationals by a comfortable margin and at the same time notching up their first clean sheet in the league. Ryan Devereaux scored twice, James MacMillan headed his traditional goal and Richard Boyle scored a late long-range rocket to defeat the home side 4-0.
With legendary defender Marc Labrom making his final appearance for the Royals before transferring to Pretoria with work, the Royals were keen to get their third win of the season over the Internationals with which to send him off. Numerous injuries and absences had taken its toll on the line up, with Frank Zegers, Tyler Wallace, Frank Dicaria, Sanjeev Parmar, Roberto Gutierrez, Jorge Gutierrez, Alic Edgar, Matt D’Angelo and Greg Donnard all unavailable. On the plus side, Marc Anthony Viscosi was almost recovered from his hamstring injury and had declared himself fit, as had Dan Deganutti, who sustained knee knack against St. Anthony’s on Sunday.
The Royals started with its now favoured 3-5-2 formation with Antoine Lagarec in goal, a back three of Marc Labrom, James MacMillan and Alan Farant, Jon Brooks on the right of midfield and Richard Boyle on the left, Ewan Lyttle playing in front of the defence, Dom Rochon and Steve Kowlessar in the middle, and a front two of Sylvain Clouthier and Ryan Devereaux.
The Royals started the game at breakneck speed, dominating the play and barely allowing the home team out of its own half. After a couple of close calls, Ryan Devereaux finally opened the scoring on 4 minutes.
Brooks stripped Ianni on the right of the field and crossed it in deep to Boyle at the far side of the penalty area. Brooks controlled and passed the ball into the box to meet Devereaux’s incisive run. Devereaux took it first time on his instep and placed it past Dobbie’s despairing dive into the corner of the net.
The Royals kept composure and continued to play the ball around – yet gave the impression of being in second gear for much of the next 10 minutes. In defence, Lagarec marshalled his troops well, and Farant – who was making his first full start and his first appearance as a defender – looked confident and composed.
The visitors then moved into top gear again and for 5 minutes simply fizzed the ball around the field, using the width well. Half chances fell to Devereaux and Clouthier, but it wasn’t until Boyle picked up the ball on the right and set off on a mazy run towards the box that the possession started to pay dividends. Beating man after man, Boyle slalomed like an Olympic water-skier before laying a ball off to Clouthier and moving for the return pass. Somehow Ianni managed to get a toe to it before Boyle and deflected it out for a corner.
But the danger was not cleared. Brooks moved over to take the corner and whipped in a teasing cross to the box. MacMillan rose above the defence and powered his header past Dobbie into the net.
It seemed that there may be a repeat of the 7-0 rout from the Ontario Cup in early June, but full credit to the Internationals, they refused to be awed and kept fighting for every ball. Indeed, straight after the second goal, they seemed to enjoy a good spell of possession and wee on top for a while. However, with Lyttle staying solid in front of the defence, Lagarec was seldom tested.
The Royals once again relaxed and as a result the play became scrappy. Despite the huge channels that were opening up on the flanks, the passes seldom reached Brooks or Boyle and the visitors were penned in a little. On 35 minutes though, Rochon played an excellent ball behind MacDonald and Ianni to release Brooks. Brooks outpaced the defenders but hurried his shot, which flew high and wide.
On 40 minutes, Clouthier pulled up short holding his hamstring. It does not appear to be as serious as initially thought, but could still keep the talismanic striker out of the next fixture at Gloucester. Koutras came on to replace him and took up his position alongside Devereaux.
On the stroke of halftime, Steve Kowlessar struck a good free kick that Dobbie did well to get behind, denying Devereaux a second goal by smothering the rebound on the second attempt.
At half time, Michael Adams replaced Richard Boyle with Jeff Dennis and emphasised the need to use the channels and close down the spaces in midfield. The Royals came out for the second half and looked to implement the tactics. The Internationals became more physical in their approach, picking up 4 yellow cards in the second half (all for fouls) with Iyad Dakka in particular lucky to remain on the field.
The game became very scrappy and on 60 minutes, Alan Morgan replaced the hero of the hour Marc Labrom, who chose his final appearance as a Royal to suffer his annual back spasm. Ewan Lyttle moved to defence. Five minutes later, Adams switched it around again, taking off captain Dom Rochon and risking Marc Antony Viscosi in defence. Lyttle moved back to his defensive midfield position.
It seemed as if the Royals were paying for their exertions of Sunday, with the Internationals starting to play decent balls in behind the defence. On 73 minutes, James MacMillan put in some outstanding defensive work, chasing back Andujar and blocking the initial shot, before sticking out a toe to knock the ball away form the onrushing and supporting Santo.
On 75 minutes, Ewan Lyttle, who had had a fine game but was tiring rapidly, was replaced by Boyle and sixty seconds later Thierry Ntwari replaced the hardworking Dimitri Koutras.
Boyle exerted a good influence on the final stages of the game, holding up play well and linking with the excellent Ryan Devereaux and the speedy Ntwari. On 87 minutes, the growing influence that the Royals had had paid dividends when Devereaux finished off a superb piece of football involving Boyle and Ntwari. Released behind the defence, Devereaux sped into the area and then slipped the ball under the diving body of Dobbie.
As the clock wound down, Boyle applied the coup de grace as the teams moved into injury time. Receiving the ball 10 yards outside the area, he turned and moved the ball outside the defender before striking a viciously swerving and dipping shot over Dobbie and into the roof of the net.
The 4-0 score perhaps flattered the Royals, but overall the visitors were the stronger of the two sides and deserved their win.
The three points consolidates the Royals in second position behind St. Anthony’s. Next up is Gloucester Hornets at Maple Leaf on August 9th. The Royals hope the ongoing injury crisis will clear somewhat by then, but know already that they will be without Ryan Devereaux and James MacMillan, with Clouthier doubtful.
