Instant. Classic.

Those are the only two words that can adequately describe Wednesday's OUA semi-final between the York University Lions men's soccer team and the visiting Ontario Tech Ridgebacks.

Intensity was at its peak – the tension palpable throughout – in front of an raucous crowd at York Lions Stadium, as the Lions were looking to advance to both the OUA championship and the U SPORTS championships for the first time since 2021. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Lions carried much of the attack through the first 20 minutes of play, including a great look from Christian Zeppieri in the opening minute and change that was denied by Ridgebacks keeper Kevon Grant.
• The Lions best chance of the first half came off a solid three-man game worked by the Lions down low, but Tyler Attardo's shot was stopped by Grant. The teams remained scoreless throughout the opening 45 minutes
• The second half played out more evenly matched in terms of possession, but the Lions had the vast majority of the chances. One from looks was from Attardo, but a kick save by Grant kept the Lions off the board
• Then, in stoppage time, Matthew Mollicola curled a shot on target from well outside the box. It looked destined for the top corner, but Grant somehow got his finger on it to send the ball over the bar and the match to extra time.
• In the early moments of stoppage time, a through ball found the foot of Attardo, but Grant made the stop on a ball that was eventually called back for offside.
• Late in the second half of extra time, Christian Zeppieri was fouled just outside the box, giving the Lions a free kick from prime scoring territory. Zeppieri promptly stepped up and curled a shot inside the near post past the reach of Grant and, so it seemed, locked the Lions into the OUA championship and U SPORTS championship in one magical moment.
• However, the visiting Ridgebacks came back down the pitch moments later and, on a long ball that appeared to be handled by Carbone, the ball was pried from his grasp and put home by Alex Irwin to tie it with less than a minute to go in added time to send the game to penalties.
• The Lions Isaac Bradbury put the first penalty past Grant. They would get a stop from Carbone on the Ridgebacks first penalty, followed by a goal from Mollicola.
• After the Ridgebacks made it 2-1 in penalties, the teams traded goals – the Lions coming from Jaytin Pabla – to make it 3-2 in favour of York. After Attardo scored to make it 4-2, the Ridgebacks needed to score to keep it going, but Carbone made the save, diving to his right, and the Lions took the game, winning 4-2 on penalties.
• With the win, the Lioms advance to the OUA championship at Carleton against the Ravens on Saturday, while simultaneously punching their ticket to the 2023 U SPORTS championships in Sydney, N.S., returning to the tournament for the first time since 2021.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The Lions now get one final tune-up before the U SPORTS championships when they head to the nations capital to battle the Carleton Ravens in the OUA championship on Saturday, Nov. 4. Check yorkulions.ca for details in the coming days.