HOW MUCH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT IN THE CSL

While Canadian international Atiba Hutchinson (York Region Shooters) is the most outstanding example of a player from the Canadian Soccer League being selected for his country, there were many more, including 40 players during the three seasons 2010 to 2012. Andre Manders (York Region Shooters) and Bermuda, Adam Janssen (Brampton City United) Canada U-23, Nikola Paunic (Serbian White Eagles) Canada U-20, Odaine Demar (Capital City) Jamaica, are just a few.

“Playing for the Shooters definitely helped me get into the national team of Bermuda and probably helped me get into the starting 11,” he said at the time. “Playing here has helped me physically and mentally”.

While many member teams of the CSL have favoured searching their community for good young amateurs that deserve to be in a player development environment, many member teams have also favoured importing professional players for an immediate benefit on the field of play and improved performance which shows up in the league table.

Others have a mixed roster of players from out of the country together with players from the local community, a blend that often becomes a strong player development environment while the amateurs play alongside and learn from the seasoned pros.

In the coming days we will look even more closely at the CSL.

Nikola Paunic

SERBIAN WHITE EAGLES, TORONTO FALCONS WIN – Opening game abandoned

PHOTO: Renny Harlan

The opening match of three played in the Canadian Soccer League at the Mattamy Sports Park on Saturday was suspended by the referee at 57 minutes due to misconduct on the field of play. In the second game, Serbian White Eagles controlled the play to defeat Weston United 4-0 and in the late game, an early first half goal gave Toronto Falcons a 1-0 result over Ooty Black Pearl.

There were eight yellow cards and three players ejected in a rough and tumble affair that got out of hand with verbal abuse including threats, all of which was enough for referee Milodrag Akmadzic to end the Dynamo Toronto vs Scarborough opener in the second half. An additional red card was shown following the whistle that abandoned the encounter. Dynamo Toronto led 2-0 from goals by forward Mykola Temniuk at 24 minutes, and defender Vadym Gostiev’s strike at the 47th minute mark.

The league has indicated there will be an inquiry by its discipline panel to decide the disposition of the match and discipline considerations for a game which ended with more than 30 minutes remaining on the clock.

Serbian White Eagles’ prolific scorer Maro Stajic opened the scoring with a quick goal from inside the box just two minutes after the kickoff against Weston United. Forward Stefan Milosevic then found the net past Weston goalkeeper Vinicius Pinto de Carvalho at the 12th minute mark for a 2-0 lead at the break. Nikola Durkovic scored twice in a six minute period halfway through the second half when Serbian White Eagles controlled most of the play.

Weston United was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Joao Emmanuel Matos was shown the red card at 56 minutes. It was 4-0 in favour of Serbian White Eagles at the final whistle for the Toronto area team to lead the CSL standings.

There were three attempts including two rebounds before Denys Diachenko put the ball into the net at 14 minutes for Toronto Falcons, a goal almost saved by Oooty Black Pearl goalkeeper MacLean Hawkins-Olinskie in the late game. The goal held to the final whistle for a 1-0 result to give the Falcons its first victory in the campaign, while Ooty Black Pearl is without a win.

The Canadian Soccer League resumes its 2023 schedule on July 8 with three games at a new location Paramount Field 2 in Mississauga.
2PM Toronto Falcons vs Weston United FC
4PM Hamilton City 1 vs FC Dynamo
6PM Scarborough SC vs OOTY Black Pearl FC

VORKUTA, HIGH SCORING HAMILTON CITY SCORE VICTORIES IN CSL KICKOFF

PICTURE: The CSL returned  following a three-month delay and postponements to stage two well-played, exciting  fast-paced encounters with  goals galore. There were no early season signs of fatigue in both matches – a credit to the players who kept it up through to the final whistle.

FC Vorkuta picked up where the team left off in 2019 with a strong performance and a 2-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy in the opener of an abbreviated and delayed 2020 Canadian Soccer League season played at the Esther Shiner Stadium in Toronto Saturday. It was the first of a double header, with the second game ending 6-4 in high scoring encounter in favour of Hamilton City over Serbian White Eagles.

The two opening games kicked off a shortened regular league schedule that will run for almost two months to early October and will conclude with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs and the CSL Championship. All games will be played at two grounds only, Esther Shiner Stadium and Centennial Stadium in Toronto.

There is a similarity in the early performance of Brantford Galaxy and the more recent FC Vorkuta in their first season as expansion franchises in the CSL.

Brantford Galaxy entered the CSL in 2010 with strong community support which included Walter Gretzky, father of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. The elder Gretzky occasionally travelled with the Galaxy side to away games and the new entry surprised the soccer community by being the first expansion franchise in CSL history to win the CSL Championship in its inaugural season.  Vorkuta took the CSL First Division title in its debut 2017 season and followed up with the CSL Championship the following year.

There has been a marked contrast between these two teams in recent times, however, including the 2019 season when unbeaten Vorkuta won the First Division title, while the struggling Galaxy managed just two victories to end the season at the foot of the table of an 18-game schedule.

Hamilton City entered the CSL in 2016 and has finished mid-table in each of the first three seasons to qualify for the playoffs each time. In its inaugural 2016 season the City advanced in the playoffs to be championship finalists, going down in a thrilling late win by today’s opposition Serbian White Eagles. The winners had returned to the CSL in 2006 following several years with distinction in the CSL forerunner National Soccer League. Serbian White Eagles earned the NSL championship victory in 1974 to become the first Canadian club to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.

It was a scoreless, well-played first half in the opener between Vorkuta and Brantford Galaxy, with Vorkuta opening the scoring on a penalty kick at 58 minutes, a strike by forward Liubomyr Halchuk following a Brantford defender’s hand ball call by referee Ranee Arbaji. Vorkuta made it 2-0 at 82 minutes following a passing play on the right wing that was broken up until forward Mykola Temniuk took possession to drive the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

Momcilo Veliko of Brantford Galaxy was ordered off just before the final whistle after being shown a second yellow in the match by referee Arbaji. It was 2-0 in favour of Vorkuta at the final whistle.

