SC TORONTO CAPTURE FIRST DIVISION TITLE

SC Toronto captured the CSL First Division title with a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over Brampton City Utd, while Serbian White Eagles and Toronto Croatia played to a 1-1. In one other game scheduled for Friday night, the London City vs. TFC Academy game was called off following heavy rain at Cove Road in London.

 

It was the 19^th win of the season for SC Toronto and the win came in spectacular fashion after being down 2-0 to a gritty and determined Brampton squad battling for a playoff spot.

 

Brampton’s Oswald Adu opened the scoring at the 7^th minute mark at Lamport Stadium in downtown Toronto and the visitors made it 2-0 from the penalty spot at 20 minutes, the goal scored by forward Kevin Omokhua.

 

SC Toronto’s Jarek Whiteman scored his first of two goals at 33 minutes to reduce the lead to 2-1 and Alexandros Halis scored his first of two goals to tie the game 2-2 at 38 minutes.

 

It was 2-2 at the break, but not before referee Richard Oliveira ordered Toronto head coach Carmine Isacco out of the game for persistent dissent.

 

SC Toronto went ahead 3-2 on the second goal by Halis, his 11^th of the season at 48 minutes and Whiteman also scored his second and also his 11^th of the season with picture goal  at the 51^st minute mark to increase the home lead to 4-2.

 

Whiteman’s goal came off a corner kick and the Toronto forward volleyed from 15 yards for one of the most impressive strikes of the season.

 

 Andy Garcia was shown the red card by referee Oliveira following a second caution to the Brampton midfielder, the ejection coming at the 79^th minute mark.

 

Massimo Mirabelli scored SC Toronto’s fifth goal at 83 minutes for a 5-2 final score.

 

The win, coupled with a 1-1 tie for second place Toronto Croatia, gave SC Toronto the first division title with three games remaining for both teams. SC Toronto have a nine-point margin over Croatia, but the 19^th win for SC Toronto secured the title – it’s the total wins criterion used as a tie-breaker should the teams finish the season tied on points. Toronto Croatia can tie on points at the conclusion, but they are unable to match the total wins.

 

The Toronto Croatia tie with Serbian White Eagles was the right outcome from a game played with highly attractive soccer with good pace at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke. It was Croatia that took the lead on a goal by Hayden Fitzwilliams at the 38^th minute mark. Fitzwilliams showed good footwork to maneuver himself into a position to shoot after picking up the ball headed out from a corner kick. He beat Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Milos Djurkovic with a low shot into the corner of the net.

 

 It was 1-0 at half-time.

 

Serbian White Eagles pressed in a second half that became more physical as the game progressed and the home side broke through at 65 minutes when Nikola Milosevic lifted the ball into the Croatia box, the ball was picked up by midfielder Milan Rakic who was brought down by Croatia goalkeeper Antonio Ilic.

 

Referee Yursi Rudolf pointed to the spot and Milos Scepanovic scored the tying goal, his ninth of the season.

 

Toronto Croatia have a 15-3-5 WLT record for 50 points, while Serbian White Eagles are at 11-5-9 for 42 points and now in fourth position in the standings.

 

 Remaining games in the CSL this weekend:

 FIRST DIVISION

 Sat, Sep 24   Saputo Stadium 1:00 PM Montreal Impact Academy vs Mississauga Eagles FC

Sat, Sep 24   Windsor Stadium   7:00 PM Windsor Stars vs  Brantford Galaxy     

Sun, Sep 25 Terry Fox Stadium 1:00 PM Capital City FC vs Mississauga Eagles FC

Sun, Sep 25 Victoria Park 3:00 PM Brampton City Utd vs Windsor Stars

Sun, Sep 25 Centennial Stadium 5:00 PM TFC Academy vs St. Catharines Wolves

Sun, Sep 25 St. Joan of Arc 6:00 PM York Region Shooters vs SC Toronto

Sun, Sep 25 Centennial Stadium 8:00 PM Toronto Croatia vs North York Astros

 SECOND DIVISION

Sat, Sep 24   St. Joan of Arc 2:00 PM North York Astros B vs Brampton City Utd B

Sat, Sep 24   Norval Park  4:00 PM Toronto Croatia B vs London City B

Sat, Sep 24   St. Joan of Arc 4:00 PM York Region Shooters B vs SC Toronto B

Sat, Sep 24   Kalar  7:00 PM Niagara United vs St. Catharines Wolves B

Sat, Sep 24   Tindall Field 7:00 PM Prospect FC vs TFC Academy II                      

Sun, Sep 25 Norval Park  4:00 PM Toronto Croatia B vs Brantford Galaxy B