Man of the Match: 3 points – Antoine Lagarec, 2 points – Marc Labrom, 1 point – James MacMillan
Statistics
Internationals
1-Sean Dobbie; 2-Mike Domanski, 4-Chris Marins, 79-Jeff Cowan, 6-Milan Dakka, 7-Greg Andujar, 8-Sol Ashrafi, 9-Eugenio Burnier, 10-Iyad Dakka, 11-Gilson Calei, 12-Marco Ianni. 13-Chris Nolan, 14-Peter Mapendere, 15-Steve Walker, 17-Tom MacDonald, 19-Paolo Alves, 20-Joris Graziotin, 21-Jose Sanchez, 22-Claudio Santo, 18-Mike Hoffler
Yellow Cards: Mike Domanski, Greg Andujar, Iyad Dakka, Chris Nolan
Ottawa Royals
1-Antoine Lagarec; 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom (5-Alan Morgan, 60 mins), 12-Alan Farant; 14-Jonathan Brooks, 9-Richard Boyle (13-Jeff Dennis, 46 mins), 15-Steve Kowlessar, 2-Ewan Lyttle (9-Richard Boyle, 75 mins), 11-Dom Rochon (20-Marc Anthony Viscosi, 65); 19-Ryan Devereaux 7-Sylvain Clouthier (21-Dimitri Koutras, 40 mins, 4-Thierry Ntwari, 76 mins)
Substitute not used: 8-Dan Deganutti,
Yellow Cards: None
Goals: Ryan Devereaux (4, 87 mins); James MacMillan (20 mins), Richard Boyle (90 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo, Devereaux 11; Boyle 8; Kowlessar 5; J. Gutierrez 4; Clouthier, Koutras, MacMillan, 3, Ntwari 2; Brooks, 1
Assists: Brooks, 9; Boyle, Deganutti, 5; Koutras, Rochon 4; Kowlessar, 3; D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, 2; Clouthier, Dennis, Lyttle, Ntwari 1
August 2, 2007
Ottawa Royals recorded their third league win on the trot last night, beating the Internationals by a comfortable margin and at the same time notching up their first clean sheet in the league. Ryan Devereaux scored twice, James MacMillan headed his traditional goal and Richard Boyle scored a late long-range rocket to defeat the home side 4-0.
With legendary defender Marc Labrom making his final appearance for the Royals before transferring to Pretoria with work, the Royals were keen to get their third win of the season over the Internationals with which to send him off. Numerous injuries and absences had taken its toll on the line up, with Frank Zegers, Tyler Wallace, Frank Dicaria, Sanjeev Parmar, Roberto Gutierrez, Jorge Gutierrez, Alic Edgar, Matt D’Angelo and Greg Donnard all unavailable. On the plus side, Marc Anthony Viscosi was almost recovered from his hamstring injury and had declared himself fit, as had Dan Deganutti, who sustained knee knack against St. Anthony’s on Sunday.
The Royals started with its now favoured 3-5-2 formation with Antoine Lagarec in goal, a back three of Marc Labrom, James MacMillan and Alan Farant, Jon Brooks on the right of midfield and Richard Boyle on the left, Ewan Lyttle playing in front of the defence, Dom Rochon and Steve Kowlessar in the middle, and a front two of Sylvain Clouthier and Ryan Devereaux.
The Royals started the game at breakneck speed, dominating the play and barely allowing the home team out of its own half. After a couple of close calls, Ryan Devereaux finally opened the scoring on 4 minutes.
Brooks stripped Ianni on the right of the field and crossed it in deep to Boyle at the far side of the penalty area. Brooks controlled and passed the ball into the box to meet Devereaux’s incisive run. Devereaux took it first time on his instep and placed it past Dobbie’s despairing dive into the corner of the net.
The Royals kept composure and continued to play the ball around – yet gave the impression of being in second gear for much of the next 10 minutes. In defence, Lagarec marshalled his troops well, and Farant – who was making his first full start and his first appearance as a defender – looked confident and composed.
The visitors then moved into top gear again and for 5 minutes simply fizzed the ball around the field, using the width well. Half chances fell to Devereaux and Clouthier, but it wasn’t until Boyle picked up the ball on the right and set off on a mazy run towards the box that the possession started to pay dividends. Beating man after man, Boyle slalomed like an Olympic water-skier before laying a ball off to Clouthier and moving for the return pass. Somehow Ianni managed to get a toe to it before Boyle and deflected it out for a corner.
But the danger was not cleared. Brooks moved over to take the corner and whipped in a teasing cross to the box. MacMillan rose above the defence and powered his header past Dobbie into the net.
It seemed that there may be a repeat of the 7-0 rout from the Ontario Cup in early June, but full credit to the Internationals, they refused to be awed and kept fighting for every ball. Indeed, straight after the second goal, they seemed to enjoy a good spell of possession and wee on top for a while. However, with Lyttle staying solid in front of the defence, Lagarec was seldom tested.
The Royals once again relaxed and as a result the play became scrappy. Despite the huge channels that were opening up on the flanks, the passes seldom reached Brooks or Boyle and the visitors were penned in a little. On 35 minutes though, Rochon played an excellent ball behind MacDonald and Ianni to release Brooks. Brooks outpaced the defenders but hurried his shot, which flew high and wide.
On 40 minutes, Clouthier pulled up short holding his hamstring. It does not appear to be as serious as initially thought, but could still keep the talismanic striker out of the next fixture at Gloucester. Koutras came on to replace him and took up his position alongside Devereaux.
On the stroke of halftime, Steve Kowlessar struck a good free kick that Dobbie did well to get behind, denying Devereaux a second goal by smothering the rebound on the second attempt.
At half time, Michael Adams replaced Richard Boyle with Jeff Dennis and emphasised the need to use the channels and close down the spaces in midfield. The Royals came out for the second half and looked to implement the tactics. The Internationals became more physical in their approach, picking up 4 yellow cards in the second half (all for fouls) with Iyad Dakka in particular lucky to remain on the field.
The game became very scrappy and on 60 minutes, Alan Morgan replaced the hero of the hour Marc Labrom, who chose his final appearance as a Royal to suffer his annual back spasm. Ewan Lyttle moved to defence. Five minutes later, Adams switched it around again, taking off captain Dom Rochon and risking Marc Antony Viscosi in defence. Lyttle moved back to his defensive midfield position.
It seemed as if the Royals were paying for their exertions of Sunday, with the Internationals starting to play decent balls in behind the defence. On 73 minutes, James MacMillan put in some outstanding defensive work, chasing back Andujar and blocking the initial shot, before sticking out a toe to knock the ball away form the onrushing and supporting Santo.
On 75 minutes, Ewan Lyttle, who had had a fine game but was tiring rapidly, was replaced by Boyle and sixty seconds later Thierry Ntwari replaced the hardworking Dimitri Koutras.
Boyle exerted a good influence on the final stages of the game, holding up play well and linking with the excellent Ryan Devereaux and the speedy Ntwari. On 87 minutes, the growing influence that the Royals had had paid dividends when Devereaux finished off a superb piece of football involving Boyle and Ntwari. Released behind the defence, Devereaux sped into the area and then slipped the ball under the diving body of Dobbie.
