Midfielder Amir Hosic with a hat-trick and prolific striker Tihomir Maletic with a pair led Toronto Croatia to a first round 5-2 victory over Sydney United 58 FC in the Croatian World Club Championship played at Zagreb, Croatia Sunday.
The win puts the Toronto team in a favourable position in its bid to capture a third title in a world club competition that launched in 2007 to be played every four years.
Toronto Croatia won the inaugural championship in 2007 and triumphed again in 2011.
Teams taking part in these 2015 games are Toronto Croatia (Canada), Villerfranche Croatia (France), Reprezentacija Vojvođanskih Hrvata (Serbia), Sydney United 58 FC (Australia), Canberra FC (Australia), Croatia Stuttgart (Germany), Nk Pajde Mohlin (Switzerland), Croatia Malmo(Sweden).
The championship is played daily through to July 5.