KEY GAMES SATURDAY WITH LEAGUE TITLE AND CHAMPIONSHIP FAST APPROACHING
With just four weeks to the end of the regular season, teams in the CSL First Division are either in a position to bid for the league title or at the lower level of the table playing for the points to secure a place in the playoffs. The opening post-season quarterfinal games get underway September 28.
With nine teams in the CSL’s top division, the top eight will qualify for the playoffs and an opportunity to advance to the CSL Championship Final set for October 13.
While FC Vorkuta are slight favorites to repeat the First Division title win of their debut 2017 CSL season, the margin continues to be narrow which makes it clear the team that represents the Russian community is in for a another season-end struggle with FC Ukraine United and Scarborough, while Hamilton City and Serbian White Eagles are in the wings and ready to step in should any of the top three show signs of faltering.
At the foot of the table, CSC Mississauga will be making a late season bid to pick up sufficient points to qualify, but to start a vertical climb they will have to overcome high flying Vorkuta at Esther Shiner Stadium on Saturday, one of four First Division matches being played that day. CSC Mississauga also are handicapped with having played more games than the three clubs sitting just above the bottom position. The FC Vorkuta vs CSC Mississauga clash will kickoff at 7 pm.
An earlier kickoff on Saturday has Hamilton City at home to Scarborough at the Heritage Field, a 6.30 pm start, Waterloo travels for a game with Brantford Galaxy, an 8.30 pm kickoff, and at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west-end FC Ukraine United are at home to Real Mississauga at 9 pm.
In the CSL Second Division, Scarborough SC B is at home to Halton United B at the OSA Soccer Centre Stadium, an 8 pm kickoff on Saturday, and on Sunday it’s Milton B vs Serbian White Eagles B, a 7.30 pm kickoff at the Milton Sports Centre.