In the second game, Hamilton City struck first against Serbian White Eagles, a goal by Ilija Bajcetic at 14 minutes and Serbian Eagles tied 1-1 at 37 minutes, a goal by Marko Stajic. Joe Willingham made it 2-1 for the ‘home’ team Hamilton at the 39th minute mark, Zoran Kokot increased the lead to 3-1 for Hamilton at 41 minutes and Willingham scored a second goal for a 4-1 Hamilton lead at 45 minutes. This was followed by a goal from Serbian Eagles midfielder Misel Klisara less than a minute later, a 4-2 Hamilton lead at the break.

Klisara struck again for the Toronto area side at 58 minutes, reducing the Hamilton lead to 4-3 and Bozidar Tadic struck for Serbian White Eagles at 72 minutes to tie the score 4-4.

Serbian White Eagles were awarded a penalty by referee Norm Oliveira for an infringement in the box  at 80 minutes, Tadic took the kick and Hamilton goalkeeper Alexandar Nicolic made the save.

Two late goals by Hamilton’s Raine Lyn, at 84 minutes and in added time at 94 minutes gave Hamilton City a 6-4 victory.

The next games in the 2020  5-team abbreviated CSL schedule are:

Sat Aug 22 Esther Shiner Stadium 5:00 pm Scarborough vs SC Hamilton City

Sat Aug 22 Esther Shiner Stadium 7:00 pm Serbian White Eagles vs FC Vorkuta

 The regular season will be completed early October, to be followed by the CSL Championship playoffs during October.

 

 

 

UPCOMING WEEKEND IN THE CSL

FC Ukraine United and Real Mississauga have yet to kickoff the new season, but both teams start their 2019 campaign this coming weekend, with CSL First Division winners Ukraine United visiting CSC Mississauga at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga on Friday night, while Real Mississauga goes to Esther Shiner Stadium in North York  for their opening match against Kingsman FC Sunday evening.

Life is not expected to get any easier for CSC Mississauga on Friday despite a promising strong showing against SC Waterloo in the first half of the league season opener on May 19, a match eventually won 4-0 by the visiting Waterloo, but which gave CSC Mississauga reason for optimism that a turnaround is in the works following a 2018 inaugural season-long struggle at the foot of the standings.

Ukraine United won the First Division in 2018 by a superior goal output, finding the net 60 times in the regular season with five players occupying a spot in the CSL First Division goal scorer chart. Of the five, only midfielder Pavlo Lukianets (12 goals in the 2018 regular season) and forward Nazar Milishchuk (8 goals in the 2018 regular season) will be in the line-up during the early part of the 2019 campaign at least, which raises the question of the effectiveness of Ukraine United’s firepower in the early games.

Real Mississauga’s season opener against new team Kingsman SC is played at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, a 6 pm kickoff on Sunday, bringing particular interest in terms of Real’s strength in the First Division following an inaugural 2018 season. It will take another game or two to assess Kingsman, a side which  looked promising while holding a half time lead against CSL champions Vorkuta in their opener on May 25. Vorkuta eventually prevailed, 4-2.

Serbian White Eagles go into their second game of the season against Hamilton City at Centennial Stadium on Friday night following an opening 4-2 victory over Brantford Galaxy, FC Vorkuta hosts the Galaxy at the Ontario Soccer Centre on Saturday and on Sunday, and a motivated SC Waterloo with two 4-0 early victories travel to Birchmount Stadium for what should be an interesting tussle with Scarborough SC.

The weekend games:

Friday May 31, Centennial Stadium 7 pm  Serbian White Eagles vs Hamilton City

Friday May 31, Hershey Centre, 9 pm CSC Mississauga vs FC Ukraine United

Saturday June 1, Ontario Soccer Centre 9 pm FC Vorkuta vs Brantford Galaxy

Sunday June 2, Esther Shiner Stadium 6 pm Kingsman A vs Real Mississauga

Sunday June 2, Birchmount Stadium 8 pm Scarborough SC vs SC Waterloo

THE CSL SEES A NEW ERA IN CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER

FC Ukraine United and FC Vorkuta clash at Centennial Park Stadium in 2018, two recent teams in a a new era of professional soccer  in  Canada .  PHOTO: Michael Fayehun/F10 Sports Photography

NEW  ERA OF PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN CANADA

When the Canadian Soccer League kicks off its 2019 season mid-May there will be a special determination by its members that today’s league  – which first kicked off on June 19, 1926, a match between Toronto Ulster and Windsor Rovers — will not soon end up in the history books.  Instead, the league, described by former Toronto Star sports writer Bob Koep as being ‘one of a kind’, and author Colin Jose  ‘has stood the test of time’, will continue to play an important part in edging soccer ever closer to becoming a mainstream sport in Canada, to find its deserved place in the Canadian sports community.

The CSL, rebranded from time to time, is after all, the longest running soccer league in the country, to   survive where many have faded into obscurity.

When the CSL’s forerunner National Soccer League kicked off  in 1926, so did the Interprovincial League, and numerous major leagues through the ages to what now appears to be a new era of stability in North American professional soccer.

The Canadian Soccer League sees a new era in this country, with the success of top flight teams Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer, the introduction of the Canadian Premier League and a rejuvenated CSL. The tough CSL has a reputation for introducing promising young local players to a professional environment with almost 50 of them making their way to youth national teams following time in the CSL during the past 10 years. Several have advanced to high level clubs and the national squad, the most successful being Atiba Hutchinson, who made a brief appearance in the CSL before joining top clubs in Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Turkey, while the most recent was Jonathan Osorio of Toronto FC and Canada who earned the Rookie of the Year Award in his debut CSL season.

