Azeredo scores but Aurora United falls short in inaugural League 1 match

May 5, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

Lucas Azeredo notched the first Aurora goal in League 1 soccer history, but a solid effort from one of the semi-pro league’s most seasoned players downed Aurora United FC (AUFC) in their inaugural game Friday in Pickering.

Visiting Durham United FA in the opening match of the season, Azeredo put Aurora on the board just ten minutes in, blasting home a ball from ten yards out off a touch pass from Frederick Amevaw.

Just after the half, however, Eddie Lay put his team on his back to score his first of two goals on the evening. The former Vaughan Azzurri star tied the game from fifteen yards, sending a shot over the head of Aurora goalkeeper Duncan Jobson.

Lay gave Durham a 2 – 1 lead at the 74 minute mark off a touch from a free kick, a lead they would hold on to for the remainder of the match.
Despite the loss, Aurora head coach Jimmy Brennan was pleased with his team’s efforts against a much more experienced squad.

“We’re a new team, a group that has just come together, but the guys started off strong and this is positive for a first game,” said Brennan following the match. “It’s a taste of the league for a lot of the guys.”

“You can’t take anything away from Durham, they’re a physical team, they took their chances, and rightly so they won today…I thought going forward we were good, looking to break on the counter. Durham has a good core of players in place, and we had our work cut out. For our first game though, and to nearly nick the equalizer in the end, it was a good showing.”

He refers to a free kick taken in extra time by Azaredo, in which Swedish import Simon Adjei narrowly missed an equalizing header. The game was physical from the get-go, with eight yellow cards given out, five to the Aurora side.

AUFC was one of three teams added to the men’s side of the semi-pro league in an expansion this past winter. A 22-game schedule brings the season right into October, most games going on Saturdays or Sundays, with the occasional Monday.

While the squad will get another chance at their first win in team history next Saturday visiting Vaughan, hometown fans will have to wait for a chance to see the team on home turf. They take the field at Sheppard’s Bush on May 28 hosting the Woodbridge Strikers, where all home games will be played throughout the year.

For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.league1ontario.com.