As the clock wound down, Boyle applied the coup de grace as the teams moved into injury time. Receiving the ball 10 yards outside the area, he turned and moved the ball outside the defender before striking a viciously swerving and dipping shot over Dobbie and into the roof of the net.
The 4-0 score perhaps flattered the Royals, but overall the visitors were the stronger of the two sides and deserved their win.
The three points consolidates the Royals in second position behind St. Anthony’s. Next up is Gloucester Hornets at Maple Leaf on August 9th. The Royals hope the ongoing injury crisis will clear somewhat by then, but know already that they will be without Ryan Devereaux and James MacMillan, with Clouthier doubtful.
Man of the Match: 3 points – Antoine Lagarec, 2 points – Marc Labrom, 1 point – James MacMillan
Statistics
Internationals
1-Sean Dobbie; 2-Mike Domanski, 4-Chris Marins, 79-Jeff Cowan, 6-Milan Dakka, 7-Greg Andujar, 8-Sol Ashrafi, 9-Eugenio Burnier, 10-Iyad Dakka, 11-Gilson Calei, 12-Marco Ianni. 13-Chris Nolan, 14-Peter Mapendere, 15-Steve Walker, 17-Tom MacDonald, 19-Paolo Alves, 20-Joris Graziotin, 21-Jose Sanchez, 22-Claudio Santo, 18-Mike Hoffler
Yellow Cards: Mike Domanski, Greg Andujar, Iyad Dakka, Chris Nolan
Ottawa Royals
1-Antoine Lagarec; 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom (5-Alan Morgan, 60 mins), 12-Alan Farant; 14-Jonathan Brooks, 9-Richard Boyle (13-Jeff Dennis, 46 mins), 15-Steve Kowlessar, 2-Ewan Lyttle (9-Richard Boyle, 75 mins), 11-Dom Rochon (20-Marc Anthony Viscosi, 65); 19-Ryan Devereaux 7-Sylvain Clouthier (21-Dimitri Koutras, 40 mins, 4-Thierry Ntwari, 76 mins)
Substitute not used: 8-Dan Deganutti,
Yellow Cards: None
Goals: Ryan Devereaux (4, 87 mins); James MacMillan (20 mins), Richard Boyle (90 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo, Devereaux 11; Boyle 8; Kowlessar 5; J. Gutierrez 4; Clouthier, Koutras, MacMillan, 3, Ntwari 2; Brooks, 1
Assists: Brooks, 9; Boyle, Deganutti, 5; Koutras, Rochon 4; Kowlessar, 3; D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, 2; Clouthier, Dennis, Lyttle, Ntwari 1
Results from Round 9 of the OCSL Premier Division
All four matches from last night's round have actually been reported in to the OCSL and have been posted on the web site, which is perhaps the biggest surprise of the night.
At Terry Fox, the Royals eschewed home field advantage and secured their third win of the season over the Internationals (4-0). A brace from Ryan Devereaux, a header from James MacMillan and another Richard Boyle wonderstrike gave the Royals the three points and consolidated second position (17 points from 9 games). The Internationals, meanwhile, slip from third to sixth.
At Du Plateau, St. Anthony's rebounded from its defeat to the Royals on Sunday by knocking five past UNIDOS de Hull (5-2). St. Anthony's now has 25 points from its 10 games played.
Meanwhile, at Tauvette, Gloucester Hornets (8 points from 8 games) moved off bottom spot by beating the Lions de Hull 3-2. Gloucester is now in seventh and the Lions have replaced them at the foot of the table with 7 points from 9 games.
In the final game, Rockers maintained their fine season by defeating Capital United 3-2 at Terry Fox North. Rockers move into 5th place with 10 points from 7 games, while Capital United hold onto third spot with 12 points from 11 games.
At Terry Fox, the Royals eschewed home field advantage and secured their third win of the season over the Internationals (4-0). A brace from Ryan Devereaux, a header from James MacMillan and another Richard Boyle wonderstrike gave the Royals the three points and consolidated second position (17 points from 9 games). The Internationals, meanwhile, slip from third to sixth.
At Du Plateau, St. Anthony's rebounded from its defeat to the Royals on Sunday by knocking five past UNIDOS de Hull (5-2). St. Anthony's now has 25 points from its 10 games played.
Meanwhile, at Tauvette, Gloucester Hornets (8 points from 8 games) moved off bottom spot by beating the Lions de Hull 3-2. Gloucester is now in seventh and the Lions have replaced them at the foot of the table with 7 points from 9 games.
In the final game, Rockers maintained their fine season by defeating Capital United 3-2 at Terry Fox North. Rockers move into 5th place with 10 points from 7 games, while Capital United hold onto third spot with 12 points from 11 games.
Agent Labrom Signs Out
Royals defender/midfielder leaves on a mission
Ottawa Royals bade an emotional farewell last night to Agent Marc Labrom, who leaves on mission to South Africa for the next few years.
Prior to a cornucopia of post-match cocktails at Ottawa's Pub Italia, Labrom was awarded the highest honour ever bestowed on a player by his team mates: a light blue Tittenham away shirt.
Agent Labrom has been asked to rewrite the South African constitution prior to upcoming national elections. Specializing in haute cuisine and the nefarious effects of Daquiris, Labrom will investigate ways to include these into ANC party policy. Based in a twelve-bedroom mansion in Pretoria, he is now taking bookings for June and July 2010 (although Dan Deganutti and Ewan Lyttle have already co-opted the gardener's lodge, overlooking the pool).
True-to-form, Marc Labrom did not score during the Royals' 4-0 win over the Internationals last night. He did, however, hobble off the pitch clutching his back.
Marc Labrom: a retrospective
1970s (some time): Born
2000s (some time): Joined the Royals.
2007: Went to South Africa.
Ottawa Royals bade an emotional farewell last night to Agent Marc Labrom, who leaves on mission to South Africa for the next few years.
Prior to a cornucopia of post-match cocktails at Ottawa's Pub Italia, Labrom was awarded the highest honour ever bestowed on a player by his team mates: a light blue Tittenham away shirt.
Agent Labrom has been asked to rewrite the South African constitution prior to upcoming national elections. Specializing in haute cuisine and the nefarious effects of Daquiris, Labrom will investigate ways to include these into ANC party policy. Based in a twelve-bedroom mansion in Pretoria, he is now taking bookings for June and July 2010 (although Dan Deganutti and Ewan Lyttle have already co-opted the gardener's lodge, overlooking the pool).
True-to-form, Marc Labrom did not score during the Royals' 4-0 win over the Internationals last night. He did, however, hobble off the pitch clutching his back.