The league has benefitted by the use in recent years of import players, with half of the CSL’s First Division clubs signing established pros from Europe. A few of the many outstanding imports have been Sasa Viciknez of Serbian White Eagles who played in the European Champions League, Nikola Budalic, also of Serbian Eagles and now GM of Orlando of Major League Soccer,  Vitaliy Sidirov from Russia with Kingston FC, Janer Guaza Lucumi with SC Toronto following his selection to the Colombian U-20 team, Krum Bibishkov, Scarborough SC and Real Mississauga who was prominent in Bulgaria and Portugal and stirred the interest of Bayern Munich, Aleksandar Stojiljkovic of  SC Waterloo and Scarborough SC following time with high level clubs in Serbia, and  Sergii Ivliev of Ukraine United, then FC Vorkuta, was prominent in Ukraine and Poland.

It’s perhaps no coincidence that the CSL’s new offices are located close to Toronto Airport where a procession of players from Europe arrive weekly to join teams strengthened and made more attractive by their presence.

 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW …….CSL players moving up

The first of series.

We all know what former Canadian Soccer League player Jonathan Osorio is doing these days as one of the most visible members of the Toronto FC team with a club record of 171 appearances. Osorio, also now a Canadian national team regular with 22 appearances and now on a break from competition during the off season, first entered local professional soccer with CSL first division team SC Toronto in 2012. A prolific goal scorer, Osorio was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award in his debut CSL season.

But what about other players who have shone in the CSL and, like Osorio, have moved on to higher levels in Canada and elsewhere. Where are they now? This is the first of a series to detail the experiences in North America and overseas countries of players introduced to professional soccer in the Canadian Soccer League, or by its predecessor league, the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) the league’s name before re-branding in 2006.

Let’s start with Kitchener native David Edgar who started his soccer career with the CPSL’s London City, playing briefly in 2001 before trialing with Newcastle United in the English Premier League. The tall defender made his debut for Newcastle United reserve team in 2003 and made his debut for Canada’s U-20 team the same year. Edgar’s first team debut for Newcastle came on December 26, 2006 and a week later, on New Year’s Day January 1, 2007, he was in the spotlight in his home debut by scoring a goal against Manchester United, a game that ended in a 2-2 draw. Edgar was transferred to English team Burnley in 2009, making 99 appearances before moving to Swansea, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United, before returning to Canada to play for Vancouver Whitecaps. Edger, now 31, played at Nashville recently and is now under contract with Ottawa Fury in the US-based USL. He is Canadian men’s team regular with 42 caps.

Doneil Henry, a defender, was captain of the Toronto FC II side for two seasons in the CSL and was the first reserve team player to sign for the Toronto FC senior team in Major League Soccer. In 2014, Henry was transferred to Appollon Limassol of the Cypriot first division, returning on loan to Toronto FC before signing for West Ham United in England. Henry has been on loan to Blackburn Rovers of England and Horsens of Denmark before returning to Canada and playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018. The Whitecaps have picked up the option on Henry’s contract and he is presently on loan to Ottawa Fury. Now 25, the Brampton, Ontario, native has represented Canada at the senior level 24 times.

Nikola Budalic, a talented midfielder played for Glen Shields Sun Devils in the CPSL in 2001 before elevating his playing career in Canada with the Toronto Lynx of the US-based A-League before going overseas to play for Orebro of Sweden. Budalic then returned to Canada and the Impact, then signed for Haugesund of Norway before returning to the CSL in 2008 to join Serbian White Eagles. Budalic was then loaned to Toronto FC reserves before returning to Serbian Eagles to coach the CSL team. In 2016 Budalic was appointed assistant GM of Orlando City in MLS and was promoted to General Manager.

Atiba Hutchinson, who played briefly for York Region Shooters in the CPSL back in 2002, is a regular with the Canadian national team while near the end of a sparkling career in Europe. Hutchinson’s career took the midfielder from the CPSL to the Toronto Lynx before his European career started with top clubs Oster and Helsingborg (Sweden), then Copenhagen (Denmark) and PSV Eindoven (Netherlands). Now 35, Hutchinson is today with Besiktas, a top club in Turkey. The Brampton, Ontario native has won the Canadian Men’s Player of the Year award five times, and has indicated his wish to retire as a player in 2019.

Andre Manders, a talented Bermudian full back sometimes midfielder with the CSPL’s Capital City of Ottawa in 2002, who signed for York Region Shooters the following season, went on to play in Antigua and is presently with Whitechurch United in the Wessex League in England. At 32, Manders has 14 international caps with his native Bermuda, including World Cup qualifiers.

Nikola Paunic, who played in the CSL for Serbian White Eagles, was selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps but eventually signed for Orange County Blues, an affiliate of Los Angeles FC in MLS. Paunic, a defender, captained the Toronto SF Academy team and was selected for the Canada U-20 side.

Ashtone Morgan, an impressive young defender with Toronto FC in recent years, played in the CSL with Toronto FC II during the seasons 2009 and 2010 and has since made 118 appearances for the Reds’ senior team. Morgan, a regular with the Canadian men’s team, has contract options with his club and is expected to continue at the BMO Field in the upcoming 2019 season.

Karl Ouimette was standout defender in seasons 2009 and 2010 for Trois-Rivieres Attak, a team in the CSL affiliated with Montreal Impact. The Quebec native signed for the Impact in 2012 where he was picked up by New York Bulls of MLS, was then signed by Jacksonville Amada of the NPSL, followed by the San Francisco Deltas of the NASL and in 2018 played for Indy Eleven of the USL. Ouimette has played 18 times for the Canadian men’s team following games with Canada’s U-17 and U-23.

Paul Munster arrived at Kitchener, Ontario from Northern Ireland in 2004 and was put on a trial in the CPSL’s London City reserve side where he scored an impressive 12 goals in his first three matches, earning a quick place in City’s first team. The young striker then led the CPSL scoring with 25 goals to end the season with a record 10-goal lead. He was voted winner of the league’s Rookie of the Year Award. The Irishman became an immediate fan favourite at London City and attracted the attention of Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic to embark upon a European career which took him from Prague to Sweden, then back to the Czech Republic. Three seasons with Linfield in his native Northern Ireland followed, then a brief period playing in Germany. Munster was then appointed manager of Assyriska BK of the Swedish second division and was appointed to managerial and head coach responsibilities in three other clubs. Munster, 36, is today in India where in 2018 he was appointed technical director of Minerva Punjab in the Indian I-League.

