Serbian White Eagles, seen in earlier final, are the defending CSL champions

The second half collapse by St. Catharines followed the ejection by referee Justin Tasev of midfielder Matthew Stillman at 36 minutes for violent conduct and Wolves’ forward Joe DelPriore at 43 minutes who received a second yellow card.

 

Italia Shooters’ forward Balke Ordell got things underway at Club Roma in St. Catharines with a goal just three minutes after the kickoff for the visitors, a 1-0 lead at half-time

 

Nick Cisternino increased the lead to 2-0 at 55 minutes and Humphrey put a further three at 79, 82 and 86 minutes past St. Catharines’ goalkeeper Tony Visca, the back-up ‘keeper for the absent Claudio Perri.

 

The encounter was the first of 12 playoff games before the CSL Championship Final on October 24. The top eight of 10 teams in the CSL go through a 2-game home and away quarter-final series before the similar 2-game home and away semi-final series.

It's a 2-game total points aggregate series with overtime in the second game if tied on total points at the end of 90 minutes.

 

The return clash for Italia Shooters vs. St. Catharines Wolves will be played at Maple on Sunday, October 4, a 5 pm kickoff and the remaining three second leg quarter-finals will see Trois-Rivieres Attak at home to Portugal FC on Saturday, October 3 at 3 pm, TFC Academy will be at home to Serbian White Eagles, also on Saturday, October 3 – that’s a 3.30 pm kickoff at Lamport Stadium, and Brampton Lions play Toronto Croatia at Victoria Park in Brampton on Sunday, October 4 at 5 pm

 

The remaining three first leg quarter-final games being played this weekend are:

 

Saturday, Sept. 26 Brockton Stadium 8 pm
Portugal FC vs. Trois-Rivieres Attak

 

Sunday, Sept. 27 Centennial Stadium 5 pm

Serbian White Eagles vs. TFC Academy

 

Sunday, Sept. 27 Centennial Stadium 8.15 pm

Toronto Croatia vs. Brampton Lions