In a thrilling finale, Vaughan SC narrowly held off a fierce late charge from Aurora FC to secure a 2-1 victory and claim the U17 Boys championship. The match, played under the bright lights of the Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre in Vaughan, Ontario, provided plenty of drama in the Cups final game of the season.

From the opening whistle, Vaughan SC appeared to dominate possession, controlling the flow of the game in the early stages. However, it was Aurora FC who created the first notable opportunity. In the second minute, Aurora's #11 Gianluca Cassulo, executed a clever one-two pass around the top of the box, finding space for a shot. Despite the promising setup, Cassulo's effort veered just wide of the target.

Vaughan responded with a chance of their own in the 12th minute. Vaughan’s #11 opposite, Kyle Lawford, made a determined run behind the Aurora defense, positioning himself for a centering cross. Unfortunately, the ball was just out of his reach, and the chance went begging.

The breakthrough for Vaughan came in the 16th minute when a loose ball in the box fell to a Vaughn forward, for the rebound finish. The goal gave Vaughan the lead and seemed to galvanize their confidence.

The momentum swung further in Vaughan's favour when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 26th minute. Vaughan's Lawford showcased his individual skill by dancing past two defenders and winning a penalty kick after the Aurora goalkeeper brought him down, receiving a yellow card for the infraction. Lawford took the penalty himself, calmly converting it to double Vaughan's lead.

Aurora FC responded with increased urgency, and in the 35th minute, their captain #10 Matteo Mastromonaco was presented with a golden opportunity on a corner kick. Unfortunately for Aurora, his header at the back post sailed wide.

The second half saw Aurora FC come out with renewed vigor, pushing hard for an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 77th minute when a cross into the box was met by #9 Alan Siewe who seized on a defensive clearance to fire a precise shot into the bottom left corner, making it 2-1.

Aurora’s hopes of a comeback were briefly revived when they scored again in the 81st minute. However, the goal was disallowed due to a handball, much to the dismay of the Aurora supporters.

Despite further pressure, including another close effort from Siewe in the 87th minute following some neat one-two passing, and a dramatic direct free kick in stoppage time from their captain Mastromonaco that narrowly missed, Vaughan SC managed to hold on.

As the final whistle blew, Vaughan SC celebrated their hard-fought victory and the U17 Boys OPDL Cup triumph. Aurora FC, despite their late surge, fell just short but showed commendable resilience and skill throughout the match.

See the full photo album on the Ontario Soccer Facebook page.

For the full game, visit Ontario Soccer's YouTube Channel