Stan Adamson

 

Toronto Atomic FC moved into fourth place in the standings with a 2-0 victory over Milton SC in the only game played in the CSL First Division Saturday.

Midfielder Mykhailo Basarab opened the scoring for Toronto Atomic at 25 minutes in the game at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke for a 1-0 lead, the score at the break. It was Basarab’s third goal of the season.

Dario Brezak made it 2-0 at the 81st minute mark and the score held up until the final whistle.

Toronto Atomic improved to a 9-8-2 WLT record for 29 points to move into fourth spot in the First Division, a point behind third place SC Waterloo.

Milton are at 6-9-3 for 21 points in 11th position in the table.

The Toronto Croatia vs Niagara United clash set for Loyola HS Stadium was postponed due to transportation problems en route.

There were two games in the CSL Second Division Saturday, with Milton SC B defeating Toronto Atomic FC B 2-1 and Brantford Galaxy B rolled over Serbian White Eagles B, 9-0.

Serbian White Eagles continued their relentless drive to the league title with a 1-0 victory over Scarborough SC, the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Friday.

It was the 13 win of the season for a team determined to win the CSL First Division title as a prelude to the more coveted CSL Championship being staged at Waterloo on October 25.

Friday’s game was decided by just one goal at 51 minutes following a tough, tenacious scoreless first half. Forward Milos Scepanovic found the net past Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika directly from a corner kick and while both sides missed chances to change the score, the outcome of the game played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke appeared never in doubt with Serbian Eagles having a distinct edge in the play.

Serbian White Eagles are 10 points clear of their nearest rivals Toronto Croatia in the CSL First Division standings, and while the First Division title is by no means decided, there are few that will deny the eventual outcome with just three games remaining for the league leaders and five each for Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo.

“I’m very pleased with the way everyone has responded following an investment to strengthen the team following the 2014 season,” said head coach Uros Stamatovic following Friday’s win. Players like Marko Krasic and Radenko Kamberovic, and others, have given us the extra strength needed to win the CSL.”

Serbian White Eagles now have a 13-2-4 WLT record for 43 points and three games remaining, ten points ahead of Toronto Croatia (five games remaining) and 13 points in front of SC Waterloo, also with five games still to play.

Scarborough have a 5-7-7 record for 22 points in ninth position in the table.

Serbian White Eagles next game is at Burlington on September 20.

Serbian White Eagles became the first First Division team to clinch a playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over London City, while in other game played Sunday,  Brampton City Utd defeated Milton SC 4-0, Burlington SC won a see-saw struggle 4-3 over Niagara United and SC Waterloo crept closer to the top of the standings with a 4-2 win over Toronto Atomic FC.

Forward Milos Scepanovic opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles at 79 minutes, near the end of  a scoreless, well-played encounter at the Hellenic Centre in London. The veteran striker found the net past London goalkeeper Luka Besenic for the 1-0 lead and t was Scepanovic’s fourth goal of the season.

Sahjah Reid found the net to increase the lead for the visitors to 2-0, the score at the final whistle. The goal was Reid’s 15th of the season with the Serbian White Eagles’ striker running second in the CSL goalscoring race.

Serbian White Eagles have an impressive 12-2-4 record on the season for 40 points to now lead second place Toronto Croatia by seven points in the standings and have qualified for a playoff berth as a result of the win.

London have a 6-9-2 record for 20 points in 10th place.

Midfielder Juber Quinteros opened the scoring for Brampton City Utd at the ninth minute mark in the game against Milton SC at Victoria Park in Brampton for a 1-0 score at the break.

Forward Jean Tshimpaka increased the lead to 2-0 at 57 minutes and struck again 10 minutes later for a 3-0 Brampton lead.

Forward Jonathan Jebbison scored at 80 minutes, his ninth of the season, for a 4-0 lead, the result at the end of the game.

Brampton City Utd improve to a 7-7-5 record for 26 points in the table, while Milton SC are at 6-8-3 for 21 points.