Andrew Ornoch entered professional soccer briefly in 2002 with Mississauga Olympians of the CSL and following university soccer trialed successfully with Papai FC of Hungary, then Esbjerg of Denmark. Brief stints with Harecles Almelo, then Veendam of the Netherlands followed before the midfielder, sometimes forward, returned to the CSL playing three games with Mississauga Eagles. Ornoch then played for Telstar in the Netherlands, returned to Canada in 2014 at age 30 and signed for Vaughan Azzurri. He represented Canada three times.

IMPORT PLAYERS FOR A BRIGHTER CANADIAN SOCCER LEAGUE

IMPORT PLAYERS FOR A BRIGHTER CANADIAN SOCCER LEAGUE

There is no doubt that Oleh Kerchu, team captain and a leader off the field of play, played a big part in FC Vorkuta’s remarkable success in winning three titles since the York Region-based club became an expansion team in the Canadian Soccer League’s 2017 season.

Kerchu, 34, is an example of many players who have ventured to Canada for the express purpose of playing football in the Canadian Soccer League. Import signings strengthens the teams and provides many benefits for the league as a whole. Games become more attractive for the fans, the players bring strong technical skills following many years’ experience at high levels, particularly coaching expertise to the benefit of players in the local soccer community.

Ukrainian-born Kerchu, like several players in this year’s CSL championship side, entered the Canada as an import player following an extensive professional career in Europe. Now a midfielder, Kerchu started his football career as a defender in Bukovyna in Central Europe in 2001 and following stints with two other Ukrainian clubs. He was a member of the Bukovyna championship side both in the 2005-6 season and again in 2009/10 following a return to that club in 2008.

Other Vorkuta players had similar career paths. Goalkeeper Oleksandr Musiienko, 31, played for several teams in the Ukraine before arriving in Canada in 2017, Serhii Ursulenko, 31, was with FC Balkany Zorya when the team was promoted to the Ukrainian first league, and striker Sergii Ivlieve, 35, a veteran in the Ukraine who played more recently in Poland, signed in 2016 for CSL’s FC Ukraine United, then transferred to Vorkuta in 2017 to top the scoring in the CSL First Division with 13 goals in the season just past.  These, and others,  arrived in recent times to play a role in the success of FC Vorkuta, formed by members of the Russian community in Canada while paying tribute to its namesake city in Russia north of the Arctic Circle.

Myakhaylo Riabyi,  35, is considered to be the engine on the field of play for the Vorkuta professional team. In addition, FC Vorkuta is a busy member of the York Region soccer community with amateur teams in Richmond Hill and Thornhill, just north of Toronto.

Serbian White Eagles was the first CSL club to set a trend with a procession of professional players from Central and Eastern Europe after joining the league as an expansion team in 2006 and Sasa Viciknez was one of the most exciting imports to make an early arrival.  A forward, mostly on the left wing, Viciknez came to the CSL in 2006 following 10 years at a high level, highlighted by UEFA Champions League games in the 1998-99 seasons which included a memorable game against Bayern Munich.  The Serbian-born Viciknez was a master of the dead ball free kick which, when taken just outside the box, usually skimmed the inside of the post to find the net without the goalkeeper making a move. Viciknez was named to the CSL All Stars and earned the league’s MVP award in 2006 and 2009.

Serbian Eagles also landed Dragoslav Sekularac to coach the team when entering the CSL in 2006.  Sekularac was considered in the 1960s to be one of the top players in the world, a celebrity with a household name in Central and Eastern Europe.

Other prominent players signed from Europe by Serbian White Eagles included Branislav Vukomanovic who played first division football in Serbia and Montenegro , Slovakia , Romania and Bosnia – Herzegovina,  Uros Stamatovic, who has coached the team in recent years, played first division in Serbia, Dusan Belic, a first division goalkeeper in Serbia and Belgium, and Radenko Kamberovic , a solid defender who played first division in Serbia and Montenegro. Marko Krasic, a central midfielder played in Europe and Hong Kong. Others who arrived over the years were Marko Marovic, a midfielder, who played in Serbia and Romania, Bozo Milic,  Goran Svonja, and the impressive Mirko Medic who was voted the CSL defender of the year in 2009, all played at a high level overseas. Milan Mijailovic is the present coach of Serbian White Eagles following a sterling European career that included 236 games in the Serbia’s  SuperLiga.

Brantford Galaxy was also one of the early clubs in the CSL to sign European professionals, a decision that brought the CSL Championship to the Southwestern Ontario community in that debut season.  Signings in 2010 included Miodrag Andelkovic, a goalscorer who played in no less than 14 countries during his professional career, Ranko Golijanin , who also played in Europe and the A-League in the United States before arriving in Canada to play for the Galaxy, Swiss-born defender Patrick Gerhardt, who played in Switzerland, Australia, Bosnia-Herzigovina, as well as being selected for the Liberian national team for which he qualified through heritage. Nenad Begovic signed following an impressive career playing in Serbia and Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan and Israel. Drazen Govic played in Croatia and Belgium and Boris Milicic, at 39 one of the most experienced players in the CSL following a career in Serbia and Hungary, is still under contract with the Galaxy until the upcoming end of November.

FC Ukraine United has met with considerable success while signing players from Europe in the three seasons playing in the CSL. Attractive soccer and teamwork has been a feature of the side throughout. Several players have many years of overseas experience and topping the list could be Ukrainian-born defender Mykhailo Gurka. The prominence of  Pavlo Lukianets with his goalscoring power, stands out on the score sheet.

