Royals Win National Gold

Story courtesy of the CCAA

Championship Match: Douglas Royals 1, Conestoga Condors 1 (PKs 4-2 Royals)

For the first time since 2005, the Douglas Royals are Canadian champs!

In the gold medal match of the CCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, Douglas and Conestoga came to play and gave the fans an eventful match. The contest had everything, fouls, goals, red cards, extra time and eventually penalty kicks.

Early on the Royals maintained most of the possession and produced more quality chances. Conestoga remained calm and collected and defended well, countering whenever they could. Just as it seemed the match would remain tied going into the break, Joel Badger of the Royals broke free and tested Conestoga’s keeper with a targeted shot. The initial attempt was saved but Badger calmly tapped in the rebound as the first 45 came to a close.

Returning from the break, the Condors stayed composed and started to find their groove in the 60th minute. They were giving all they could, and it paid off in the 77th minute, when Alex Amaral fooled the Royals’ keeper with an unexpected shot to even the match at one a piece. It would remain that way through 90 minutes and so extra time was needed.

Through most of the first extra frame the teams played cautiously, so as to not give up any chances. However, the game grew more heated as time wore on and both teams lost players to red cards following dangerous tackles. With 10 men each, neither team were able to score, and the game progressed to penalty kicks.

Both teams converted their first penalty kicks, but the Royals goalkeeper stepped up with a save in round two. The Condors missed a few attempts while the Royals converted on all their shots on route to championship victory.

The 4imprint Players of the Game: Kiarash Ahmadpourbahnamiri, Douglas