2012 All Stars: Ontario and BC set to clash in U-16 Boys final
Posted on 20 July 2012 in All Stars - Boys
The stage is now set for an Ontario v British Columbia final in the U-16 Boys division at the 2012 All Stars after both sides produced last-gasp victories on Friday.
Ontario booked its place in Saturday’s tournament final courtesy of late 1:0 winner by Phillip Makinde in the 67th minute, after a valiant defensive effort by Team Atlantic in the opening match of the day in the U-16 boys division.
Atlantic has resisted the Ontario pressure throughout the match but it was eventually Makinde who broke down the right wing and slotted a cool finish past Atlantic keeper Thomas Pierway to snatch a late victory.
Daniel Milton kept the clean sheet in goal for the Ontario U-16’s.
“I think today was a flat game,” said Ontario Head Coach Patrick Tobo. “The Atlantic team was organized and gave everything that they had but it’s good to be able to go on to the next step.”
“I strongly believe that our team will come into the final ready and prepared. At this stage of development anything can happen. We have to be consistent, and the more consistent team will get the result.”
Team Atlantic Head Coach Jonathan Vos was disheartened for his boys after having conceded such a late winner – but was proud of his team’s effort nonetheless.
“I’m disappointed with the result but the effort was there,” said Vos after the match. “We improved on our last game. Our discipline was a lot better, our “1v1” defending was a lot better and the guys really stepped up to play a big game today.”
The second U-16 match of day the featured British Columbia against Team MB/SK at King George V Park in St. Johns NL.
Heading into the match BC knew that a tie or better would be good enough to advance to the final against Ontario; while Team MB/SK knew that only a lopsided win would be good enough to earn them a place in the final.
It proved to be a dramatic game, and in the end it took a last-minute winner from Manveer Dhillon to earn the 1:0 win for BC.
The British Columbians will now go on to face Ontario in the U-16 Boys final at 11.00 (local time) on Saturday 21 July in Mt. Pearl NL.
CanadaSoccerTV will provide match highlights and post-match reaction from the tournament final.
Québec and Alberta capped off the day's U-16 action with a 1:1 draw in a crossover friendly.
