North York Astros scored a timely and decisive 4-1 victory over the current CSL champions SC Waterloo and benefitted by a scoreless tie between Burlington SC and Toronto Croatia several hours later, two games in the CSL Sunday.
The win followed by the tie assured the Astros of one of the four top positions in the standings for home advantage in the playoffs.
Astros’ defender Boris Milicic opened the scoring at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, a drive from the edge of the box which caught the top right corner of the net out of reach of Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura.
Forward Wiler Costa made it 2-0 at the 35th minute mark, the score at the break.
North York took a 3-0 lead immediately following the second half kickoff, a goal by midfielder Jose De Sousa on a breakaway and three minutes later SC Waterloo cut the lead to 3-1 with a goal from Kiril Dimitrov who found the net past Astros’ goalkeeper Jason Lopes.
Darragh Roe rounded the scoring to 4-1 for the home side, the goal coming on a breakaway.
North York Astros improve to a 7-5-5 WLT record for 26 points in third position in the standings with one game – a home encounter with Niagara United on October 5 – remaining. North York have secured a position in the top four of the standings for home advantage in the playoffs – they will finish the season in third or fourth position depending upon the outcome of games in the final weekend of the regular season.
Waterloo SC, the current CSL champions, have completed their regular season with a 6-8-4 record for 22 points in sixth position and are already assured of a playoff position.
The Burlington SC vs Toronto Croatia game at Nelson Stadium ended scoreless with most of the play in the midfield with few scoring opportunities.
Toronto Croatia now have a 10-4-3 record for 33 points, will end the regular season in second position in the standings with one game remaining, away to York Region Shooters on October 6, while Burlington SC have completed their regular season with a 7-8-3 record for 24 points and will play an away game in the quarterfinals of the post-season series the weekend October 10 – 12.
The playoff teams in the First Division remain at York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia, North York Astros, Kingston FC, Burlington SC, SC Waterloo, Brampton City Utd, while either London City or Serbian White Eagles will be the eighth team, to be decided by the Serbian White Eagles vs London City game scheduled for October 4.
There were two games in the Second Division Sunday, Brampton City Utd B defeated Milton FC 2-1 and Toronto Croatia B outlasted Burlington SC, 6-5.
Second Division teams taking part in the Second Division championship series are: Kingston FC B, York Region Shooters B, Burlington SC B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC, Niagara United B, Toronto Croatia B and Brampton City Utd B.
Kingston FC B have secured a home advantage position after finishing first in the Second Division, the remaining three teams for home advantage have yet to be decided.