Less than 48 hours after Guelph’s win in Windsor, Guelph United earned another win Tuesday, also secured one of the two coveted playoffs spots in the League1 Ontario West division.
A late night affair with the Mississauga-based Sigma FC (4-3-3) saw Guelph United FC (9-1-0) come out on top 4-2 at the Gryphon Soccer Complex, sending the Guelph side to the playoffs in its inaugural season. The initial meeting between the Guelph United and Sigma was scheduled for Sept. 11, but was delayed due to a suspected COVID exposure on the Sigma FC squad. This delay meant that the first ever meeting was due to be a heated yet anxiously awaited affair,
The first 45 minutes would prove plenty exciting and alone would garner two yellow cards and a goal by L1O golden boot prospect Jace Kotsopoulos, scoring his 13 goal the season to put Guelph up by one.
The second half is where both squads would truly end up in the referee’s bad books as the two benches combined would accumulate another seven bookings including to Sigma’s head coach, John Zervos for dissent.
Although several of GUFC’s players were walking a fine line in the referee’s card book, Guelph would secure the win in the 86 minutes as reserve call-up Parmpreet “Parm” Johal netted his first goal for the first team.
“This was such an important win for us. We were going into this match knowing that a victory would secure us a playoff spot. The boys put their bodies on the line for this victory and I couldn’t be [prouder] to make the playoffs in Guelph United’s first ever season," said United's all-star goalkeeper Svyatik Artemenko, "we have to ignore the fact that we are in the playoffs already and play like our season depends on it.”
GUFC’s next match is in a measly five days as they take on their second-place rivals, Oakville’s Blue Devils FC (7-1-2) at 1pm in Alumni Stadium! Be sure to come on out and celebrate pro-am soccer in the Royal
City in Guelph United’s last home match of the 2021 season! Come join the #UnitedFront! Tickets can be purchased online at guelphunitedfc.ca or game day.
