1 August 2024

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FC LONDON WIN WOMEN’S L1 CUP

Ally Rowe and Maya Smith helped FC London to a 2-1 victory against North Toronto.

FC london celebrate with trophy

Written by: Hafed Almadani

The 2024 Women’s L1 Cup Final saw a clash of titans as North Toronto and FC London faced off in a highly anticipated match that lived up to its billing.

With both teams showcasing stellar defensive records throughout the tournament, the final promised to be a tightly contested affair. In the end, it was FC London who emerged victorious with a hard-fought 2-1 win, clinching their second Women’s L1 Cup title after winning this competition in 2017.

The final kicked off with FC London asserting their attacking intent early on. In just the fourth minute, Lauren Rowe made a brilliant run down the left flank, delivering a precise cross into the box. Ally Rowe controlled the ball expertly and finished with a composed strike into the bottom right corner, giving FC London a 1-0 lead.

North Toronto, however, were quick to respond. In the 17th minute, Elise Bell showcased her skill by manoeuvring past three defenders near the box before toe-poking a pass to Jade Kovacevic. Kovacevic displayed excellent footwork to create space and unleashed a low-driven shot across the goal that beat the keeper, levelling the score at 1-1.

The remainder of the first half saw FC London creating better chances, with several shots on target. North Toronto controlled the tempo and possession in midfield but found clear-cut chances hard to come by. Just before halftime, Kovacevic hit the post from a similar position to her goal, nearly putting North Toronto ahead.

The second half began with both teams vying for control, and in the 55th minute, FC London took the lead again. Jade Abreo delivered a superb cross from a free kick to the far post, where Maya Smith rose highest to head the ball down and across goal, making it 2-1.

The rest of the half was cagey, with limited chances as the ball was mostly contested in midfield. FC London’s captain Julia Benati had a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the 70th minute but missed an open net. North Toronto pushed hard for an equalizer in the final minutes, but FC London defended resolutely.

Starting lineups:

North Toronto: Raven Edwards-Dowdall (GK), Sarah Giles, Taliyah Walker, Nicola Golen, Ivymae Perez, Jade Kovacevic, Abbey Simpson, Elise Bell, Jessie de Boer (Captain), Morgan Fenton, Sarah Flood

FC London: Cassidy Joslin (GK), Lauren Rowe, Julia Benati (Captain), Lindsey Barwitzki, Jade Abreo, Bryanna Caldwell, Ally Rowe, Maya Smith, Gabby Kohut, Cheyenne Bower, Charlotte Cromack

Road to the final

North Toronto had an impressive run-up to the final, characterized by their prowess at the back. After receiving a bye in the First Round, they narrowly defeated Alliance United 1-0 in the Round of 16, thanks to a 73rd-minute goal from Kaia Rice. Their quarterfinal match saw them overcome a challenging Woodbridge Strikers side 2-0, with goals from Ivymae Perez and a penalty by the ever-reliable Jade Kovacevic.

The semifinal was a showcase of North Toronto’s attacking capabilities as they demolished Darby 9-1, ending the Championship side’s remarkable cup run. Goals came from five different scorers, with Kovacevic scoring a hat-trick and Rice adding a brace.

Similarly, FC London had conceded only one goal throughout the cup competition. They started their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over BVB IA Waterloo, highlighted by a Julia Benati brace. They continued their dominant form in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Guelph United, conceding only after establishing a comfortable four-goal lead.

The semifinals presented a sterner test against Simcoe County Rovers, but FC London emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Benati and Ally Rowe. This set the stage for an exciting final against North Toronto, a team they had faced in June in the Women’s Premier Division, where they suffered a 3-1 defeat.

Published On: 1 August 2024

League1 Ontario staff