Marc Labrom: a retrospective
1970s (some time): Born
2000s (some time): Joined the Royals.
2007: Went to South Africa.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Report: Ottawa Royals 3, St. Anthony's 1
The llama fails to spoil the show, Royals down Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s
July 29, 2007
Ottawa Royals provided further evidence that it is becoming a team to be reckoned with on Sunday as it defeated the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s by a score of 3-1 at Maple Leaf Almrausch. James MacMillan, Sylvain Clouthier and Ryan Devereaux scored for the Royals, while Simon Bonk scored the St. Anthony’s consolation goal.
Both teams went into the match on the back of strong wins against Quebec sides – the Royals beating UNIDOS 6-2 and St. Anthony’s defeating the Lions de Hull 4-0. Prior to kick off, however, the confidence was definitely with the visiting side, as the Royals were without Jonathan Brooks (suspension), Frank Zegers, Tyler Wallace (who dislocated his finger picking up a particularly heavy chicken wing), Frank Dicaria (broken toe), Sanjeev Parma (mono), Roberto Gutierrez (ankle), Marc Anthony Viscosi (hamstring), Alic Edgar (fractured foot), Matt D’Angelo (with the national university team in Thailand) and Dimitri Koutras (MIA). On top of this, captain Dom Rochon tweaked his groin in the Thursday game against UNIDOS and so was unable to start.
As a result, the home side had drafted in veteran defender Rob Shaw for his first game in Premier of the season and had old-timer goalkeeper Antoine Lagarec in the nets. Ewan Lyttle was back from his stay at a Nova Scotia health farm, Ryan Devereaux had driven back from London, Ont., in 3 hours 45 minutes, Marc Labrom was straight out of his flower arranging class in Montreal (smelling strangely of peppermints) and Richard Boyle’s Flushing Meadows morning had left the fresh-faced private ruddy cheeked and unable to string together three words in a cogent or logical phrase.
It promised to be interesting.
The Royals reverted back to a 3-5-2 formation: Lagarec in goal, a defensive line of Shaw, MacMillan and Labrom, Bole on the right side of midfield, Lyttle in the defensive midfield role, Kowlessar and Gutierrez in front of him and Deganutti on the left. Up front, Clouthier and Devereaux started their first match together since the Gloucester Hornets fiasco, when the Royals had been seemingly unable to hit Ewan Lyttle’s arse with a banjo.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s, meanwhile, welcomed back Roland Tiamuh to play against his former club.
The Royals opened the game on the offensive and were dominant from the off. On five minutes, the Royals got a corner on the right, which was whipped in by Dan Deganutti. The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s semi-cleared the ball, which landed back out by the corner flag. Deganutti, his blond locks flowing in the sultry breeze that engulfed the majestic Almrausch stadium, adjusted a loose strand, knocked the ball two inches to his left, then pinpointed a wickedly dipping cross straight at the head of James MacMillan. MacMillan soared like a salmon, hung in midair for what seemed an eternity, checked his watch and then powered a header into the side of the net to give the Royals the lead. MacMillan had regained his place in defence before Wong hit the ground.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s looked aghast. As well they might. This was MacMillan’s first goal in a competitive match since 1972, when he helped the Nerds beat the Jocks in a thrilling 1-0-1-1-0 to nil victory. And his first ever with his eyes open.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s hit back and were unlucky not to score soon after when Gagou’s header hit the top of the crossbar. On 16 minutes though, Kowlessar’s dipping shot from 30 yards dipped inches over the bar. And from the resulting goal kick, the Royals doubled their lead.
Sylvain Clouthier had until this time had a relatively quiet day. A couple of minor skirmished with defender Ledi Bushiri, the occasional clinical pass, a lot of running and the odd thinly disguised insult in Joyal at the referee.
But when Angus Wong slightly underhit his goal kick, the Cantley panther sprang into action, leaping acrobatically in the air to control the ball with the outside of his right foot, before readjusting in midair and firing a first time shot into the corner of the net. It was an excellent goal, easily the best goal scored by a Quebecker in this match.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s were now in disarray and the Royals were denied a cast-iron penalty on 28 minutes when Deganutti was pushed over from behind in the penalty area. Referee Popescu originally seemed to have awarded a penalty – then changed his mind to a goal kick – all without changing the direction he was pointing in. Imagine, if you will, Basil Fawlty without the moustache, goose-stepping his way to the penalty area, crouching down low, pointing at the penalty spot and shouting “Goal Kick”.
Fawlty, who has a long track record of getting penalties wrong (four poor decisions in the previous Thursday’s game alone), continued his fine tradition of ineptitude by booking Deganutti. The Italian Stallion joined the King of Cantley in the book, Clouthier having momentarily lapsed into comprehensible French in the referee’s earshot.
Still, the Royals remained in control of the match: on 35 minutes, Wong made amends for his previous aberration by making a superb one-handed save off Clouthier and two minutes later, defence splitting passing carved open the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s once more, with the final effort being inches wide.
On 44 minutes, Jorge Gutierrez, who had worked tirelessly alongside the Silent Knight in midfield, missed a great opportunity to make it 3-0, which would surely have wrapped up the match there and then. Instead, the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s came upfield and forced a corner.
In an exact repeat of the match-winning goal ten days previously, the outswinging ball found the lofty frame of Simon Bonk loitering on the edge of the area. Unmarked, Bonk got his head to the ball and lofted it over the advanced Antoine Lagarec, off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. After 45 minutes of generally excellent football, the Royals had opened the door to the visitors.
This is a lesson that the Royals appear to not have learned from the start of the season. Despite dominating the majority of the games in which they have played, the team loses focus at key moments and concedes avoidable goals. The litany of woe is long indeed: Capital United, Gloucester, UNIDOS, Lions de Hull, Internationals, Hearts Azzurri – all either beaten or about to be beaten, when a soft goal is conceded. It either costs the team points or makes a routine win a scramble.
The second half began, not surprisingly, with the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s on the attack, although for every half chance they obtained, the Royals hit back on the counter and created one of their own. With the front two of Clouthier and Nova Scotian NASCAR wunderkind Ryan Devereaux up front, Bonk and Bushiri were tested to the full. With Dan Deganutti removed at half time, Alan Farant stepped seamlessly into the left-hand side midfield role and held his own against very fast competition.
On 60 minutes, Michael Adams replaced the flagging Ewan “Two Bellies” Lyttle with Long John Rochon, the one-legged midfield maestro (“Did I tell you about River Plate?”) with no groin but an eye for a killer pass. Three minutes later, Ryan Devereaux crawled off the pitch for a breather and was replaced by Ninja Ntwari, the Burundi ululater. Ntwari carried on where Devereaux had left off, his searing pace troubling the back three constantly – and of course he is so polite!
