Serbian White Eagles probably won their most important game of the season at Esther Shiner Stadium Friday, a 3-1 victory over Windsor Stars to clinch the last playoff berth of eight teams to move forward into the quarterfinals of the CSL Championship.
Serbian Eagles needed the outright win to be sure of a playoff spot, anything less would have provided Astros Vasas a last minute opportunity to take the coveted last playoff slot with their final game of the season – also against Windsor Stars – on Sunday.
Serbian Eagles’ forward Sahjah Reid put his team on the road to victory with two first half goals to give the Toronto team a decided edge with a 2-0 lead at the break. Reid struck his first at the 11th minute mark and found the net again past Windsor goalkeeper Anthony Santilli at 21 minutes.
Windsor lost forward Gino Berardi after being shown the red card by referee Michael Bradley for dissent at 37 minutes, but the visitors bounced back with a goal by Stephen Ademolu who found the net from the penalty spot at 46 minutes. Ademolu was fouled in the box by Serbian defender Mohammed Habibzi and referee Bradley ordered the kick.
Midfielder Milos Rudan scored the third goal for Serbian Eagles, a drive from 16 yards over the head of goalkeeper Santilli at 73 minutes for the 3-1 final score.
Serbian White Eagles complete their 22-game regular season with a 8-12-2 record for 26 points in eighth position in the First Division standings and will travel to Kingston for the quarterfinal game on October 13.
Windsor Stars have already secured a playoff berth and have a 8-10-3 record for 27 points with the one game remaining, against Astros Vasas FC on Sunday.
The remaining games this weekend:
FIRST DIVISION
Sat, Oct 5 Centennial Stadium 7 PM Toronto Croatia vs Brampton City Utd
(Ref: Justin Tasev, Assist: Scott Milliquet, Alex Themistocleous 4th Blake Williams)
Sun, Oct 6 Esther Shiner Stadium 3:30 PM Astros Vasas FC vs Windsor Stars
(Ref: Justin Tasev, Assist: David Di Pasquale, Sharon Welsby, 4th Ramee Arbaji)
Sun, Oct 6 St. Joan of Arc 6:30 PM York Region Shooters vs Kingston FC
(Ref: David Barrie, Assist: Ljubisa Vrljes, Michael Izzo, 4th Manuel Orellana)
END OF REGULAR SEASON
SECOND DIVISION
Sat, Oct 5 Hershey Field 4 pm Serbian White Eagles B vs Toronto Croatia B
Sun, Oct 6 St. Joan of Arc 4 PM York Region Shooters B vs Kingston FC B
Sun Oct 6 Hershey Field 6 pm Serbian White Eagles B vs Brampton City Utd B
END OF REGULAR SEASON