It was a see-saw struggle between Burlington SC and Niagara United at Nelson Stadium in Burlington, with Nikola Stanojevic opening the scoring for Burlington at 13 minutes, and Vladimir Vujovic making it 2-0 at the 32 minute mark, a 2-0 score at the interval.

Midfielder Michael Vitaterna scored for Niagara United, beating Burlington goalkeeper Vladimir Vujasinovic for a 2-1 score at 49 minutes, and Vitaterna scored a second goal with a drive from outside of the box to level the score, 2-2 at 63 minutes.

Nenad Nikolic put Burlington in front 3-2 at the 80 minute mark and Erwin Uzunovic increased the lead for the home side one minute later, 4-2 for Burlington. Niagara’s Colin Dougan found the net past Vujasinovic to reduce the lead to 4-3 at 92 minutes, the score at the final whistle.

Burlington improve to 6-9-3 for 21 points, while Niagara United are at 1-12-3 for six points.

Dario Brezak opened the scoring for Toronto Atomic with a looping header over Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura at 11 minutes at Warrior Field in Waterloo, and Waterloo’s Aleksandar Stojiljkovic tied the game 1-1 from a free kick at 29 minutes.

Stojiljkovic scored a second goal for the home side at 34 minutes, a 2-1 score in favour of Waterloo at half-time.

Two goals by Adis Hasecic at 48 and 75 minutes, his 14th and 15th of the season, gave Waterloo a 4-1 lead and Stas Katana reduced the lead to 4-2 with a goal for Toronto Atomic when he found the net past Waterloo’s substitute goalkeeper Jovan Stefan Brudiu in injury time. It was Katana’s fourth goal of the season. Brudiu replaced the injured Hakura late in the first half.

Waterloo move into third position in the standings as a result of the victory, they now have a 9-5-3 for 30 points, while Toronto Atomic are at 8-8-2 for 26 points.

There were three games in the CSL Second Division Sunday:

Brampton City Utd B 1, Milton SC B 1

Brantford Galaxy B 4, Toronto Croatia B 3

Burlington SC 4, B Niagara United B 2

SC Waterloo B and Milton SC B have qualified for a playoff berth in the Second Division.

 

 

Toronto Croatia scored five second half goals, including a hat-trick by Jure Glavina, in a 5-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy, the only game in the CSL First Division Saturday.

Following a scoreless first half, Glavina scored his hat-trick in a seven minute scoring spree at 48, 50 and 53 minutes to give Toronto Croatia a 3-0 lead early in the second half and lift the midfielder’s output to 11 so far this season.

This was followed up by a goal by Darren Chambers who found the net past Brantford goalkeeper Luka Besenic at the 74 minute mark to increase the lead to 4-0, and 10 minutes later Toronto Croatia midfielder Anes Handanovic beat Besenic to score a fifth goal for the home side and finish with a score of 5-0 at the final whistle.

The goal by Chambers increases his tally for the season to 10, while Handanovic now has three goals in the current campaign.

The win keeps Toronto Croatia in touch with league-leading Serbian White Eagles at the top of the standings. Toronto Croatia now has a 10-4-3 WLT record for 33 points, four points behind Serbian Eagles.

The loss gives Brantford Galaxy a 7-9-2 record for 23 points in sixth position in the standings.

There was one game in the CSL Second Division Saturday, with the visiting Toronto Atomic B holding SC Waterloo B to a 5-5 draw

 

Scarborough SC handed York Region Shooters a 3-1 defeat in the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.

Scarborough jumped into a 2-0 halftime lead at Downsview Park on goals by forward Jose Melo, who struck his eighth goal of the season at seven minutes, a well-placed effort from a corner kick, and Marc Jankovic, who found the net past Shooters’ goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez at 37 minutes for the 2-0 lead at the break.

