Serbian White Eagles almost recovered from an early first half 1-0 deficit that stretched to 3-0 at 85 minutes, but two late goals by the First Division winner just failed to come to terms with a determined SC Waterloo and a 3-2 victory for the Southwestern Ontario side at the final whistle.
Defender Mladen Zeljkovic headed in the opening goal to give Waterloo the lead at the 4 th minute mark at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west end, and the goal held up for a 1-0 score at the break.
Waterloo forward Mohammad Ali Heydarpour struck a second goal to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at 71 minutes and Adis Hasecic’s drive from 18 yards entered the net after Serbian White Eagles’ goalkeeper Bojan Vranic appeared to make the save, a 3-0 score at 85 minutes.
Serbian White Eagles pressed in the remaining minutes and scored twice before running out of time in a chippy, physical encounter during what otherwise was a well-played second half. Defender Branislav Vukomanovic beat Waterloo ‘keeper Imad Hakura to reduce the score to 3-1 and Mirko Medic added a second goal for the home side at 96 minutes, just before the final whistle.
The victory advanced Waterloo to the CSL Championship Final at Warrior Field in Waterloo on October 25, to meet the winner of the Toronto Croatia vs York Region Shooters semifinal set for Centennial Stadium on Sunday.
Remaining games this weekend:
CSL Championship Playoffs
SEMIFINALS
Sunday October 18, Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs York Region Shooters
CSL Second Division Championship Playoffs
SEMIFINALS
Sunday, October 18 Rim Park, Waterloo 3 pm SC Waterloo B vs Niagara United B
Sunday, October 18 Jean Vanier Field, Milton 3.30 pm Milton SC B vs Brantford Galaxy B
PLAYOFFS SUMMARY
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals
Serbian White Eagles 1, London City 0
SC Waterloo 2, Toronto Atomic FC 0
York Region Shooters 4, Burlington SC 2
Toronto Croatia 4, Milton SC 0
Serbian White Eagles, SC Waterloo, York Region Shooters and Toronto Croatia advance to the semifinals.
Semifinals
SC Waterloo 3, Serbian White Eagles 2
CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals
Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0
SC Waterloo B 5, Serbian White Eagles B 0
Milton SC B 6, Toronto Atomic FC B 0
York Region Shooters B 4, Niagara United B 4 EXTRA TIME
Niagara United won on penalty kicks.
Brantford Galaxy SC B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC B and Niagara United B advance to the semifinals.