It took the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s defence a while to realize that they didn’t have to answer every time Ntwari said hello. “Hi!” he would shout before launching off on a rampaging run down the left. “Hi!” they would wonder aloud, before setting off in hot pursuit. “Hi!” he would say, waving for a ball from the midfield. “Hi!” they would answer, confused. Make no mistake, this is a vital weapon in the Ninja armoury – and had it not been for the insider information from Rowland Tiamuh, it might have carried on all game. As it was, Ntwari was mainly used to give Devereaux a breather in this game, but the speedy striker is definitely one for the future.
The game continued at a frantic pace, with St. Anthony’s launching everything in attack and the Royals matching them in defence and then hitting back quickly on the counter. As St. Anthony’s threw an extra man forward, coach Michael Adams foolhardily decided to keep two up front, aided in the decision by the sterling defensive work of his team and the constant threat posed by the strikers.
When Clouthier thrashed a dipping shot against the crossbar on 86 minutes, it looked like the gamble might not pay off. But with Gutierrez, Kowlessar and Rochon dominant in the middle and the unit shifting well to cover all attacks, it looked like a reasonable bet.
On 89 minutes, Rob Shaw took a quick free kick to Kowlessar who in turn fed Devereaux. Devereaux sprang once more the high offside trap used by the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s and showing incredible stamina, sprinted to the edge of the area. Carefully waiting until Wong had committed himself, Devereaux placed the ball perfectly under the advancing keeper’s body into the back of the net.
Cue mayhem. Devereaux’s goal is further evidence of the unquestionable ability of the Nova Scotian. After a slow start in the OCSL where he was dogged by injury, Devereaux has now fully recovered and looks a constant threat in games. His performances in the past three games in particular have been exceptional.
As the home side was celebrating, one of the more unsavoury incidents took place. Having been endlessly frustrated by the Royals’ Mexican mannequin Jorge Gutierrez all afternoon, Edgar Soglo decided it would be appropriate to send a huge pile of gob at him, spraying the Mexican’s shoulder with spittle. To his credit, Gutierrez didn’t react – and merely informed referee Fawlty who had, unsurprisingly, not seen it.
But the game ended in a tense and unpleasant manner – and remonstrations were loud and acrimonious after the game. We await to see what the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s will do about the incident.
Still, whatever happens to the llama, the Royals still won – and three points against the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s is three points. The Royals move up to second place in the standings with two games in hand over the third-placed team Capital United.
Next up is the return match against Ottawa Internationals – a team that is committed and strong and will give the resurgent Royals a good run for their money on Thursday night.
Man of the Match: 3 points – James MacMillan, 2 points – Ryan Devereaux & Sylvain Clouthier, 1 point – Antoine Lagarec
Statistics
Ottawa Royals
1-Antoine Lagarec; 21-Rob Shaw, 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom; 17-Richard Boyle (13-Jeff Dennis, 74 mins), 15-Steve Kowlessar, 2-Ewan Lyttle (11-Dom Rochon, 59 mins), 18-Jorge Gutierrez, 9-Dan Deganutti (12-Alan Farant, 46 mins); 19-Ryan Devereaux (4-Thierry Ntwari, 61 mins; 19-Ryan Devereaux 74 mins), 7-Sylvain Clouthier
Yellow Cards: Sylvain Clouthier, Dan Deganutti, Jorge Gutierrez, Marc Labrom
Goals: James MacMillan (5 mins), Sylvain Clouthier (17 mins), Ryan Devereaux (89 mins)
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s
1-Angus Wong; 6-Simon Bonk, 4-Ledi Bushiri, 11-Souleymane Gagou, 21-Johnny Legakis, 8-Alain Nijima, 20-Allan Popazzi, 10-Johnny Schieda, 12-Edgar “The Llama” Soglo, 18-Claudio Vennegas, 28-Roland Tiamuh, 17-Will Beauge
Yellow Cards: Edgar “The Llama” Soglo
Goals: Bonk (45 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo 11; Devereaux 9; Boyle 7; Kowlessar 5; J. Gutierrez 4; Clouthier, Koutras 3, MacMillan, Ntwari 2; Brooks, 1
Assists: Brooks, 7; Deganutti, 5; Koutras, Rochon 4; Boyle, Kowlessar, 3; D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, 2; Clouthier, Dennis, Lyttle 1
July 29, 2007
Ottawa Royals provided further evidence that it is becoming a team to be reckoned with on Sunday as it defeated the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s by a score of 3-1 at Maple Leaf Almrausch. James MacMillan, Sylvain Clouthier and Ryan Devereaux scored for the Royals, while Simon Bonk scored the St. Anthony’s consolation goal.
Both teams went into the match on the back of strong wins against Quebec sides – the Royals beating UNIDOS 6-2 and St. Anthony’s defeating the Lions de Hull 4-0. Prior to kick off, however, the confidence was definitely with the visiting side, as the Royals were without Jonathan Brooks (suspension), Frank Zegers, Tyler Wallace (who dislocated his finger picking up a particularly heavy chicken wing), Frank Dicaria (broken toe), Sanjeev Parma (mono), Roberto Gutierrez (ankle), Marc Anthony Viscosi (hamstring), Alic Edgar (fractured foot), Matt D’Angelo (with the national university team in Thailand) and Dimitri Koutras (MIA). On top of this, captain Dom Rochon tweaked his groin in the Thursday game against UNIDOS and so was unable to start.
As a result, the home side had drafted in veteran defender Rob Shaw for his first game in Premier of the season and had old-timer goalkeeper Antoine Lagarec in the nets. Ewan Lyttle was back from his stay at a Nova Scotia health farm, Ryan Devereaux had driven back from London, Ont., in 3 hours 45 minutes, Marc Labrom was straight out of his flower arranging class in Montreal (smelling strangely of peppermints) and Richard Boyle’s Flushing Meadows morning had left the fresh-faced private ruddy cheeked and unable to string together three words in a cogent or logical phrase.
It promised to be interesting.
The Royals reverted back to a 3-5-2 formation: Lagarec in goal, a defensive line of Shaw, MacMillan and Labrom, Bole on the right side of midfield, Lyttle in the defensive midfield role, Kowlessar and Gutierrez in front of him and Deganutti on the left. Up front, Clouthier and Devereaux started their first match together since the Gloucester Hornets fiasco, when the Royals had been seemingly unable to hit Ewan Lyttle’s arse with a banjo.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s, meanwhile, welcomed back Roland Tiamuh to play against his former club.