Scarborough midfielder Dobrin Orlovski scored the third goal for the home side, a drive from outside of the box at 67 minutes that left Ibanez will little chance to make a save. It was Orlovki’s fourth goal of the current campaign.

York Region’s David Schipper reduced the lead to 3-1 with a goal at 86 minutes, beating Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika.

Scarborough move up to eighth position in the standings following Friday’s win, the Toronto side now has a 5-6-7 WLT record for 22 points, while York Region Shooters remain in third position with a 9-7-1 record for 28 points.

London City upset York Region Shooters nine-game unbeaten streak with a 3-2 victory, Toronto Atomic defeated Brampton City Utd 1-0 and Brantford Galaxy won 2-1 over Burlington SC, three games in the CSL First Division Sunday.

London City were off to a quick start when Edin Kozika scored at the sixth minute mark for a 1-0 score in the game with York Region Shooters at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple.

Richard West tied the game 1-1 for the Shooters at 29 minutes – it was goal number 13 for West and it was 1-1 at the break.

Zoran Pesic beat York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis for a 2-1 lead for the visitors, the goal coming at 52 minutes, and Kozica scored his second goal and sixth of the season for London City at 64 minutes for a 3-1 London lead.

Adrian Pena struck for the Shooters at 78 minutes, his fifth of the campaign, to reduce the lead to 3-2, the score at the final whistle.

The win lifted London City into eighth position in the standings, they now have a 6-8-2 record for 20 points, while York Region Shooters remain in third spot with a 9-6-1 record for 28 points. London snapped a nine-game unbeaten streak held by the Shooters.

Vladimir Vujovic opened the scoring for Burlington, at the 12th minute mark, a drive from outside the box that had Brantford Galaxy goalkeeper Luka Besenic well beaten. It was Vujovic’s 11th goal of the season.

The Galaxy tied the game 1-1 when midfielder Armin Mahovic found the net at the 30 minute mark, it was 1-1 at half-time.

Zdenko Jurcevic struck the winner for Brantford at 51 minutes for a 2-1 score which held until the final whistle. It was Zdenko’s 18th goal of the season.

Brantford Galaxy improve to a 7-8-2 WLT record for 23 points, while Burlington are at 5-9-3 for 18 points

Dario Brezek scored the only goal for Toronto Atomic FC in a tough encounter with Brampton City Utd at Victoria Park in Brampton. The 1-0 victory that gives Atomic a 8-7-2 record for 26 points and a clear fifth position in the standings, while Brampton are at 6-7-5 for 23 points and tied with Brantford Galaxy in sixth position.

There were four games in the CSL Second Division Sunday:

SECOND DIVISION

York Region Shooters B 3, Brampton City Utd B 1

Milton SC B 9, Serbian White Eagles B 0

Toronto Croatia B 3, SC Waterloo B 3

Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0

Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo fought to a scoreless tie in their bid to close the gap at the top of the CSL First Division standings, while at the other end of the table Scarborough SC pulled off a 2-1 victory over Niagara United, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday.

There were few good opportunities to score in the game between Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo in the game at the Loyola HS Stadium, both teams bidding to catch top-of-the-table and runaway leader Serbian White Eagles.

The 0-0 final score gave Toronto Croatia a 9-4-3 WLT record for 30 points and second position, while SC Waterloo now have a 8-5-3 record for 27 points and fourth in the standings.

Serbian White Eagles have 37 points, while York Region Shooters have 28 points in third spot.

Dobrin Orlovski opened the scoring at 25 minutes for Scarborough against Niagara United at the Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls, the midfielder’s volley leaving Niagara goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic with little chance for a save as the ball entered the net at the near post.

It was 1-0 at the break.

Scarborough forward Kiril Dimitrov made it 2-0 for the visitors at 62 minutes, and Niagara United made the scoresheet with a goal from eight yards by Adam Whitwell who put the ball past Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika at 85 minutes following a breakaway passing play which started in the Niagara half.

