The York University Lions men's soccer team hosted the Western Mustangs at York Lions Stadium on Monday night, York came into this game defeating the Mustangs 4-1 in the previous leg of the home-and-home Friday in London. York was also looking to move alone into first place in the OUA West with a win, as they entered play tied with both Brock and Waterloo atop the division after the Warriors lost both their games to the Guelph Gryphons this weekend.
The Mustangs started the game strongly, pressing the Lions and forcing York to play in their own half. The first big chance of the game came from the Mustangs, but Panos Tzanetakis fired wide. The Mustangs pressure eventually paid off, however, as they were awarded a penalty kick in the 12th minute, but Thomas Ribeo missed the golden opportunity to give the visitors the lead as he hit the left post,
Anthony Morano put York ahead on a counterattack that led to a beautiful link up play from Matthew Fischer, but the goal was controversially taken away as the play was ruled offside. York came close to making it 1-0 again when reigning OUA West MVP Christian Zeppieri fired from outside the box, but the ball went wide. Shortly after, Western would take the lead when Fayo Adeyemo delivered the ball from the right wing to find Callum Yuile who tapped the ball in the empty net, making it 1-0 Mustangs.
But, just six minutes later, Morano equalized in the 37th minute putting the ball in the back of the net off a Marco Sciortino pass from the right wing, Sciortino registered his third assist of the season on the equalizer. Then, in the final seconds of the half, York made it 2-1. Mustang keeper Francesco Caputti made a save to deny Sciortino but the ball fell directly into the feet of Morano who doubled his tally for the night and gave his team the lead at the break.
Just three minutes into the first half, Luca Piolo crossed the ball from the left wing and found Sciortino who made it 3-1 after the ball deflected off one of the Western centre-back, Sciortino registered his fourth goal of the campaign to double the lead. Priolo made it 4-1 from a solo effort, he fought off the Western right-back and whipped the ball with his right foot from the left wing inside the 18-yard box for his first OUA goal.
Priolo registered another assist in the 62nd minute, proving a threat from both wings. He dribbled past a Western defender and passed the ball from the right wing to Morano who made it 5-1 and registered his first hat trick as a Lion and now overtaking Christian Zeppieri as the Lions top scorer this season with 7 goals to his name.
York held on to a 5-1 result and extended their stay in first position on the OUA West , York needs to win their next two games to clinch home advantage in the playoffs, with Brock and Waterloo only three points behind, with Brock having played one less game after having a bye this weekend.
LOOKING AHEAD:
The Lions will stay home and host the Brock Badgers on Friday October 3rd at York Lions Stadium to open a pivotal weekend series in the Lions quest for home-field advantage in the OUA playoffs. You can get your tickets here or stream the match live on OUA.TV.