CSC Mississauga were strengthened by Croatian-born Pero Menalo, previously with the CSL’s Toronto Croatia who played in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzigovina, also Mykhaylo Berezovyy and forward Vitalii Koliesnikov from the Ukraine.

New CSL entry Real Mississauga benefited in 2018 with the presence of Krum Bibishikov who played more than 300 professional games for several teams overseas, including Levski Sofia and Lokomotive Sofia of Bulgaria, Steaua Bukarest of Romania,  Penafiel of Portugal and Bayern Munich’s reserve team in Germany .Bibishikov played one International game for Bulgaria and now holds a UEFA B coaching license which he is putting to good use in Canada.

Joining Scarborough SC since the club was formed in 2014 were import players Dobrin Orlovski from Bulgaria, Serbian striker Aleksander Stojiljkovic, a prolific scorer who led the CSL’s first division with 17 goals in 2017, Zoran Knezevic, who played mostly in Serbia and Russia,  Kavin Bryan, 34, a Jamaican international forward who played in the Jamaican Premier League, in Norway and for several teams in Vietnam before signing for York Region Shooters then Scarborough in the CSL. Others are goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika, 27, who played in Bosnia- Herzegovina and Albania, Kiril Dimitrov from the Belasitsa Petrich team in Bulgaria to play for Serbian White Eagles and SC Waterloo before being instrumental in returning professional soccer to Scarborough where he  both plays for and manages the new franchise.

Hamilton City SC has signed several import players since joining the CSL in 2016, including forward defender Nikola Stanojevic previously with FK Zemun of Serbia, Igor Krmar with an extensive career in Serbia, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina and lately in Macedonia. Midfielder Haris Fazlagic, who signed for several CSL teams since arriving to play for Brantford Galaxy in 2010, played in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, forward  Drazen Vukovic, 36, played most of his career in Croatia,  midfielder Zdenko Jurcevic, 32, from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

SC Waterloo won the overall CSL championship and Second Division title in 2013 and was a finalist two years later with an attractive side that included head coach Lazo Dzepina, who played for and later coached NK Dinara of Croatia, and played in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzigovina. The championship team was sprinkled with impressive players including Vladimir Zelebaba, now 36, a well-travelled midfielder who has played in Serbia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Thailand and Bosnia-Herzegovina and who scored twice in the memorable championship final. Aleksander Stojiljikovic and Keril Dimitrov (both now Scarborough) joined later.

Milton SC, now in the CSL Second Division, recruited several players with experience elsewhere when the club was formed in 2014. Milton recruited Adam Shaban, now 36, a Kenyan international with 34 caps, who came from Kenya’s Premier League. Shaban later played in the Norwegian first division, then Oman on the Arabian Peninsula. The Kenyan defender first signed for Kingston FC in 2014, then transferred to Milton. Radovan Ivkovic played in Croatia and Serbia before signing and full back Zoran Belosevic, who played in Serbia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece played briefly. Vladimir Vujovic, with a long career in Serbia, scored five goals for Milton in 2018.

CSL clubs will continue to bring high level players from Europe and elsewhere while remaining focused developing and signing Canadian-born talent to provide what appears to be an ideal blend for the league’s future and further expansion.

 

 

 

 

VORKUTA, VORKUTA, VORKUTA SPELLS THREE CSL TITLES

VORKUTA, VORKUTA, VORKUTA SPELLS THREE CSL TITLES

Vorkuta, Vorkuta, Vorkuta ! chanted fans at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west end, urging their team on in during a hotly contested, entertaining CSL Championship Final against Scarborough SC Saturday afternoon.

And the encouragement was for good reason. The York Region-based Vorkuta had already secured the CSL Second Division Championship with its reserve team in the first game of a championship double header just an hour earlier – a second 2018 title following the team’s Second Division league win back in mid-September.

A CSL Championship victory would set a unprecedented three titles in the same Canadian Soccer League season and that was the outcome as FC Vorkuta fought off a gallant Scarborough side to win on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie at 90 minutes and the same score at the end of extra time 30 minutes later.
Vorkuta’s found the net with all six penalty kicks, Scarborough dropped one of its six and the team named after a community in northern Russia, entered the CSL as recent as 2017, took its third title to end the 2018 CSL season.

Both sides set a strong pace and Scarborough came close early when forward Kiril Dimitrov’s drive from the right wing deflected just wide.
Vorkuta took a 1-0 lead at 29 minutes when referee Marcos Jaramillo pointed to the penalty spot after Oleh Kerchu was brought down in the box. Defender Lubomyr Halchuk easily found the nest past Scarborough goalkeeper John Trye.

Five minutes later Scarborough had another setback when referee Jaramillo showed Scarborough defender Alen Kucalovic the red card following a second caution, and it was 1-0 at the break.

Scarborough went on the offensive in the second half and rallied to equalize at 77 minutes when midfielder Odain Omaro Simpson headed in from a left wing cross.

Both teams kept up the tempo in a physical encounter that brought down players from both sides. There were missed opportunities and regulation time came with a 1-1 tie. The overtime 30 minutes each way was similar, but scoreless, leading to the penalty kicks decider. Vorkuta completed scoring all six, while Scarborough struck five and one was saved.

Commenting on Vorkuta’s achievements in winning three titles, head coach Samad Kadirov emphasized team play as being important, “But we also have some quality players, some performing well just at the right time and others were unexpected heroes,” he said.