Scarborough improve with a 4-6-7 record for 19 points up to ninth position in the standings, while Niagara United remain at the foot of the table with a 1-11-3 record for six points.

Serbian White Eagles extended their lead at the top of the First Division to eight points with a 2-0 defeat of Milton SC in the only game played in the CSL Friday.

Defender Branislav Vukomanovic opened the scoring for the league leaders at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton, a well drilled free kick from outside the box that left Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica with no chance to make a save. The left foot drive went inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.

Vitomar Jelic, an impressive addition to the Serbian White Eagles defence, increased the lead to 2-0 for the visitors with a well-placed header into the net from a corner kick at 21 minutes.

The 2-0 half-time lead held to the final whistle following a scoreless, but well-played second half , mostly in the midfield with few serious opportunities to find the net.

The victory improved Serbian White Eagles to a 11-2-4 WLT record for 37 points, eight points in front of Toronto Croatia in second spot, while Milton remain in seventh position with a 6-7-3 record for 21 points.

BY NICHOLAS FIORE AND STAN ADAMSON

It’s the time of year when things start to heat up in the Canadian Soccer League.

To earn those three points for a victory is crucial for a number of teams as they reach desperately for one of eight playoff berths in both the First and Second Divisions and a chance at being part of Championship Day at Waterloo on Sunday, October 25.

In making an announcement earlier this week, league administrator Pino Jazbec explained that the SC Waterloo Region club will host this year’s championship at Warrior Field following  three weeks of playoffs that get underway late September.

Currently, Serbian White Eagles are on top of the First Division, followed by perennial contender Toronto Croatia and close-up is SC Waterloo, the champions in 2013. Toronto Croatia has won most CSL titles with nine championships since entering professional soccer in 1956.

Then you have the surging York Region Shooters, the current CSL champions, who suffered five losses in their first six games of the season and are now on a roll without losing a game since June 12. They won seven games in a row, are now nine unbeaten,  and now find themselves right up there bidding for first place.

After the Shooters, Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo, and new club Toronto Atomic FC find themselves in  pretty decent positions. Milton are hanging on by their limbs to clinch a playoff spot, and so is Brantford Galaxy and Burlington. Brampton City Utd and new club Scarborough SC are not too far behind and well within reach.

Getting closer to the action is London City, and despite their ‘Never Say Never’ attitude it may be too late for Niagara United which have already been to the falls and now sit at the bottom of the First Division table.

In the Second Division the race to claim a playoff spot is really tight with 10 clubs in the mix for eight playoff berths. SC Waterloo reserves appear to have a comfortable lead, but knocking on their door is Milton reserves, the new and talented Toronto Atomic FC reserves, Burlington SC reserves, York Region Shooters reserves and Brantford Galaxy reserves, the Niagara United second string and Serbian White Eagles. Just sitting outside the playoff picture are Brampton City Utd reserves and the Toronto Croatia B team.

With the season now well past the half way point, the First Division scoring race is close throughout.. Leading is, Zdenko Jurcevic from Brantford Galaxy SC, followed by Sahjah Reid of Serbian White Eagles, Adis Hasecic of SC Waterloo and Richard West of York Region Shooters.

The Second Division is tight as well with Nikola Miocovic of SC Waterloo B on top, followed by Amardo Oakley from Burlington SC B, Ed Syllie of SC Waterloo B and Adrian Smajic of Milton B.

 

 

 

 

Serbian White Eagles regained a five-point lead at top of the CSL standings while held to a 2-2 tie by SC Waterloo in the only First Division game played in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday.

Waterloo took a 1-0 lead when Adis Hasecic found the net from close range past Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper Bojan Vranic at the 39 minute mark and it was 1-0 at half-time. The goal was Hasecic’s 13th of the season.

Forward Sahjah Reid tied the game 1-1 for Serbian White Eagles, he beat Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura at 50 minutes, and Reid scored a second goal for the visitors – the goal coming from the penalty spot following a pushing incident inside the box – a 2-1 Serbian Eagles lead at the 70th minute mark. The goals were numbers 13 and 14 this season for Reid.

