Men’s Soccer
Bronze Medal Final: Capers blank Gryphons 2-0 in bronze medal match
OTTAWA - The Montreal Carabins captured their second-ever national title Sunday at the U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championship in a shootout win over the Carleton Ravens in Ottawa, Ontario after being tied 2-2 through extra time.
In what can be described as one of the greatest final tournament games in the history of U SPORTS men’s soccer, the Montreal Carabins battled through a late-game deficit and an extra-time collapse to prevail on penalties, 5-4, to claim the Sam Davidson Memorial Trophy.
Congratulations to the @Carabins 2021 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Champions! / Félicitations aux @Carabins championnes de Soccer Masculin U SPORTS 2021!#ChaseTheGlory | #ViserHaut pic.twitter.com/6d2RH8fR4b
— U SPORTS Soccer (@USPORTS_Soccer) November 21, 2021
Montreal entered the gold medal match aiming for their second U SPORTS title in three seasons, while the hometown Ravens were vying for their first men’s soccer national title in program history following two previous appearances in 1984 and 2002.
Despite being buoyed by a boisterous pro-Carleton crowd holding flags and flares, the Ravens found themselves under pressure early as Montreal aimed to silence the local supporters.
Ravens keeper Kyle Potter was called on early to make a brilliant one-handed stop off a glancing header from Carabin Guy-Frank Essomé Penda, whose effort looked destined for the back of the net.
Following the near miss, Carleton began poaching deep in Carabins territory and in the 19th minute they were rewarded when Dario Conte sent a long ball over the top to Luca Piccioli, whose low cross found a streaking Matteo de Brienne at the back post for a sliding tap-in to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Looking to provide an instant response, the Carabins received a free kick opportunity from the top of the box where set piece specialist Quentin Paumier hit a curling effort on goal which Potter read well to knock over the crossbar.
In first-half stoppage time, an almighty head-to-head collision between de Brienne and Montreal’s Mohamadou Sylla delayed the halftime whistle, but both players would be fine as the game entered the break with the Ravens leading 1-0.
Montreal began cranking up the heat in the Ravens’ third with fifteen minutes to go in regulation. Quentin Paumier forced Kyle Potter to make another good stop off a free kick, while Thierry Côté’s strike caused momentary panic as the Carleton players watched the ball fly past the corner before heading out of bounds.
With the final whistle looming, Montreal delivered late-game theatrics in extraordinary fashion as Quentin Paumier’s free kick from the top of the box bent high and left over the leaping Carleton wall as well as the outstretched arms of Kyle Potter to tie the game at 1-1 in added time as the national title game would move to extra time.
MSOC: Quentin Paumier scores in the 90th minute for the @Carabins and tie it up 1-1 against the @CURavens
— U SPORTS Soccer (@USPORTS_Soccer) November 21, 2021
Quentin Paumier score en le 90th minute pour les @Carabins et matc less @CURavens 1-1 pic.twitter.com/F5PeWNGKg2
The Carabins would inch closer to the trophy in the 114th minute when Luca Ricci sent a high cross into the box from 30 yards out which made its way to Julien Bruce. The second-year forward from Paris, France controlled the ball and then fired a clutch strike that went through a Ravens defender and Kyle Potter for the late go-ahead goal that stunned the home faithful.
Carleton threw everyone forward in search of a goal to keep their championship dream alive. With one final chance to extend the season, forward Daniel Assaf darted unmarked into the six-yard box to toe-poke a loose ball into the back of the net to send the crowd into an explosive celebration on the last kick of the extra-time session.
The national championship would be decided in penalties.
With the Ravens up 2-1 in the shoutout, Montreal’s Adam Benmoussa saw his shot stopped by Potter, but momentum carried it over the line to level it. After two successful kicks, Carleton’s Ricky Comba, who scored the semifinal winner against Cape Breton, missed his attempt wide left. Montreal converted on their fourth, and Tareq Hamad scored Carleton’s fifth penalty as the shootout came down to one final shot. Up stepped U SPORTS Player of the Year Frank Essomé Penda, who confidently struck the ball bar down for the winner as the Carabins players and fans sprinted towards their tournament hero to celebrate the victory.
Nike Team Players of the Game
- CAR: Mitchell O’Brien
- MTL: Guy Frank Essomé Penda
Championship MVP
- Guy-Frank Essomé Penda
Tournament All-Stars
- Svyatoslav Artemenko, GK, Guelph
- Kareem Sow, D, Montreal
- Tareq Hamad, D, Carleton
- Ricky Comba, M, Carleton
- Matteo de Brienne, M, Carleton
- Quentin Paumier, M, Montreal
- Alexander Zis, M, Guelph
- Charlie Waters, M, Cape Breton
- Luca Ricci, M, Montreal
- Gabriel Bitar, F, Carleton
- Frank Essomé-Penda, F, Montreal
SCORING SUMMARY
CAR: 1-0-1: 2
MTL: 0-1-1: 2
First half
CAR Matteo de Brienne (1), 19th minute
Second half
MTL Quentin Paumier (1), 90th minute
Extra Time
MTL Julien Bruce (1), 114th minute
CAR Daniel Assaf (1), 120th minute
Penalty Shootout
CAR Gabriel Bitar, goal
MTL Kareem Sow, goal
CAR Luca Piccioli, goal
MTL Adam Benmoussa, goal
CAR Dario Conte, goal
MTL Paul Mortas, goal
CAR Ricky Comba, miss
MTL Thierry Côté, goal
CAR Tareq Hamad, goal
MTL Guy-Frank Essomé Penda, goal
Montreal wins on penalties, 5-4