In earlier first leg games over the weekend, Italia Shooters won 5-0 over St. Catharines Wolves and Trois-Rivieres Attak were also decisive with a 3-0 victory over Portugal FC.
It took a patented free kick from 30 yards by Serbian White Eagles' striker Sasa Viciknez to win the game over a younger TFC Academy, the goal coming at 42 minutes when the former European professional’s well placed kick went just inside the post off the right hand of TFC ‘keeper Garrett Cyprus.
The second game at Centennial Stadium brought more goals and midfielder Hayden Fitzwilliams put Toronto Croatia in front when he drove the ball under Brampton goalkeeper Kevin Doyle at 19 minutes.
Forward Tihomir Maletic increased the Croatia lead to 2-0 at 49 minutes, but not before Brampton midfielder Andrew Da Silva was shown the red card at 38 minutes for violent conduct.
The Lions lost a second player when Daniel Cameira pulled down Maletic in the penalty area and was ejected by referee John Oliva who awarded a penalty to Toronto Croatia. Jonathan Busamante scored from the spot, placing the ball past Brampton goalkeeper Kevin Doyle for a 3-0 final score.
The win concluded the first leg series of games in the quarter-finals, with the second leg set for next weekend October 3 and 4. It’s a points aggregate home and away series to be won at the end of regulation time in the second round, but if tied on points after two games the teams will go into 2 x 15 minutes overtime and penalty kicks, if necessary.
First round results are:
Italia Shooters 5, St. Catharines Wolves 0
Trois-Rivieres Attak 3, Portugal FC 0
Serbian White Eagles 1, TFC Academy 0
Toronto Croatia 3, Brampton Lions 0
Second leg games are:
Saturday, October 3 Trois-Rivieres 3 pm Trois-Rivieres Attak vs. Portugal FC
Saturday, October 3 Lamport Stadium 3.30 pm TFC Academy vs. Serbian White
Eagles
Sunday, October 4 Maple 5 pm Italia Shooters vs. St. Catharines Wolves
Sunday, October 4 Victoria Park 5 pm Brampton Lions vs. Toronto Croatia
In the CSL Reserve Division, won by TFC Academy II, the semi-finals of the playoffs were played Sunday with wins by TFC Academy II over North York Astros (5-4 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie at the end of 90 minutes and overtime) and Italia Woodbridge Strikers, a 6-3 result over Elite Italia FC. The TFC Academy II vs. Italia Woodbridge Strikers Reserve Division championship will be played on Sunday, October 4 at Maple, a 2pm kickoff prior to the Italia Shooters vs. St. Catharines Wolves, CSL second leg quarter-final at 5.
