Silverware secured

Scrosoppi put on a clinical showing in front of goal when it mattered most, with Miles Green and Luka Juricic showing no mercy as both found the net to help Scrosoppi win the Men’s L1 Cup Final for the first time. 

Green opened the scoring before setting up his fellow attacker to double the lead just after half-time. Juricic claimed his second of the game late in injury time after Marco Sciortini’s goal for Vaughan set up a tense ending. 

The story of the final

Vaughan goalkeeper Alessio Carbone was called into an early save after Green’s free-kick in the 11th minute was whipped in with pace and caused havoc in the box. Carbone’s save ricocheted off his own defender and had to be cleared off the line as Scrosoppi almost took the lead. 

The deadlock was broken moments later when Green, who was finding a lot of space and success on the wing, got in behind from Omari Cotterell’s pass. The winger assessed the options in the box before his cross seemed to take a deflection and loop high over the goalkeeper and into the net to give Scrosoppi a perfect start.

Green’s goal was the only one of the game before the break, but it was almost two early in the second half with Joshua Parades hitting the target with a powerful half-volley. Carbone pushed the shot away into the path of Orlendis Benitez Hernandez, but he could only head over the bar.

Scrosoppi crucially doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half, with Green looking dangerous in the attacking third again. He found more space in the box and pulled the ball back for Juricic, who calmly put a neat finish past the goalkeeper to score his first of two. 

After chances went awry for Nathaniel Susnik and Juricic to score a third, Vaughan scored a goal of their own as comeback hopes were restored with fresh legs. Substitute Nick Spittle broke down the right wing and squared the ball for fellow sub Sciortino for a tap-in. 

Vaughan were soon close to levelling as Scrosoppi were saved by the crossbar. Kayden Dugas found some space down the right, and his cross fell to James Fidalgo, who set himself in the box and smashed the ball against the frame of the goal.

As the game approached its conclusion and hung in the balance, it was Scrosoppi who struck in injury time to deal the final blow. Elton Nyumah won a header in midfield and released Juricic, who slipped Skublak through on goal and rounded the goalkeeper before unselfishly squaring the ball back to his teammate to slot into an open net and seal the victory.

Close, but just out of reach

The closing stages of the regular season also saw a dramatic conclusion to the League1 Ontario Men’s Premier Division, as Scrosoppi finished second behind Woodbridge Strikers. Only two points separated the sides by the end of the title fight, with SFC mounting a competitive title defence. 

John Yacou’s team were a force to be reckoned with again in the league this season, winning 12 matches and finishing as the division’s highest scorers. After securing their first title in 2024, the team rose to the challenge of being the side to beat. 

The season started in perfect fashion after beating Simcoe County Rovers 1-0, before St. Francis Xavier saw its first home win of the year with a 2-0 victory over Sigma. A couple of difficult results against Vaughan Azzurri and title hopefuls Alliance United meant the side had to regroup at the end of June. 

Scrosoppi's clinical finishing throughout the season put the team in early title contention, with Tomasz Skublak returning to continue his form from 2024, alongside 2025 signings Orlendis Benitez Hernandez and Augustus Oku who made a big impression. 

Woodbridge and Alliance United looked strong throughout, but it was a two-horse race as the season raced to its climax, with Scrosoppi and Woodbridge going toe-to-toe. Scrosoppi beat their title rivals 4-3 in their penultimate match, and won 8-0 in their last game against North Toronto, doing their bit to pile the pressure on the long-time league leaders.

Scrosoppi were left waiting in the final matchweek after Woodbridge’s fixture against FC London was postponed due to weather. The Strikers required victory in the rescheduled match, and a 3-0 win at FC London was enough for them to finish in first. 

While it wasn’t to be in the Men’s Premier this year, Scrosoppi’s Men’s L1 Cup title and promotion from the Women’s Championship has made for another memorable, and successful, season.