– SC Waterloo will be mindful of Toronto Croatia’s reputation for success since the team was founded back in 1956 when a small ethnic group eventually became known throughout Canada, North America and overseas.
There were modest successes in the early days of the National Soccer League – a forerunner league of the CSL – but the blockbuster achievement came 20 years later when Toronto Metros-Croatia won the North American championship in 1976.
In 2007, the club won the inaugural Croatian World Club Championship and has won the CSL Championship three times since. In 2012, Toronto Croatia won the First Division and the CSL Championship.
But the semifinal opposition from Waterloo Region has shown maturity and has been bold in an approach to put its stamp on the CSL First Division with a strong showing mid-season followed by late season victories 9-0 over St. Catharines Wolves and 5-0 York Region Shooters. Last weekend it was a 4-0 result that devastated Brampton City Utd in the championship quarterfinals to earn Waterloo a spot in the last four.
Like Toronto Croatia, Kingston FC has a good story to tell, but from entirely contrasting circumstances. The team that represents a city in the heart of the Thousand Islands chain is the proverbial new kid on the block in the CSL. Some kid.
Kingston took charge at the top of the CSL First Division with an opening win on May 6 and except for a slight dip on a couple of occasions has generally owned the lead position throughout. The team’s performance fooled the pundits who saw the eastern Ontario entry as a fresh team with a few university players that will struggle to find its feet in the tough, quick-paced semi-pro loop.
Kingston FC won the 12-team CSL First Division by a clear three points, scored the most goals with 69 –that’s 17 more than the next team – all due in part to fielding a strong side of mostly young local and international prospects destined for higher level professional soccer. Add a head coach raised in a strong culture that is Irish soccer and a club led by two outstanding leaders now in the twilight of their respective life careers and the results became almost inevitable.
But London City, the opposition in the semifinal match with Kingston, will not give much thought to the regular season when they take the field on Sunday evening. The side from southwestern Ontario will be focused on the prospect of carrying back the trophy to London for the first time since 1985. The weekend games:The CSL Championship Playoffs – SemifinalsSaturday, October 19 Centennial Stadium 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs SC Waterloo Sunday, October 20 Queen’s West Field, Kingston 6.30 pm Kingston FC vs London CitySecond Division Championship Playoffs – SemifinalsSaturday, October 19 Terry Fox Stadium 1 pm Brampton City B vs SC Waterloo B Saturday, October 19 Hershey Centre 7 pm Toronto Croatia B vs York Region Shooters B
Canadian Professional Soccer League