City Tie First Place Shooters
2010-07-19
Photo By: Cam Vassallo
London City came into Friday night's match with the league leading Shooters looking to shake a four game losing streak.
With a new Head Coach in place and playing in front of the home town fans, City made an immediate impact.
Forward Michael Marcoccia put his side into the lead at 22 minutes. Marcoccia's goal was the first time in eight games that City scored first.
However, the lead was short lived as 15 minutes later Andrae Rollins tied the score for the visiting York Region Shooters on a tap in inside the six-yard box, and the 1-1 score held up until half time.
Even though London controlled its fair share of the play and was moving the ball the best it had in several games, it was York Region who took the lead at 56 minutes after London goalkeeper Scott Mueller made a spectacular save only to have the ball handled in the penalty area by David Ortega. Referee Justin Tasev awarded the penalty kick and Kadian Lecky found the net for his eighth of the campaign and a 2-1 York Region lead.
London City's Tom Beattie tried to pull his sqaud even ten minutes later, though Camilo Benzi would have no part as he made a spectacular save on Beattie's head ball attempt, taking away what appeared to be a sure goal from London's leading scorer.
Even though Benzi stepped up big several times for the Shooters, Beattie would not be denied as he came back 20 minutes later to tie the game at 2-2 with an impressive free kick from 20 yards. Beattie - scoring his forth of the year, and third from a set piece - blasted a free kick into the right corner past a diving Benzi to pull London even. It was a crucial goal for City as it allowed them to take away a point against the league leaders.
York Region Shooters continue at the top of the standings, but it's a slim one point for a 7-3-2 record and 23 points, while City are at 1-5-3 for 6 points with a few games in hand on the clubs above them in the standings.
London will play two games next week, away on Wednesday night against St. Catharines and back home on Friday against Portugal FC. Friday's kick-off is 8:38pm - Cove Road Field at the German Canadian Club.