TORONTO – The Inaugural BMO Champions Cup kicked off Thursday as teams from around Ontario descended on the Kia Training Ground for the four-day event.
U-14 Division
The day started with the Toronto FC Academy U-14’s (2003) playing against the Eurostar Lions from SAAC. The Reds got off to a hot start with both Kosi Thompson and Juan Sanchez recording first-half braces.
The Lions’ ‘keeper Christian Nicholas Davakos made a pair of athletic stops to hold the score where it was before the break. In the other end, ‘keeper Christian Calabro stood tall for the Reds earning a clean sheet. Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty had a strong second half, recording a brace, as the Reds advanced to the finals on Saturday.
The second game of the day pitted the OPDL's Oakville Soccer Club against CAF’s Ginga Soccer. The first half saw both teams trade chances but it went scoreless into the halftime break. Oakville controlled the second half of play and found the breakthrough in the 48th. Oakville added four more and kept Ginga off the score sheet to win 5-0 and advance to the final.
Saturday’s games are now set as Eurostar Academy will take on Ginga Soccer at 1:30 PM and TFC will battle Oakville at 5:30 PM.
U-15 Division
The first game of the day for the U-15 division had Toronto FC’ Academy's U-15 (2002) side taking on CAF’s BRI FC.
The Reds got great first half performances from forwards Jacen Russell-Rowe, who had a hattrick, and Theo Corbeanu, who scored a brace. Ralph Priso was dominant in the midfield and the backline held strong.
Substitutes Julian Altobelli and Ryan Fazzalari both found the back of the net in the second half and Isaac Cardoso saw out the shutout as the Reds advanced to the finals.
The other match saw the OPDL's Richmond Hill SC knock off SAAC’s London Football Academy 6-0. Richmond Hill scored early in the first and second halves to put away the game and advance to the finals.
Saturday’s matches are now set. BRI FC will battle London FA at 3:30 PM while Toronto FC will take on Richmond Hill at 7:30 PM.
All the matches were taken in by Ontario and Canada Soccer brass including Canadian Men’s National Team Head Coach Octavio Zambrano.
The BMO Champions Cup continues tomorrow as the U-16 and U-20 divisions kick off their tournaments. It all gets underway at 1:30 PM.
