It was a match day of opportunity for three teams tied on points at the top of the CSL standings and only separated by goal average, all three in a position of winning the regular season league title at Esther Shiner Stadium Saturday afternoon, September 28, the last day of the regular league season before the championship playoffs during October.
Serbian White Eagles – in third position and facing Unity FC in the afternoon opener – scored a goal in each half for a 2-0 victory which put the White Eagles in a position of flying off with the league title if the one remaining match of the regular league season between Scarborough vs Toronto Falcons ended in a draw.
Forward Vladimir Strizovic opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles at 23 minutes, heading in a cross from the right wing for a 1-0 lead at the break. Marko Pavicevic struck the second goal at 64 minutes when a cross from the right wing was deflected to Pavicevic who tapped into the net from eight yards, a 2-0 score at the final whistle.
Following a scoreless, but attractive first half in the second of two games scheduled for the final day of the regular league season, a single goal opportunity by Scarborough or Toronto Falcons was looking like enough to win the league title. The opportunities came fast and furious for both teams during a physical encounter that reached a match total 11 yellow cards and one red for Violent Conduct and followed at the end with misconduct involving a player and match official.
Devroy Gray came close multiple times for Scarborough, including a drive that was deflected, following an earlier attempt with only the goalkeeper to beat. Mohamed el Sabahy and Camaal Reid also had goalscoring opportunities for Scarborough, while at the other end Toronto Falcons midfielder Oleksandr Dikhtiaruk’s drive was deflected on to the post but failed to find the net.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw to put Serbian White Eagles on top of the standings, with Scarborough and Toronto Falcons second and third respectively. it is the sixth regular season league title since the team entered the Canadian Soccer League in 2006.