Substitute Ranko Golijanin tied the game 2-2 for Waterloo, he found the net after taking a pass from Hasecic, the goal coming at 84 minutes for a 2-2 draw at the final whistle.

Serbian White Eagles have a 10-2-4 WLT record for 34 points, that’s five points in front of second place Toronto Croatia, while Waterloo improve to 8-5-2 for 26 points and fourth position in the table.

There were three games in the CSL Second Division Sunday when Milton SC B nipped Brantford Galaxy B 1-0, Toronto Croatia B won by the same score over Brampton City Utd B, and Burlington SC B dropped Toronto Atomic FC 2-1.

 

 

Toronto Atomic FC defeated Burlington SC 3-1, Toronto Croatia were held to a 1-1 tie by Brampton City Utd and the Niagara United vs London City encounter was abandoned during the second half while London City were leading 4-1.

Toronto Atomic opened the scoring at 25 minutes on a goal by forward Ihor Melnyk at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke and Melnyk struck again when he found the net just two minutes later for a 2-0 lead

Midfielder Nenad Simic scored for Burlington at 32 minutes, a 2-1 Atomic lead at the break.

Stas Katana increased the lead to 3-1 for Toronto Atomic at 71 minutes, the score at the final whistle.

Toronto Atomic improve their standing with a 7-7-2 WLT record for 23 points and move into a fifth place tie with Brampton City Utd, while Burlington are at 5-7-4 with 19 points.

Krzysztof Pierzchala opened the scoring for Brampton City Utd at the 24 minute when he beat Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Faris Efendic at 24 minutes for a 1-0 lead at the Loyola HS Stadium. It was 1-0 at the interval.

Toronto Croatia tied the score 1-1 at 42 minutes on a goal by midfielder Jure Glavina who found the net past Brampton goalkeeper Cristian Montero Valez. It was Glavina’s eighth goal of the campaign.

It was an entertaining contest to the final whistle when the game ended a 1-1 draw.

London City were leading 4-1 against Niagara United when the game was stopped by the referee at 60 minutes. There will be a league enquiry.

There were two games in the CSL Second Division Saturday when York Region Shooters B defeated Niagara United B 4-3 and SC Waterloo B demolished Serbian White Eagles B 12-0.

 

York Region Shooters snapped an 11-game Serbian White Eagles unbeaten streak with a 3-0 away victory over the league-leaders, while Milton and Brantford Galaxy fought to a 3-3 draw, two games in the CSL Friday night.

Richard West opened the scoring for York Region in the top-of-the-table battle at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, the prolific goalscorer finding the net for his 12 goal of the season at 52 minutes following a hard-fought, scoreless first half. Steve McDougall struck the cross bar with the first attempt, with West picking up the rebound for the 1-0 lead.

Des Humphrey made it 2-0 at 63 minutes, his strike finding the net from a deflection off a Serbian Eagles’ defender and Humphrey scored a second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 at 77 minutes, the score at the final whistle.

York Region stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games with an improved 9-5-1 WLT record for 28 points moving into a tie for second place with Toronto Croatia in the standings. Serbian White Eagles are still on top with a 5-point lead and a 10-2-3 record on the season.

It was a well-played contest at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton where Brantford Galaxy took the lead on a penalty by midfielder Harris Fazlagic who found the net after referee Davor Krasic pointed to the spot following a foul in the box. The goal came at 32 minutes.

Adnan Smajic scored for Milton three minutes later, also on a penalty kick for a 1-1 tie. It was Smajic’s fifth goal of the season and a 1-1 tie at the interval.

Radovan Ivkovic put Milton into a 2-1 lead at 60 minutes and Zdenko Jurcevic tied the game 2-2 for the Galaxy, his 17 of the season to continue to lead the CSL goalscorer race.

