TORONTO CROATIA IN STRONG POSITION EARLY..Friday victory in opening game of CSL playoffs

Two second half goals by prolific striker Tihomir Maletic assured Toronto Croatia of a decisive 4-0 victory over Mississauga Eagles FC in the opening quarterfinals game of  CSL playoffs at The Hershey Centre Friday.

 

It was Croatia midfielder Tonci Pirija who opened the scoring at 20 minutes when he beat Mississauga goalkeeper Melford James Jr and Marin Grgic added a second at 36 minutes for a 2-0 score at halftime.

 

Toronto Croatia pressed again in the second half and Maletic scored his first at 53 minutes and struck his team’s fourth goal at 90 minutes for a 4-0 final. Maletic scored 17 goals for Toronto Croatia in regular season play.

 

Mississauga lost defender Shaun MacDonald when he was shown a red card by referee Justin Tasev at the 85^th minute mark for Serious Foul Play. He will miss the second leg quarterfinal.

 

The 4-0 win puts Toronto Croatia in a strong position in the home and away two-leg quarterfinals series which takes into account total points over the two games and if tied on points at the end of 90  minutes of the second game, total goals over the two games will decide.

 

The two teams move to Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on Sunday, October 16, a 7 pm kickoff,  for the second leg of the quarterfinals series and the winner will advance to the semifinals, scheduled for the weekend of October 21. The CSL Championship Final will be played the last weekend of October.

 

Remaining games in the CSL this weekend:

 

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – Playoffs

 Quarterfinals – First leg

Saturday, October 8, Marie Victorin 1 pm Montreal Impact Academy vs. Capital City FC

Sunday, October 9, Maple, 4 pm York Region Shooters vs. SC Toronto

Sunday, October 9, Victoria Park 8 pm Brampton City Utd. vs. Serbian White Eagles

 

Regular Season

FIRST DIVISION

Sat, Oct 8 Windsor Stadium 7 pm Windsor Stars vs.TFC Academy

Sun, Oct 9 Polish Club London 1 pm London City vs. TFC Academy

 

 

CSL Second Division Championship – Playoffs

Quarterfinals – One game only – winner advances to the semifinals

(Home teams listed first)

 

Sat, Oct 8 St. Joan of Arc 12:00 PM Brampton City Utd B vs York Region Shooters B

Sat, Oct 8 St. Joan of Arc  3:00 PM SC Toronto B vs TFC Academy II

Sat, Oct 8 Kalar 7:00 PM Niagara United  vs KW United FC