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Many AEK fans were on hand in Vaughan to support their team
in the Province's highest level amateur men's soccer
competition. Months of preparation and several very
competitive games preceded this illustrious match-up. AEK
had competed in the Ontario Cup Final in the two previous
years, but had not posted a resounding victory in either
match. This game proved to be the very opportunity to
accomplish this task. From the opening moments it was
apparent that AEK's ball control and passing abilities far
surpassed those of the Royals. They kept the ball in the
Ottawa end for the far greater part of the half, only
allowing the squad in white two offensive rushes that put
the team in gold up to any challenge at all. AEK strikers
had their hands full however with the Ottawa defense, who
outmatched AEK in size if not strength.
AEK continually cycled the ball back to their defenders who
then passed the ball into the midfield and then to their
forwards, who tried every manner of give and go plays to
outpace the Ottawa defenders and put themselves in position
for a strike. And although they did move the play close to
the Ottawa goal on several occasions, they somehow couldn't
find the room to take hard, accurate shots on the Ottawa
goal. This was fortunate for the team in white, as the
Ottawa net minder did quite possibly show some signs of
nervousness while performing in this championship game.
Although AEK controlled most of the play, Ottawa did still
appear dangerous when they were able to formulate drives of
their own. And although they were outplayed throughout the
half, Ottawa did also appear patient, confident, and
determined, and quite possibly in possession of a dangerous
transition game. When both teams went into the break tied
nil-nil after such lopsided play, the pressure did indeed
seem to rest on the shoulders of AEK. |
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Play opened up significantly in the second half. Ottawa was
more effective in moving the ball around the field and often
used their advantage in size to move the ball forcefully up
field and challenge AEK defenses. AEK responded in turn by
putting together more threatening drives of their own, that
often had Ottawa defenders fouling AEK forwards as they
approached. As a result of one of these scenarios, AEK's #
11 Haris Cekic was tripped up just inside the centre box
area and earned a penalty kick at 50 minutes. He made no
mistake and drove a low shot into the bottom corner putting
his team up 1-nil. The entire team as well as their fans on
hand erupted in celebration - finally a goal - but the party
was short lived.
The pressure was now on Ottawa but this seemed to ignite
them right at the very moment that AEK had fallen slightly
back. Only five minutes later Ottawa formulated a drive
that appeared to easily outpace AEK's defenses, as the
Royal's # 19 Abraham Osman successfully dribbled the ball to
a point only perhaps a metre or two in front of the AEK
keeper, and gently rolled the ball across the goal line.
The crowd fell nearly silent, and one Ottawa player could be
heard saying "that was easy!" This possibly indicated that
the team in white had realized that they had afforded AEK
too much respect, and that they had the ability to take the
game from a team that, up to this point, had maintained
possession of the ball for the vast majority of time
played.
With the score now even, and with at least 35 minutes left
to play, it was in essence a whole new game. AEK stuck with
their plan and used their superior passing and ball control
abilities to formulate drives into their offensive end. AEK
strikers continued to have trouble with Ottawa defenders
however, and just couldn't find the space to make the hard
and accurate shots they needed in order to score. Ottawa
kept fighting and pressed the play into the AEK zone
whenever they could - and at one point blasted a very hard
shot at close range from just to the left of the goal that
most definitely put the AEK keeper up to the test. After
this point it became do or die play for AEK. Both the team
and the fans both wanted and felt they deserved this win,
after two years of indecisive outcomes, including an
outright loss by a goal in 2009.
Although their strikers still couldn't gain a clear step on
the Ottawa defenders, they could continue to draw fouls with
their relentless attacks. At 85 minutes precisely this
occurred. AEK was fouled perhaps three yards beyond the box
on the left side and earned a free kick that was most
certainly within direct scoring range. # 11 Haris Cekic was
again called upon by AEK to make the shot, and after a
slight pause placed a hard kick over the wall of defenders
and into the top corner of the Ottawa goal. The team and
the fans again went wild, knowing less than ten minutes of
play was between them and Ontario Cup glory. AEK did not
make the same mistake they made earlier in the half, and
retreated into a fortified defensive posture that held the
Royals at bay for the remaining time. In their third
appearance in the same number of years, AEK had finally
achieved uncontested victory. JHS |