FC VORKUTA: Volodymyr Bidlovskyi (defender), Denys Diachenko (midfielder), Valerii Doroshenko (midfielder), Vadym Gostiev (defender), Liubomyr Halchuk (defender), Valerii Haidarzhi (midfielder), Sergii Ivliev (forward), Oleh Kerchu (midfielder), Oleksandr Lozinskyy (goalkeeper), Oleksandr Muslienko (goalkeeper), Bohdan Riabets (midfielder), Mykhailo Riabyl (midfielder), Iaroslav Solonynko (midfielder), Oleksandr Tarasenko (defender), Serhii Ursulenko (midfielder), Oleksandr Volchkov (defender), Oleksandr Yaremchuk (defender), Valerii Yarmosh (midfielder). Head coach: Samad Kadirov, Assistant coach: Yanchuk Denys

SCARBOROUGH SC: Angel Angelov (defender), Hammud Ali Atif (forward), Kavin Bryan (forward), Ivan Cendic (defender), Kiril Dimitrov (forward, Adrian Ibanez (goalkeeper), Zoran Knezevic (midfielder), Alen Kucalovic (defender), Neven Radakovic (midfielder), Zoran Rajovic (midfielder), Momcilo Rudan (defender), Odain Omaro Simpson (midfielder), Milorad Stefanovic (midfielder), Stefan Stojiljkovic (midfielder) , Aleksander Stojiljkovic (forward), John Trye(goalkeeper), Ivan Prieto (midfielder), Cruz Coronel(defender). Head coach: Zoran Rajovic, Assistant coach: Imad Hukara.
TWO GOALS BY KEZIC LEADS VORKUTA B TO CSL SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP

In the earlier CSL Second Division Championship match, Christian Truyen opened the scoring for Halton United B at the 13th minute mark, heading into the net out of reach of FC Vorkuta B goalkeeper Oleksandr Lozinskyy and Vorkuta B tied 1-1 when Kristijan Kezic found the net one minute later.
This was followed shortly after the restart when Ihor Melnyk made it 2-1 for Vorkuta B at 15 minutes and Robert Melo equalized for Halton United B, 2-2 at the 35th minute mark. It was 2-2 at halftime.
Vorkuta B went ahead 3-2, Kezic scoring his second goal and the winner at 71 minutes and the score held to the final whistle.

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

Quarterfinals
SC Waterloo 2, Serbian White Eagles 1
Scarborough SC 4, Hamilton City 1
FC Ukraine United 0, Brantford Galaxy 0 (after extra time) FC Ukraine United won 8-7 on penalty kicks
FC Vorkuta 2, Real Mississauga 1

Semifinals
FC Vorkuta 2, SC Waterloo 2 (after extra time) Vorkuta won 4-3 on penalty kicks
Scarborough SC 2, Ukraine United 1

CSL Championship Final
FC Vorkuta 1, Scarborough SC 1 (after extra time) FC Vorkuta won 6-5 on penalty kicks

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Semifinals
FC Vorkuta B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 1
Halton United B 3, Scarborough SC B 1

CSL Second Division Championship
FC Vorkuta B 3, Halton United 2

STOJILJKOVIC WINNER PUTS SCARBOROUGH IN CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

STOJILJKOVIC WINNER PUTS SCARBOROUGH IN CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

A picture goal from a free kick by striker Aleksander Stojiljkovic of Scarborough SC had all the hallmarks of a winner following a sometime furious, but well played 90 minutes of CSL playoff soccer at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west end Sunday afternoon.

The winning goal, which came at 91 minutes, broke the 1-1 deadlock for a 2-1 final score in the CSL Championship semifinal between FC Ukraine United and Scarborough, to put the visiting Scarborough through to the final game against FC Vorkuta on this same ground next Saturday.

Stojiljkovic has mastered the dead ball before with similar result, but this left footer from 25 yards did appear to be something special while floating through the Ukraine United wall to enter the net just inside the right post out of reach of goalkeeper Oleksandr Popravka. With just a minute or so remaining in the game, the top-of-the-table Ukraine United team was all but eliminated from the championship.

Scarborough had opened the scoring at 68 minutes, a goal by Kavin Bryan who was fed a pass on the left wing to cut in and beat Popravka. Ukraine United recovered to tie the game 1-1 from the penalty spot following a hand ball infringement at 89 minutes. Midfielder Ihor Malysh made no mistake from the spot.

FC Vorkuta and Scarborough SC will meet for the overall CSL championship on Saturday, October 13, a 3 pm kickoff, to be preceded at 1 pm by the CSL Second Division Championship Final between FC Vorkuta B and the winner of the upcoming semifinal between Halton United B and Scarborough B being played Tuesday, October 9 at the Norton Field at Burlington, a 9 pm kickoff.

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Quarterfinals
SC Waterloo 2, Serbian White Eagles 1
Scarborough SC 4, Hamilton City 1
FC Ukraine United 0, Brantford Galaxy 0 (after extra time) FC Ukraine United won 8-7 on penalty kicks
FC Vorkuta 2, Real Mississauga 1

Semifinals
FC Vorkuta 2, SC Waterloo 2 (after extra time) Vorkuta won 4-3 on penalty kicks
Scarborough SC 2, Ukraine United 1

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Semifinals
FC Vorkuta B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 1
Halton United B vs Scarborough SC B to be played on Tuesday October 9 at 9 pm Norton Field, Burlington.

VORKUTA BIDS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE FOLLOWING SATURDAY SEMIFINAL VICTORIES

VORKUTA BIDS FOR CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE FOLLOWING SATURDAY SEMIFINAL VICTORIES

FC Vorkuta is bidding for the CSL double following a clean sweep of the two semifinals played Saturday.

Vorkuta defeated SC Waterloo in the CSL Championship semifinal at The Soccer Centre in Vaughan Saturday night, a thriller tied 1-1 at 90 minutes, it was 2-2 following 30 minutes of overtime, and Vorkuta advanced on penalty kicks. Vorkuta will meet the winner of the second semifinal between FC Ukraine United and Scarborough SC set for 2 pm at Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke Sunday.

Vorkuta B scored a 3-1 victory over Brantford Galaxy B in the afternoon Second Division semifinal encounter at the St. Robert Field in Vaughan and will meet the winner of the Halton United B vs Scarborough SC B being played at the Norton Field at Burlington on Tuesday, October 9, a 9 pm kickoff.

Both championship finals will be played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on Saturday, October 13 – the CSL Second Division Championship Final at 1 pm and the CSL Championship Final at 3 pm.

