FC London’s season has finished after a 2-0 loss to K-W United in a wildcard playoff game.
Though the season didn’t quite finish the way the team would have liked, this season was full of great moments.
The team was given the tough task of opening up the season on a four game road trip which included matches against Dayton, Derby City, Toronto FC Academy and K-W United. Not an easy task for any team, but FC London excelled going 3-0-1. There only tie against Derby City.
Their first goal of the season was scored by Takumi Jeannin his one and only goal for the team. Over those four games the team scored 7 goals while only conceiving 3.
After a tough but successful road trip, the team was back in London at their home field, The German Canadian Club, where they would once again play TFC Academy. In front of a packed crowd the team was able to get their first home goal by Sandro Rajkovic.
The team would add another 4 goals and win the game 5-2, pushing their record to a Great lakes Division best 4-0-1.
The team was hot but they were now on the road in Michigan to play the defending PDL Champions the Bucks. The defending champs were just too much to handle as the team lost their first game of the year 3-0.
Shaking off the tough loss was going to be tough but they were back at home playing Derby City for the second time. This time the teams offense was in full swing which lead to a big 4-0 win.
The next two games would be ones the team would like to forget. Back to back games against K-W United, as the first was in Kitchener. The offense wasn’t their for the second time in three games losing 3-0.
Now the team was back in London but was once again shutout 2-0. The once great offense that was scoring at will had been shutout in back to back games pushing their record to 5-3-1 erasing their great start to the year.
The team needed to regroup and that is exactly what they did. The only team in the division they hadn’t played yet was Pittsburgh. In Pennsylvania, the team found its offense again winning 3-0.
Add another win against Derby City 1-0 at home, Alejandro Pastor with the only goal, and the team was back in the race for first place in the division, chasing Michigan and K-W United.
But once again in front of a packed crowd in London the offense went dry. The Michigan Bucks came into London and left winners of a 3-0 game.
The team had scored a combined 1 goal in their past 3 home games. Goalkeeper Mark Haynes really summed up the scoring drought by reminding everyone that goals aren’t easy to get.
“Easy from the other end of the field to expect those things right. Obviously at that level goals are hard to come by, you don’t see a lot of 5 and 6 goal performances, a lot of them are one goal games. Yes it’s frustrating at times but I know what a testament it is to score in this league”.
The team had two games left with both being at home. At this point the team had realized that placing in the top two positions in the division were mathematically over but they had clinched a playoff wildcard game.
Determine to get the scoring woes fixed before the playoffs the team hosted TFC Academy and Pittsburgh.
Over the next two games London would win 6-2 and 5-0. James Pucci ended up getting 4 of those goals.
The team was hot and heading into the playoffs had a lot of confidence. They found out K-W United would be their opponent.
On Tuesday night in Kitchener, FC London’s season would end losing 2-0.
Though the season ended earlier than hoped the team saw great performances from rookies Alejandro Pastor, Kal Okot and many others. The team will be different next year but many will return which should indicate a season next year with greater expectations.
