Written by Quentin Parisis, originally for CPLsoccer.com

The Woodbridge Strikers made their first ever appearance in the TELUS Canadian Championship on Friday against Canadian Premier League outfit FC Supra du Québec, and put in an admirable performance despite ultimately falling 3-1.

In a match between two clubs making their CanChamp debuts, the CPL side was forced to empty the tank against a Woodbridge team that caused serious issues for their pro opponents.

As proof of the importance placed on this competition and their opponent, Supra coach Nick Razzaghi decided to field his strongest lineup for this first round. He explained it was “important for everyone to understand that this tournament is a big part of our history, that we have the opportunity to take it seriously and maybe do something special.”

The players, therefore, had to step up, and ultimately, the expected outcome prevailed. That said, the spectators at Laval’s Boréale Stadium witnessed something quite different from a one-sided match, especially during a close and hard-fought first half.

Woodbridge showed they were unfazed by the circumstances or their opponents, despite conceding a relatively early opening goal.

First threatened by an Aboubacar Sissoko shot deflected by a defender, then by an Alexandre Marcoux header, Woodbridge conceded a penalty converted by Diyaeddine Abzi, awarded after a handball in the box in the 16th minute.

Despite conceding the opening goal, the Ontario Premier League players showed no signs of panic and continued to play their game. While the home side enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, Woodbridge remained disciplined in defence and ambitious in attack.

They were soon rewarded for their strong start. Joshua Nicholson attempted an initial shot from the edge of the box, but failed to hit the target. However, his teammate Jacob Spizzirri fared much better shortly after.

In the 29th minute, the midfielder unleashed a stunning strike into the far corner of Joakim Milli’s net, sending the Woodbridge bench into raptures and securing a well-deserved equalizer. “A nice moment,” the goalscorer acknowledged after the match, which should delight fans of spectacular goals.

However, it has become clear over the weeks that the Supra weren’t the type to panic at the first sign of trouble. On the contrary, Razzaghi’s men stepped up their game after the equalizer, which served as a reminder that Woodbridge hadn’t come to the stadium for a leisurely stroll.

The response was swift, and Sissoko, following a long attacking sequence in the 41st minute, finally finished off the move and restored the Quebecers’ lead shortly before halftime.

Supra would go on to score another later in the second half, to put it out of reach of the OPL champions.

In their first appearance, both teams ultimately lived up to expectations. Woodbridge battled hard and put up a good fight, while Supra held their own and qualified for the next round,

For Woodbridge, there are many positive takeaways.

“It was exciting for our players to play in such an important match,” said Woodbridge coach Peter Pinizzotto.

“My team played quite well. We knew Supra had a very good team. We had watched their matches and knew they had two or three good players who could hurt you. We did a good job for a good part of the match, but overall, it was a good experience for our players. We played with three under-18 players, and that gave them some experience at this level.”