TORONTO - A trio of goals from players in their first year at UBC propelled the Thunderbirds to a 3-0 victory over the host University of Toronto Varsity Blues in their semi-final match-up at the CIS men's soccer championship.
The win puts UBC into the CIS Championship final, their first since 2007 when they defeated Laval 2-1, against York on Sunday. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. PT. UBC will be vying for a record 12th national title, in what will be their 15th championship final appearance.
Brandon Bonifacio got the T-Birds off to a dream start, slotting home a low strike from 12 yards out just inside the right post less than a minute into the game. UBC controlled possession from the kick-off, working down the right flank and
Greg Smith's low cross made its way through the U of T defence and fell to an unmarked Bonifacio just inside the area.
"A little bit of quality right off the bat put us on our way today. It's unbelievable when you can score early, let alone the first minute. It just completely settles a team and puts your opponents on their heels right away," said UBC head coach
Mike Mosher.
UBC had success all first half down the right flank, owning possession and creating a bevy of chances.
Navid Mashinchi had a glorious opportunity in the 19th minute to extend the lead, as Smith worked the sideline and crossed the ball into the six-yard box but the first-year put it just wide.
He wouldn't make the same mistake twice, and it was 2-0 for UBC in the 24th minute when off a throw-in, the ball made it through the Toronto backline to striker
Gagan Dosanjh just inside the penalty area. The T-Birds man of the match then sent the ball across the face of the goal to Mashinchi who hammered it into the back of the net from seven yards.
"Really I don't think we favour either side. We have quality players down both the right and left wings," said Mosher. "Toronto was a little bit unlucky on the day but when things fell for us, we finished our chances. We thought if we executed our game plan and kept it nice and tight against them, we'd find a way to get this done."
Dosanjh then played a major part in UBC's third goal, working behind the U of T defence and winning a penalty kick when he was unfairly tackled by a Toronto defender inside the 18-yard box in the 68th minute.
Alejandro Isern stepped up to the penalty spot and the first-year from Barcelona calmly deposited his strike into the right corner, making it 3-0 for UBC with just over 20 minutes remaining in regulation.
The hosts Blues looked on their heels all afternoon but they did have a couple of chances early in the second half to cut into the deficit when it was still 2-0.
Toronto's first chance in the second half came in the 55th minute off a corner that bounced around the UBC penalty area with the Blues getting a couple of kicks at it but they were all blocked before a foul ended the threat.
UBC keeper
Zach Kalthoff, who made seven stops in the win, punched away a solid U of T cross in the 61st minute after All-Canadian Nordo Gooden had worked the ball down the right wing.
Gooden didn't finish the match, however, as he was handed a straight red card in the 76th minute. It was one of four cards for Toronto over the final 23 minutes, beginning with the awarding of the penalty kick.
UBC now turns their sights to OUA runner-up York, who lost to Toronto in penalty kicks in last weekend's conference championship. Mosher hopes to see a similar performance from his troops tomorrow, knowing a talented York squad will be a formidable opponent.
"We're here to enjoy this. It's a game our guys have played their entire lives and they want to play in big games and cup finals. You've got to come out and play your brand of soccer. Don't be intimidated by the stage by which you are on and just do what got you here."
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