Toronto Atomic FC were impressive with three second half goals to defeat Niagara United 3-0, Brampton City Utd also registered an opening day victory, a 2-0 score over Milton SC, and London City fought to a 3-3 tie with SC Scarborough, three games in a Canadian Soccer League First Division opening day Soccer Fest at the St.Joan of Arc ground Saturday.
Following a scoreless first half during which Toronto Atomic midfielder Mykhailo Basarab came close with a drive just over the bar against Niagara United at 32 minutes, the expansion side Atomic went into a 2-0 lead soon after the break.
Ihor Mihalevskeyy opened the scoring at 50 minutes and Melnyk Ihor made it 2-0 from the penalty spot two minutes later. Referee Tony Amaral called the foul when Mihaleevskeyy was brought down inside the box.
Atomic went ahead 3-0 on a goal by Mykola Voytsekhovskyy who found the net from a rebound off Niagara United goalkeeper Matthew Greco, the goal coming at the 78th minute mark for a 3-0 score at the final whistle.
Atomic head coach Ihor Yavorskyy considered the win a team effort. ”The team played well together and that is what gave us the win,” he said following the game. “It took the first half to settle down – the players were trying to do things too quickly, but the second half was much better.”
London City forward Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic picked up where he left off in 2014 with a hat-trick in the 3-3 tie with SC Scarborough. The prolific 28 year old Croatian-born striker, who won the MVP and top goalscorer award with 21 goals for London City last year, struck late in the first half, again at 61 and 86 minutes.
Jose De Sousa opened the scoring in the first half for Scarborough with a goal at 34 minutes, and De Sousa made it 2-0 three minutes later.
London City were reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Vladimir Markotic was shown the red card by referee Goran Babic for Serious Foul Play at 39 minutes, and it was 2-1 for Scarborough at the break.
Jose Melo increased the Scarborough lead to 3-1 at 58 minutes before Vucemilovic-Grgic completed his hat-trick with two goals for the3-3 tie at the final whistle.
Brampton City Utd scored a goal in each half in the late game on opening day for a 2-0 victory over Milton SC playing their opening First Division game following the team’s move up from last season’s Second Division.
Juber Quinteros scored the opener for Brampton at 25 minutes for a 1-0 lead at the break and Nordo Gooden added a second at 78 minutes finding the net past Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica.
In the CSL Second Division, Burlington SC B defeated Serbian White Eagles B 4-2, Toronto Atomic FC B scored a 2-0 victory over Niagara United B, and York Region Shooters B scored a convincing 6-2 win over Toronto Croatia B.
Most Valuable Player – Saturday’s Games
David Meyde (Serbian White Eagles B), Nathaniel Reyes (Burlington SC B)
Ihor Mihalevskyy (Toronto Atomic FC), Johnny Paivia (Niagara United)
Tijun Han (Toronto Atomic FC B), Dino Noah (Niagara United B)
Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic (London City), Jose Melo (SC Scarborough)
Micadl Lazzarotto (York Region Shooters B), Ivica Sunjka (Toronto Croatia B)
Zoran Pusica (Milton SC) Nordo Gooden (Brampton City Utd)
Schedule for Sunday, May 10
11 am SC Waterloo B vs Brantford Galaxy B Second Division
1 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Burlington SC First Division
3 pm Milton SC B vs Brampton City Utd B Second Division
5 pm Brantford Galaxy vs SC Waterloo First Division
7 pm York Region Shooters vs Toronto Croatia First Division