Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo will be the finalists for the CSL Championship following a 3-2 extra time victory by the Toronto side over York Region Shooters at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke Sunday night, and the two teams to fight it out for Second Division supremacy were also decided Sunday when Waterloo reserves defeated Niagara United reserves 5-1 and the Milton reserve team advanced with a 3-0 win over the Brantford Galaxy reserve squad.
Midfielder Richard Edwards opened the scoring for York Region Shooters at the 24th minute mark for a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Toronto Croatia appeared to have the upper hand in the second half and tied the score at 81 minutes when defender Josip Keran took a cross to head into the net. It was 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
The game went into 2 x 15 minutes of overtime and the Shooters took a 2-1 lead at 106 minutes on a goal by midfielder Andrei Spatary, but the home side tied the game 2-2 just one minute later when Tomislav Zadro dove into the ball, a diving header from five yards that left York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis no chance for a save.
Toronto Croatia took a 3-2 lead at 23 minutes of overtime when a defensive pass was intercepted by Andres Fresenga who promptly found the net for the winning goal.
Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo meet in the final at Warrior Stadium in Waterloo next Sunday, October 25, that’s a 4 pm kickoff.
Aleksander Stojiljkovic scored twice for SC Waterloo reserves at 65 and 89 minutes in the Second Division Championship semifinal against Niagara United reserves played at Rim Park in Waterloo, his first goal from the penalty spot following the opening goal of the game by Dzenan Karic at the 35 th minute mark. Mohammad Ali Heydarpour scored at 50 minutes and Edward Syllie at 68 minutes for the home side.
Derek Paterson scored for Niagara United.
In the second semifinal of the CSL Second Division series, Milton SC reserves advanced to the final with a 3-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy reserves at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton.
Delvin Mathurin opened the scoring for Milton at the 17th minute mark and Lucky Maghori made it 2-0 at 41 minutes, the score at the break.
Stephan Cameron found the net at 83 minutes to complete the scoring for a 3-0 result at the final whistle.
Keitu Smith of Milton was shown the red card following a second caution at 75 minutes and Simo Vrakela of Brantford Galaxy was also ordered off following a second yellow at the 89th minute.
Milton SC B will meet SC Waterloo B for the Second Division Championship at Warrior Stadium next Sunday, October 24 at 1 pm.
PLAYOFFS SUMMARY
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals
Serbian White Eagles 1, London City 0
SC Waterloo 2, Toronto Atomic FC 0
York Region Shooters 4, Burlington SC 2
Toronto Croatia 4, Milton SC 0
Semifinals
SC Waterloo 3, Serbian White Eagles 2
Toronto Croatia 3, York Region Shooters 2 EXTRA TIME
CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals
Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0
SC Waterloo B 5, Serbian White Eagles B 0
Milton SC B 6, Toronto Atomic FC B 0
York Region Shooters B 4, Niagara United B 4 EXTRA TIME
Niagara United B won on penalty kicks.
Semifinals
SC Waterloo B 5, Niagara United B 1
Milton SC B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 0