Two goals by midfielder Keith Makubuya assured Niagara United of a convincing 4-1 victory over visiting London City at Kalar Park Saturday night, while in one other game in the opening weekend of the Canadian Soccer League regular season, Burlington SC surprised Toronto Croatia with a 2-0 win at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.
Marin Vucemilovic Grgic opened the scoring for the visitors when he beat Niagara ‘keeper Angelo Cavalluzzo from the penalty spot giving London City a 1-0 lead at the 25th minute mark, but Niagara’s Matt Waddington tied the score 1-1 at 35 minutes. JohnGrabowski put Niagara into a 2-1 lead at 40 minutes and it was 2-1 at the break.
Makubuya, a former Toronto FC midfielder, struck at 49 and 65 minutes to complete the scoring, 4-1 at the final whistle.
Toronto Croatia has an impressive record since entering professional soccer in 1956, but fell short in the CSL First Division and in their championship bid in 2013. The previous year, 2012, was a different story, however, winning both the First Division and CSL Championship. The club appears determined to capture at least one of these titles this new season but failed to make the start they were looking for at the Hershey Field in Mississauga on Saturday night.
Forward Marco Machado put Burlington into the lead at 45 minutes with a drive from just outside the 18 yard line, a rebound after Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Antonio Ilic punched the ball out to clear his lines.
It was 1-0 at the interval, but Burlington midfielder Darren Chamber made it 2-0 at 57 minutes when he headed past Ilic from a free kick, a 2-0 final score.
There was one Second Division game played Saturday when Niagara United B and Winstars Shooters played to a scoreless tie.