In a Sunday afternoon showdown at the Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre in Vaughan, London Alliance FC emerged victorious over Bradford Union FC, securing the U17 Girls title at the 2024 MilkUP Ontario Cup with a 3-0 win.
The first major chance of the game came from London’s Mikayla Portiss, who made a strong run down the left side after a well-placed through ball from Teegan Garret. However, Bradford goalkeeper Julia Moreira made a key save to keep the game level.
London broke the deadlock in the 16th minute when Ayda Gonzalez-Verhaverbeke calmly slotted the ball past Moreira, who had rushed off her line to challenge. Gonzalez-Verhaverbeke nearly doubled the lead just a minute later, but her shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Bradford Union had a promising opportunity to equalize in the 20th minute, but London keeper Ava Rogers caught Vanessa Miranda’s strike, preserving the lead. Bradford thought they had leveled the score in the 32nd minute when Aliyah Lascano found the net, but the goal was ruled offside.
London Alliance extended their lead in the 68th minute, with Gonzalez-Verhaverbeke scoring her second goal of the match, set up beautifully by Portiss. The game was sealed in the 86th minute when Abigail Fox’s intended cross from the left side bounced its way into the net, capping off a dominant performance by London.
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