In the afternoon game, Vorkuta B took a 1-0 lead in the Second Division semifinal with a goal at eight minutes by Kristijan Kezic who found the net after taking a pass from Denys Diachenko.

Brantford Galaxy B levelled the score at the 17th minute mark following a quick counter-attack, a goal by Donare Beqere, and Kezic struck his second goal to put Vorkuta B 2-1 up before the interval. It was 2-1 at the break. The game was quick and physical during the second half as Brantford B pressed for an equalizer, but Vorkuta B increased its score at 90 minutes, a goal by Kyrylo Antonenko for a 3-1 result in favour of the home side.
SC Waterloo took the initiative in the early stages of the CSL Championship semifinal, a well played, physical first half with few goalscoring opportunities until Waterloo broke away on a counter attack to score at 42 minutes. Miodrag Kovacevic closed in on Vorkuta goalkeeper Oleksandr Musiienko and the Waterloo midfielder slotted the ball into the net.

Vorkuta tied the game three minutes later, a cross by Volodymyr Bidlovskyi who found Vadym Gostiev on the far post to put the ball into the Waterloo net. The goal came at 45 minutes and it was 1-1 at the break.

Vorkuta came close to scoring late in the second half when at 87 minutes Gostiev drove a hard low pass to the far post for midfielder Serhii Ursulenko to smash the ball against the crossbar. It was 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

Waterloo took a 2-1 lead in extra time, a free kick found Sven Arapovic on the 6-yard line to tap the ball into the net and the visitors held the lead until 117 minutes when Vorkuta was awarded a penalty kick for a foul on defender Oleksandr Volchkov. Waterloo goalkeeper Marko Jelic made the save from the penalty taken by captain Oleh Ivliev, but Serhii Ursulenko took the rebound and found the net to equalize 2-2, a score which held until the final whistle. Vorkuta won on penalty kicks, a 4-3 score.

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE

Quarterfinals
SC Waterloo 2, Serbian White Eagles 1
Scarborough SC 4, Hamilton City 1
FC Ukraine United 0, Brantford Galaxy 0 (after extra time) FC Ukraine United won 8-7 on penalty kicks
FC Vorkuta 2, Real Mississauga 1

Semifinals
FC Vorkuta 2, SC Waterloo 2 (after extra time) Vorkuta won 4-3 on penalty kicks
FC Ukraine United vs Scarborough SC game to be played Sunday October 7 at 2pm Centennial Stadium Etobicoke.

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Semifinals
FC Vorkuta B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 1
Halton United B vs Scarborough SC B to be played on Tuesday October 9 at 9 pm Norton Field, Burlington

The CSL Second Division Championship Final will be played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on Saturday, October 13 at 1 pm, to be followed by the CSL Championship Final at 3 pm.

WATERLOO AND SCARBOROUGH ADVANCE IN CSL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

WATERLOO AND SCARBOROUGH ADVANCE IN CSL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

SC Waterloo scored a late winner in extra time to defeat Serbian White Eagles 2-1 and Scarborough SC also advanced with a 4-1 victory over Hamilton City, two CSL Championship quarterfinal playoff games in the Canadian Soccer League played Saturday.

Midfielder Miodrag Kovacevic opened the scoring for Waterloo at 19 minutes and defender Zoran Pesic found the net for a late second half equalizer for Serbian White Eagles in a well-played encounter, tied at 90 minutes to then go into 15 minutes each way extra time at RIM Park, Waterloo.

The outcome was in doubt to the end when Vladimir Zelenbaba struck from the penalty spot for Waterloo. The winning goal came with just three minutes to the final whistle, to advance the home side into the semifinals.

In the earlier game at Birchmount Stadium, defender Angel Angelov opened the scoring at 33 minutes for Scarborough SC in the quarterfinal match against Hamilton City and Atif Hammud Ali made it 2-0 for the home side at the 42nd minute mark.

Hamilton City struck back just four minutes later when Peter Aleksic found the net past Scarborough goalkeeper John Trye, a 2-1 score at the break.
Scarborough’s Zoran Knezevic increased the lead to 3-1 with a picture goal at the 60th minute mark, a powerful volley from 27 yards that caught the top corner out of reach of Hamilton goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic. Midfielder Neven Radakovic completed the scoring for Scarborough at 70 minutes and it was 4-1 at the final whistle.

Waterloo will meet the winner of the FC Vorkuta vs Real Mississauga quarterfinal clash being played Sunday, September 30 and Scarborough will take on the winner of the FC Ukraine United vs Brantford Galaxy quarterfinal encounter being played the same day.

In the Second Division playoff semifinals for the CSL Second Division Championship, FC Vorkuta B will be at home to Brantford Galaxy B and Halton United B will host Scarborough SC B.

All semifinal venues will be announced early the week October 1, the games to be completed by Sunday, October 7.
The CSL Second Division Championship Final at 1 pm and the CSL Championship Final at 3 pm will be played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke Saturday, October 13.

CSL REGULAR SEASON ENDS AS SC WATERLOO JUMP TO THIRD IN TABLE FOLLOWING THIRD VICTORY IN SIX DAYS

CSL REGULAR SEASON ENDS AS SC WATERLOO JUMP TO THIRD IN TABLE FOLLOWING THIRD VICTORY IN SIX DAYS

A goal midway through the second half by midfielder Miodrag Kovacevic gave SC Waterloo a 1-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy at RIM Park in Waterloo Wednesday night, to bring an end to the 2018 regular First Division season of the Canadian Soccer League.

The win was the third win in six days for Waterloo, lifting the southwestern Ontario side to third position in the standings with an improved 9-5-2 WLT record for 29 points, while Brantford Galaxy ended 3-11-2 for 11 points.

The goal was Kovacevic’s sixth of the campaign to continue the strong season-end play for Waterloo of the Montenegro-born midfielder who struck twice in the 3-0 victory over Hamilton City on September 1 and has been prominent in the closing games.