The Royals opened the game on the offensive and were dominant from the off. On five minutes, the Royals got a corner on the right, which was whipped in by Dan Deganutti. The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s semi-cleared the ball, which landed back out by the corner flag. Deganutti, his blond locks flowing in the sultry breeze that engulfed the majestic Almrausch stadium, adjusted a loose strand, knocked the ball two inches to his left, then pinpointed a wickedly dipping cross straight at the head of James MacMillan. MacMillan soared like a salmon, hung in midair for what seemed an eternity, checked his watch and then powered a header into the side of the net to give the Royals the lead. MacMillan had regained his place in defence before Wong hit the ground.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s looked aghast. As well they might. This was MacMillan’s first goal in a competitive match since 1972, when he helped the Nerds beat the Jocks in a thrilling 1-0-1-1-0 to nil victory. And his first ever with his eyes open.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s hit back and were unlucky not to score soon after when Gagou’s header hit the top of the crossbar. On 16 minutes though, Kowlessar’s dipping shot from 30 yards dipped inches over the bar. And from the resulting goal kick, the Royals doubled their lead.
Sylvain Clouthier had until this time had a relatively quiet day. A couple of minor skirmished with defender Ledi Bushiri, the occasional clinical pass, a lot of running and the odd thinly disguised insult in Joyal at the referee.
But when Angus Wong slightly underhit his goal kick, the Cantley panther sprang into action, leaping acrobatically in the air to control the ball with the outside of his right foot, before readjusting in midair and firing a first time shot into the corner of the net. It was an excellent goal, easily the best goal scored by a Quebecker in this match.
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s were now in disarray and the Royals were denied a cast-iron penalty on 28 minutes when Deganutti was pushed over from behind in the penalty area. Referee Popescu originally seemed to have awarded a penalty – then changed his mind to a goal kick – all without changing the direction he was pointing in. Imagine, if you will, Basil Fawlty without the moustache, goose-stepping his way to the penalty area, crouching down low, pointing at the penalty spot and shouting “Goal Kick”.
Fawlty, who has a long track record of getting penalties wrong (four poor decisions in the previous Thursday’s game alone), continued his fine tradition of ineptitude by booking Deganutti. The Italian Stallion joined the King of Cantley in the book, Clouthier having momentarily lapsed into comprehensible French in the referee’s earshot.
Still, the Royals remained in control of the match: on 35 minutes, Wong made amends for his previous aberration by making a superb one-handed save off Clouthier and two minutes later, defence splitting passing carved open the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s once more, with the final effort being inches wide.
On 44 minutes, Jorge Gutierrez, who had worked tirelessly alongside the Silent Knight in midfield, missed a great opportunity to make it 3-0, which would surely have wrapped up the match there and then. Instead, the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s came upfield and forced a corner.
In an exact repeat of the match-winning goal ten days previously, the outswinging ball found the lofty frame of Simon Bonk loitering on the edge of the area. Unmarked, Bonk got his head to the ball and lofted it over the advanced Antoine Lagarec, off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. After 45 minutes of generally excellent football, the Royals had opened the door to the visitors.
This is a lesson that the Royals appear to not have learned from the start of the season. Despite dominating the majority of the games in which they have played, the team loses focus at key moments and concedes avoidable goals. The litany of woe is long indeed: Capital United, Gloucester, UNIDOS, Lions de Hull, Internationals, Hearts Azzurri – all either beaten or about to be beaten, when a soft goal is conceded. It either costs the team points or makes a routine win a scramble.
The second half began, not surprisingly, with the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s on the attack, although for every half chance they obtained, the Royals hit back on the counter and created one of their own. With the front two of Clouthier and Nova Scotian NASCAR wunderkind Ryan Devereaux up front, Bonk and Bushiri were tested to the full. With Dan Deganutti removed at half time, Alan Farant stepped seamlessly into the left-hand side midfield role and held his own against very fast competition.
On 60 minutes, Michael Adams replaced the flagging Ewan “Two Bellies” Lyttle with Long John Rochon, the one-legged midfield maestro (“Did I tell you about River Plate?”) with no groin but an eye for a killer pass. Three minutes later, Ryan Devereaux crawled off the pitch for a breather and was replaced by Ninja Ntwari, the Burundi ululater. Ntwari carried on where Devereaux had left off, his searing pace troubling the back three constantly – and of course he is so polite!
It took the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s defence a while to realize that they didn’t have to answer every time Ntwari said hello. “Hi!” he would shout before launching off on a rampaging run down the left. “Hi!” they would wonder aloud, before setting off in hot pursuit. “Hi!” he would say, waving for a ball from the midfield. “Hi!” they would answer, confused. Make no mistake, this is a vital weapon in the Ninja armoury – and had it not been for the insider information from Rowland Tiamuh, it might have carried on all game. As it was, Ntwari was mainly used to give Devereaux a breather in this game, but the speedy striker is definitely one for the future.
The game continued at a frantic pace, with St. Anthony’s launching everything in attack and the Royals matching them in defence and then hitting back quickly on the counter. As St. Anthony’s threw an extra man forward, coach Michael Adams foolhardily decided to keep two up front, aided in the decision by the sterling defensive work of his team and the constant threat posed by the strikers.
When Clouthier thrashed a dipping shot against the crossbar on 86 minutes, it looked like the gamble might not pay off. But with Gutierrez, Kowlessar and Rochon dominant in the middle and the unit shifting well to cover all attacks, it looked like a reasonable bet.
On 89 minutes, Rob Shaw took a quick free kick to Kowlessar who in turn fed Devereaux. Devereaux sprang once more the high offside trap used by the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s and showing incredible stamina, sprinted to the edge of the area. Carefully waiting until Wong had committed himself, Devereaux placed the ball perfectly under the advancing keeper’s body into the back of the net.
Cue mayhem. Devereaux’s goal is further evidence of the unquestionable ability of the Nova Scotian. After a slow start in the OCSL where he was dogged by injury, Devereaux has now fully recovered and looks a constant threat in games. His performances in the past three games in particular have been exceptional.
As the home side was celebrating, one of the more unsavoury incidents took place. Having been endlessly frustrated by the Royals’ Mexican mannequin Jorge Gutierrez all afternoon, Edgar Soglo decided it would be appropriate to send a huge pile of gob at him, spraying the Mexican’s shoulder with spittle. To his credit, Gutierrez didn’t react – and merely informed referee Fawlty who had, unsurprisingly, not seen it.