Anes Besic put Milton into a 3-2 lead with a goal at 66 minutes and nine minutes later Brantford tied the game 3-3 on second penalty by Fazlagic, and the game ended a 3-3 draw at the final whistle.

Milton move up to sixth position in the standings with a 6-6-3 for 21 points, while Brantford Galaxy are at 6-8-2 for 20 points.

A late goal by Jonathan Jebbison gave Brampton City Utd a 2-1 victory over Burlington SC, London City surprised SC Waterloo 2-1 and York Region Shooters were held to a 1-1 draw by Brantford Galaxy, three games in the CSL First Division Sunday.

Nikolic Nenad opened the scoring for Burlington SC, finding the net from a corner kick at 13 minutes in the game with Brampton City Utd at Victoria Park.

Jean Tshimpaka tied the game for Brampton at 39 minutes for a 1-1 score at the interval and striker Jonathan Jebbison struck the winning goal for the home side at 84 minutes, a 2-1 win in favour of Brampton City Utd.

Brampton improve to a 6-6-4 WLT record for 22 points, while Burlington are at 5-7-3 for 18 points.

Defender Edwin Navarrete gave York Region Shooters the lead at 40 minutes in the game with Brantford Galaxy at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, but the lead was short-lived when forward Stefan Vukovic put the ball past York Region goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez from close in just one minute later.

It was 1-1 at the interval and Ibanez for the home side and Luka Besenic in goal for the Galaxy were both solid for a scoreless second half and 1-1 draw at the final whistle.

York Region Shooters are at 8-5-1 for 25 points and tied for third place in the First Division standings with SC Waterloo, while Brantford are at 6-8-1 for 19 points.

Igor Kmar opened the scoring for London City at 75 minutes and defender Vladimir Zelenbaba tied the game 1-1 for Waterloo at the 89 minute mark.

London’s Zoran Pesic struck the winning goal at 90 minutes when he found the net past Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura, a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

London City improve to 5-8-2 for 17 points, while Waterloo are at 8-5-1 for 25 points and tied for third place in the standings.

Serbian White Eagles extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 4-1 victory over Niagara United, while Toronto Croatia defeated Milton SC 3-1, two games in the CSL First Division Saturday night.

Defender Miroslav Jovanovic opened the scoring for the league-leaders at the Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls, finding the net past Niagara goalkeeper Matthew Greco off a free kick from 25 yards at 13 minutes.

Striker Sahjah Reid made it 2-0 for Serbian White Eagles at 45 minutes, scoring from a penalty kick awarded by referee Goran Babic for a foul in the box, a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Midfielder Tim Zakrajsek increased the lead to 3-0 at 80 minutes before Chris Lanni put Niagara United on the scoresheet with a goal at 84 minutes for a 3-1 Serbian Eagles’ lead.

Reid struck his second goal for a 4-1 lead at 89 minutes, striking a volley off a cross from the left wing for his 12 goal of the campaign, and the score remained to the final whistle.

Serbian White Eagles now have a 10-1-3 WLT record for 33 points to continue at the top, five points in front of Toronto Croatia in second spot in the CSL First Division.

Adrian Smajic opened the scoring for Milton SC for a 1-0 lead at 16 minutes at the Loyola HS Stadium, and Toronto Croatia’s Jure Glavina tied the score 1-1 seven minutes later. It was 1-1 at the interval.

Glavina scored his second goal to put Toronto Croatia into a 2-1 lead at 75 minutes . The midfielder found the net past Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica for his 7 of the season, and forward Darren Chambers made it 3-1 at the 87 minute mark to lift his goal tally to nine.

Toronto Croatia are at 9-4-1 for 28 points for the season, while Milton have a 6-6-2 record for 20 points in sixth position.

There were two games in the CSL Second Division Saturday, SC Waterloo B defeating Toronto Atomic FC B 3-0 and Niagara United B defeated Serbian White Eagles B 2-0.