TORONTO — The No. 5 nationally-ranked Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Bold men's soccer team defeated the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 2-0 on Friday afternoon.
The match was a hard-fought battle at the unusually windy Downsview Park for the number one spot in the OUA East division. With the win, TMU improves to 7-1-1 on the season: good for 22 points and a comfortable lead over Ontario Tech. Had the Ridgebacks won, they would have overtaken the Bold in the standings.
"I think we're five points clear now, so we're in really great shape to take first," said Bold Head Coach
Filip Prostran. "It's just about getting better. First is nice, but you still have to play the playoff game."
When these two teams last faced off on August 30, it was a slow-paced defensive affair that ended in a 1-1 tie. TMU started the match with offensive aggression, hoping to not repeat history.
The Bold dominated possession early, keeping the Ridgebacks on their toes with a patient cycle offence. The play style earned them multiple scoring opportunities, including a shot from midfielder
Aidan Hugo from just beyond the penalty box that narrowly missed the top right corner of the goal.
Hugo made his presence felt on the offensive end against Ontario Tech, using his speed and hustle to chase loose balls. The third-year played the hero in TMU's match against the Carleton Ravens on Oct. 4, scoring the winning goal during added time.
But it wasn't Hugo who got the scoring started for the Bold on Friday; it was forward
Exosse Kadiebue, who also contributed against the Ravens, that found the back of the net.
A well-placed lead pass from defender
Hazim Kadib landed perfectly between Kadiebue and the net, allowing for an easy finish that gave TMU an early 1-0 lead.
Kadiebue, who has now totalled four goals through his first seven games with the Bold, credited Kadib for the contribution:
"We practice that every day at practice…it was a nice assist from my right back, you know? And it got me a good goal."
As the match went on, both the wind and the Ridgebacks' offensive pressure began to steadily intensify. Not wanting to lose the battle for the standings, Ontario Tech began to take control of possession, forcing TMU goalkeeper
Dante Ferraro to make some impressive saves.
"I'm not surprised," praised Prostran when asked about Ferraro's performance. "[Ferraro] has been like that for years here. I know I can count on him in the big moments."
Right as the Ridgebacks' momentum had reached its peak, the wind shifted in the favour of its home team. What was intended to be a clearance from Bold defender
Luca Porfiris ended up catching a strong gust and sailing far beyond where Ontario Tech goalkeeper Peter Sheberstov originally predicted.
In a miraculous stroke of luck that will likely be talked about in all-time OUA soccer highlight discourses for years to come, the ball ended up falling perfectly into the net and counting as a goal from beyond the center line for Porfiris. The fifth-year, smiling from ear-to-ear, sprinted into the stands to celebrate with both Bold fans and his teammates.
"Honestly, I was kind of just going for the clearance," admitted Porfiris. "The second I hit it, I was like, 'Wait, this kind of looks good.'. The ball kept blowing with the wind and just ended up in the back of the goal. The craziest goal I've ever scored in my life."
"Luca will tell you first: it was nothing but sheer luck," said Prostran with a smile.
The utter shock and excitement of the ridiculous moment completely derailed any momentum the Ridgebacks had previously gained, and the Bold cruised into a 2-0 win to help further their lead in the OUA East standings.
"It was a good goal to get the pressure off our backs," said Porfiris. "They were attacking, we were trying to hold a lead, so honestly it came at a perfect time."
Prostran's squad won't be able to rest for long, though. They take on the Laurentian Voyageurs on Saturday afternoon, also at Downsview Park. The match, which will be their final at home in the regular season, is also the team's Senior Day.
Start time is set for 3:15 p.m., and if fans can't make the commute to North York, they can tune into the match live on OUA.tv.