But the game ended in a tense and unpleasant manner – and remonstrations were loud and acrimonious after the game. We await to see what the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s will do about the incident.
Still, whatever happens to the llama, the Royals still won – and three points against the Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s is three points. The Royals move up to second place in the standings with two games in hand over the third-placed team Capital United.
Next up is the return match against Ottawa Internationals – a team that is committed and strong and will give the resurgent Royals a good run for their money on Thursday night.
Man of the Match: 3 points – James MacMillan, 2 points – Ryan Devereaux & Sylvain Clouthier, 1 point – Antoine Lagarec
Statistics
Ottawa Royals
1-Antoine Lagarec; 21-Rob Shaw, 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom; 17-Richard Boyle (13-Jeff Dennis, 74 mins), 15-Steve Kowlessar, 2-Ewan Lyttle (11-Dom Rochon, 59 mins), 18-Jorge Gutierrez, 9-Dan Deganutti (12-Alan Farant, 46 mins); 19-Ryan Devereaux (4-Thierry Ntwari, 61 mins; 19-Ryan Devereaux 74 mins), 7-Sylvain Clouthier
Yellow Cards: Sylvain Clouthier, Dan Deganutti, Jorge Gutierrez, Marc Labrom
Goals: James MacMillan (5 mins), Sylvain Clouthier (17 mins), Ryan Devereaux (89 mins)
The Canadian National Champions™ St. Anthony’s
1-Angus Wong; 6-Simon Bonk, 4-Ledi Bushiri, 11-Souleymane Gagou, 21-Johnny Legakis, 8-Alain Nijima, 20-Allan Popazzi, 10-Johnny Schieda, 12-Edgar “The Llama” Soglo, 18-Claudio Vennegas, 28-Roland Tiamuh, 17-Will Beauge
Yellow Cards: Edgar “The Llama” Soglo
Goals: Bonk (45 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo 11; Devereaux 9; Boyle 7; Kowlessar 5; J. Gutierrez 4; Clouthier, Koutras 3, MacMillan, Ntwari 2; Brooks, 1
Assists: Brooks, 7; Deganutti, 5; Koutras, Rochon 4; Boyle, Kowlessar, 3; D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, 2; Clouthier, Dennis, Lyttle 1
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Report: Ottawa Royals 6, UNIDOS de Hull 2
Rampant Royals Find Goalscoring Form
July 26, 2007
Ottawa Royals put in a solid performance at Maple Leaf to comprehensively defeat Quebec Cup quarter-finalists UNIDOS de Hull by a score of 6-2 last night.
With both first team goalkeepers injured (Wallace with a dislocated finger and Dicaria with a broken toe), Michael Adams gave old-timer Antoine Lagarec his first start of the season in nets. Also missing through injury were Marc Anthony Viscosi, Roberto Gutierrez, Alic Edgar, Greg Donnard and Ewan Lyttle.
The Royals formed an attacking line up, with Matt D’Angelo (in between trips to Italy and Thailand) partnering Ryan Devereaux up front.
The home side piled on the pressure from the start, creating a couple of half chances in the first couple of minutes. So it came as no surprise that they took the lead on three minutes, following some excellent interplay between Marc Labrom, Matt D’Angelo and Ryan Devereaux. Labrom’s early pass was beautifully flicked on by D’Angelo and Devereaux finished nicely in the far corner having wrong-footed the keeper.
The Royals were playing some excellent football, drawing in the visitors and then hitting Deganutti and Brooks on the flanks. There were a succession of decent chances and both Boyle and Brooks spurned good opportunities to double the lead.
On 23 minutes, however, Devereaux did just that. Brooks did well to recover an overhit Deganutti cross and centred for Kowlessar in the area. Kowlessar guided his header into the path of Devereaux, who finished well with a glancing header.
Boyle added another goal four minutes later with a superb piece of skill. He controlled a bouncing ball at the edge of the penalty area and then turned his man with one move before curling a beautiful shot from 20 yards into the top right hand corner of the net.
Cruising along at 3-0, the Royals took their foot off the gas a little – and allowed UNIDOS back into the game, although it was arguably more due to the intervention of referee Popescu than anything else.
When Lagarec rushed off his line to claim a 50-50 ball at full stretch with both hands, Popescu deemed that the keeper had brought down Hull’s striker Akem. Despite the protestations, the penalty stood and it was converted with aplomb by Fournier on 31 minutes.
The Royals were still in control, but the passing in midfield became a little sloppy and the home team started to create problems for itself. When the visitors scored a second goal on 42 minutes, as a result of poor defensive play on the right, alarm bells started to ring.
But within 60 seconds, the Royals had given themselves a two goal cushion again, when Popescu awarded his second soft penalty of the evening, for a harsh handball, against the Quebeckers.
Steve Kowlessar slotted the ball home with ease and at half time, the score was 4-2 in favour of the home side.
In the second half, substitute Jorge Gutierrez added a clinically executed volley directly from a Brooks corner on 52 minutes to increase the score to 5-2.
The second half was one way traffic as the Royals piled on the pressure and created chance after chance. On 54 minutes, Gutierrez was clean through when he was scythed down in the box by Bertrand. Probably fearful of the paperwork that a red card would entail, Popescu waved play on.
On 72 minutes, Gutierrez struck a venomous free kick that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and out. The Mexican midfielder was in sparkling form in this game, challenging for every ball with gusto and driving the visitors back to the edge of the penalty box with every surging run.
On 74 minutes, he scored his second of the evening, capitalizing on a good cross from Sylvain Clouthier and leaving Ferreira with no chance.
The Royals continued to create chances and look dangerous till the end of the game, but had to settle for six goals against good opposition.
The next game at Maple Leaf is on Sunday at 4 p.m., when second-placed Royals take on the league leaders, St. Anthony’s.