The first eight teams in the First Division standings qualify for a berth in the post-season playoffs for the CSL Championship and the opening quarterfinal draw is:

FC Ukraine United  vs Brantford Galaxy

FC Vorkuta vs. Real Mississauga

SC Waterloo vs Serbian White Eagles

Scarborough SC vs Hamilton City

 

The following matches will be played this coming weekend:

 

Saturday, September 29 at 5 pm SC Scarborough vs Hamilton City at Birchmount Stadium, Scarborough

Sunday, September 30 at 7 pm. FC Vorkuta vs. Real Mississauga at the Soccer Centre Stadium, Vaughan (correction was Saturday originally)

Saturday, September 29 at 7.30 pm SC Waterloo vs Serbian White Eagles at RIM Park, Waterloo

Sunday Sept 30 at 4 pm  FC Ukraine United vs Brantford Galaxy at Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke

 

Semifinal matches will be played the weekend October 5 – 7 and the CSL Championship Final will be played at Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke on Saturday, October 13.

HAMILTON CITY END REGULAR SEASON ON WINNING WAY – TENTATIVE POST SEASON QUARTERFINAL PLAYOFFS ANNOUNCED

HAMILTON CITY END REGULAR SEASON ON WINNING WAY – TENTATIVE POST SEASON QUARTERFINAL PLAYOFFS ANNOUNCED

Two first half goals by striker Sani Dey put Hamilton City on the way to a 3-2 victory over Serbian White Eagles, the final regular season games for both teams in the CSL First Division Tuesday night.

Played most of the time in torrential rain at the Heritage Green Field, the match was in doubt to the end with the home side holding on to a precarious lead most of the second half until the final whistle.

Dey scored from the spot at 18 minutes following a tripping incident in the box and Serbian White Eagles tied the score 1-1 four minutes later, a goal by Mihailo Madzar

Dey struck his second goal for a 2-1 lead by Hamilton City at 24 minutes, driving the ball into the net from a right wing cross. It was goal number 13 on the season for Dey. The score was 2-1 at the break.

Midfielder Vukasin Kovacevic increased the lead to 3-1 for the home side at 49 minutes and Bojan Vranic cut the lead to 3-2 for Serbian White Eagles at 59 minutes.

Filip Velasevic of Serbian White Eagles was shown the red card following a second caution at 90 minutes  and the 3-2 score held to the final whistle.

Hamilton City improves its record to 8-7-1 WTL for 25 points to end the regular season in fifth position in the standings, while Serbian White Eagles will finish sixth in the table with a 5-7-4 record for 19 points.

There is one game remaining in the CSL First Division regular season, SC Waterloo vs Brantford Galaxy at RIM Park on Wednesday, September 26.

The post season quarterfinal playoffs for the CSL Championship will be finalized following Wednesday’s  SC Waterloo vs Brantford Galaxy final league game, using the following tentative schedule:

SC Scarborough vs Serbian White Eagles or Hamilton City at Birchmount Stadium on Saturday, September 29 a 5 pm kickoff.

 FC Vorkuta vs. Brantford Galaxy or Real Mississauga at the Soccer Centre Stadium, Vaughan, on Saturday, September 29 at 7 pm.

 SC Waterloo vs Hamilton City or Serbian White Eagles at RIM Park, on Saturday, a 7.30 pm kickoff.

FC Ukraine United vs Real Mississauga or Brantford Galaxy at Centennial Stadium on Sunday Sept 30,  a 4 pm start.

 

FRIDAY VICTORIES FOR SC WATERLOO AND CSC MISSISSAUGA

FRIDAY VICTORIES FOR SC WATERLOO AND CSC MISSISSAUGA

SC Waterloo defeated Serbian White Eagles 3-1 and CSC Mississauga won the local derby against rivals Real Mississauga by a 2-1 score, two games in the CSL First Division Friday night.

Midfielder Emilio Estervez opened the scoring for visiting SC Waterloo almost immediately following the kickoff in windy conditions at Centennial Stadium. The 1-0 lead held up most of the remainder of the first half until Waterloo defender Sven Arapovic made it 2-0 at 45 minutes, his third goal of the season. It was 2-0 at half-time.

Serbian White Eagles’ defender Goran Kamber reduced the lead to 2-1 at 55 minutes, beating Waterloo goalkeeper Marko Jelic with a header off a Milos Scepanovic free kick.

Adis Hasecic struck the third goal for Waterloo at 89 minutes, a well-taken drive from 30 yards that caught the net just inside the far right post and the 3-1 score held until the final whistle. It was Hasecic’s fifth goal of the campaign.

Waterloo finished the game with 10 men after defender Vladimir Zelenbaba was shown the red card for Violent Conduct by referee Marcos Jaramillo.

Waterloo improve to 7-5-2 WLT for 23 points in fourth position in the standings following the victory, while Serbian White Eagles remain in 6 th  place with a 5-5-4 record for 19 points.

CSC Mississauga forward Pero Menalo opened the scoring at 33 minutes for a 1-0 lead against local rivals Real Mississauga at the Hershey Centre and it was 1-0 at the break.

Mauricio Konjic made it 2-0 for CSC Mississauga at 60 minutes and Real Mississauga player-coach Krum Bibishikov cut the lead to 2-1 with a drive from 35 yards that found the corner. It was a 2-1 score at the final whistle and a first win for CSC Mississauga in its inaugural CSL season.

CSC Mississauga has a 1-12-2 record for 5 points and ninth in the standings, while Real Mississauga is at 3-10-2 for 11 points in seventh position in the table.

There are four First Division matches scheduled for Sunday when Serbian White Eagles travel to RIM Park for a clash with SC Waterloo at 7 pm, Hamilton City is at home at the Heritage Field against Brantford Galaxy also at 7, Ukraine United will play their final regular season match and wanting to win by a margin of four or more goals in a First Division title decider against CSC Mississauga at Centennial Stadium, that’s at 7 pm and Real Mississauga will host Scarborough SC at the Hershey Centre, kickoff is 8.30 pm