Man of the Match: 3 points – Marc Labrom, 2 points – Jorge Gutierrez, 1 point – James MacMillan
Statistics
Ottawa Royals
1-Antoine Lagarec; 2-Frank Zegers (13-Jeff Dennis, 46 mins), 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom; 20-Steve Kowlessar, 11-Dom Rochon (14-Alan Morgan, 74 mins), 9-Dan Deganutti, 16-Jonathan Brooks (18-Alan Farant, 75 mins.), 14-Richard Boyle (12-J. Gutierrez, 40); 23-Ryan Devereaux (7-Sylvain Clouthier, 39 mins), 15-Matt D’Angelo (8-Dimitri Koutras, 46 mins; 25-Thierry Ntwari, 77 mins; 14-Richard Boyle, 81 mins)
Yellow Cards: none
Goals: Ryan Devereaux (3, 23 mins), Richard Boyle ( 27 mins), Steve Kowlessar (pen., 44 mins), Jorge Gutierrez (52, 73 mins)
UNIDOS de Hull
1-Filia Ferreira, 2-Jules Léger, 3-Lee Bertrand, 4-Simon Romulus, 6-Amine Smail, 7-Stephan Da Silva, 10-Helder Farras, 16-Yannick Fournier, 19-David Giroux, 20-Ianic Stanislav, 22-Antoni Ciepala, 12-Andre Akem, 17-Ernest Malo
Yellow Cards: none
Goals: Fournier (pen 31 mins), Ciepala (43 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo 11; Devereaux 8; Boyle 7; Kowlessar 5; J. Gutierrez 4; Koutras 3, Clouthier, Ntwari 2; Brooks, MacMillan 1
Assists: Brooks, 7; Deganutti, Koutras, Rochon 4; Boyle, 3; D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, Kowlessar, 2; Clouthier, Dennis, Lyttle 1
July 26, 2007
Ottawa Royals put in a solid performance at Maple Leaf to comprehensively defeat Quebec Cup quarter-finalists UNIDOS de Hull by a score of 6-2 last night.
With both first team goalkeepers injured (Wallace with a dislocated finger and Dicaria with a broken toe), Michael Adams gave old-timer Antoine Lagarec his first start of the season in nets. Also missing through injury were Marc Anthony Viscosi, Roberto Gutierrez, Alic Edgar, Greg Donnard and Ewan Lyttle.
The Royals formed an attacking line up, with Matt D’Angelo (in between trips to Italy and Thailand) partnering Ryan Devereaux up front.
The home side piled on the pressure from the start, creating a couple of half chances in the first couple of minutes. So it came as no surprise that they took the lead on three minutes, following some excellent interplay between Marc Labrom, Matt D’Angelo and Ryan Devereaux. Labrom’s early pass was beautifully flicked on by D’Angelo and Devereaux finished nicely in the far corner having wrong-footed the keeper.
The Royals were playing some excellent football, drawing in the visitors and then hitting Deganutti and Brooks on the flanks. There were a succession of decent chances and both Boyle and Brooks spurned good opportunities to double the lead.
On 23 minutes, however, Devereaux did just that. Brooks did well to recover an overhit Deganutti cross and centred for Kowlessar in the area. Kowlessar guided his header into the path of Devereaux, who finished well with a glancing header.
Boyle added another goal four minutes later with a superb piece of skill. He controlled a bouncing ball at the edge of the penalty area and then turned his man with one move before curling a beautiful shot from 20 yards into the top right hand corner of the net.
Cruising along at 3-0, the Royals took their foot off the gas a little – and allowed UNIDOS back into the game, although it was arguably more due to the intervention of referee Popescu than anything else.
When Lagarec rushed off his line to claim a 50-50 ball at full stretch with both hands, Popescu deemed that the keeper had brought down Hull’s striker Akem. Despite the protestations, the penalty stood and it was converted with aplomb by Fournier on 31 minutes.
The Royals were still in control, but the passing in midfield became a little sloppy and the home team started to create problems for itself. When the visitors scored a second goal on 42 minutes, as a result of poor defensive play on the right, alarm bells started to ring.
But within 60 seconds, the Royals had given themselves a two goal cushion again, when Popescu awarded his second soft penalty of the evening, for a harsh handball, against the Quebeckers.
Steve Kowlessar slotted the ball home with ease and at half time, the score was 4-2 in favour of the home side.
In the second half, substitute Jorge Gutierrez added a clinically executed volley directly from a Brooks corner on 52 minutes to increase the score to 5-2.
The second half was one way traffic as the Royals piled on the pressure and created chance after chance. On 54 minutes, Gutierrez was clean through when he was scythed down in the box by Bertrand. Probably fearful of the paperwork that a red card would entail, Popescu waved play on.
On 72 minutes, Gutierrez struck a venomous free kick that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and out. The Mexican midfielder was in sparkling form in this game, challenging for every ball with gusto and driving the visitors back to the edge of the penalty box with every surging run.
On 74 minutes, he scored his second of the evening, capitalizing on a good cross from Sylvain Clouthier and leaving Ferreira with no chance.
The Royals continued to create chances and look dangerous till the end of the game, but had to settle for six goals against good opposition.
The next game at Maple Leaf is on Sunday at 4 p.m., when second-placed Royals take on the league leaders, St. Anthony’s.
Man of the Match: 3 points – Marc Labrom, 2 points – Jorge Gutierrez, 1 point – James MacMillan
Statistics
Ottawa Royals
1-Antoine Lagarec; 2-Frank Zegers (13-Jeff Dennis, 46 mins), 3-James MacMillan, 6-Marc Labrom; 20-Steve Kowlessar, 11-Dom Rochon (14-Alan Morgan, 74 mins), 9-Dan Deganutti, 16-Jonathan Brooks (18-Alan Farant, 75 mins.), 14-Richard Boyle (12-J. Gutierrez, 40); 23-Ryan Devereaux (7-Sylvain Clouthier, 39 mins), 15-Matt D’Angelo (8-Dimitri Koutras, 46 mins; 25-Thierry Ntwari, 77 mins; 14-Richard Boyle, 81 mins)
Yellow Cards: none
Goals: Ryan Devereaux (3, 23 mins), Richard Boyle ( 27 mins), Steve Kowlessar (pen., 44 mins), Jorge Gutierrez (52, 73 mins)
UNIDOS de Hull
1-Filia Ferreira, 2-Jules Léger, 3-Lee Bertrand, 4-Simon Romulus, 6-Amine Smail, 7-Stephan Da Silva, 10-Helder Farras, 16-Yannick Fournier, 19-David Giroux, 20-Ianic Stanislav, 22-Antoni Ciepala, 12-Andre Akem, 17-Ernest Malo
Yellow Cards: none
Goals: Fournier (pen 31 mins), Ciepala (43 mins)
Season Tally:
Goals: D’Angelo 11; Devereaux 8; Boyle 7; Kowlessar 5; J. Gutierrez 4; Koutras 3, Clouthier, Ntwari 2; Brooks, MacMillan 1
Assists: Brooks, 7; Deganutti, Koutras, Rochon 4; Boyle, 3; D’Angelo, Devereaux, Donnard, J. Gutierrez, Kowlessar, 2; Clouthier, Dennis, Lyttle 1
Sunday, July 22, 2007
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
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
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