Stan Adamson

PICTURE: Fadi Salback now recognized by town’s residents as a celebrity. IM PR INC EIN PRESSWIRE

Fadi Salback, the university student from Bowmanville Ontario, spotted in 2019 by FC Vorkuta during a winter off-season indoor soccer game and signed for a trial in the Canadian Soccer League team’s reserve squad to score four goals in his opening game, has caught the eye of the European media and the fans while playing for FC Podillava Khmelnytskyi in the Ukrainian Second Division.

Salback, 22, with promising credentials prior to that indoor match, was promptly moved to the Vorkuta first division squad where more goals followed in quick succession.

Salback’s earlier signs of talent came when the Israeli-born striker was selected for Ontario’s Provincial U-16 team before entering Ontario Tech University at Oshawa, Ont. to study software engineering. Selected also for the university team, he scored a record 16 goals in his first season, was named the all-Canadian Rookie of the Year and named an east division first team all-star.

Salback was signed by the Ukrainian club following a two-week trial late summer and has now caught the eye of the European media after scoring five goals in his first six games since Ukraine kicked off a new season in October. One news report explains that when Salback walks through Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, he’s recognized by the town’s residents as a celebrity.

Vorkuta GM Samad Kadirov considered Salback to be an exceptional player when he was first seen by Kadirov, Vorkuta FC owner Igor Demitchev, and Steve Kokkoros of the Thornhill Soccer Club just north of Toronto during that indoor winter season match. “ We are pleased to sign him and he’s now considered one of our top assets with real promise for the future,” said Kadirov at the time.

Demitchev takes it a step further and believes the local youth talent has contributed greatly to the success of his club since its launch at the amateur level in Toronto in 2008. The team, formed by Demitchev and Kadirov, both immigrants from Russia, stormed into professional soccer as an expansion team in the Canadian Soccer League in 2017. With high level players from Eastern Europe and local players with promise, FC Vorkuta has attracted a lot of attention while winning two Canadian Soccer League championships and three league titles in just four seasons. FC Vorkuta is today one of the top teams in Canadian soccer.

Demitchev, a Toronto lawyer, considers his club has been successful while partnering the Thornhill Soccer Club to select local youth for competition in the tough CSL, then continuing with a process that provides every opportunity for further development and eventually the all-important recognition of a player destined for an even higher game elsewhere. “Fadi Salback is living proof of what can happen,” he says.

Soccer in Canada has grown in leaps and bounds during the past 30 years with now more player registrations than hockey and more than baseball, football and basketball combined and there are signs that more high level players are emerging. Demitchev considers that aligning his club with youth soccer helps to make young special players more visible, and they are surrounded by coaching skills from abroad, all of which contributes to furthering the Canadian game.

Fadi Salback’s new-found success follows a number of CSL players that have made the grade at a higher level, including Jonathan Osorio from SC Toronto to Toronto FC, Paul Munster from London City to Slavia Prague and a number of others stretching back to Atiba Hutchinson who played briefly for York Region Shooters before moving on to play for the Toronto Lynx and five teams in Europe before joining his present club, Besiktas of Turkey.

Igor Demitchev and FC Vorkuta also believe the increased popularity of the game in Canada is about to pay dividends as more players surface for the highest level professional ranks in Europe and other parts of the world. Transfer fees are expected to exceed the recent Canadian record $46.5 million paid by French club Lille for Jonathan David of Ottawa. That fee was quick to eclipse the earlier fee of more than $20 million, which included bonuses yet to be earned, for the transfer to Bayern Munich of Alphonso Davies from the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer.

In the meantime, the progress of Fadi Salback is of interest from a number of points of view, not the least of which is the rarity of a Canadian being signed in a country with limited opportunities for the abundance of local soccer talent attempting to enter a relatively small professional football structure.

PICTURE: Mirko Medic (right), an outstanding defender in Europe before joining Serbian White Eagles to be part of the memorable Dragoslav Sekularac team of 2006, is the new head coach announced by Scarborough SC GM Kiril Dimitrov.

When Scarborough SC lost its third championship final in four years following a 2-1 defeat at Racco Park in Vaughan just north of Toronto on October  17 at the end of last season, a loss that came after the Toronto east side team were on top of opposition Vorkuta and led 1-0 into the second half, it became clear that changes would come to continue the club’s incremental improvements strategy that started shortly after  professional soccer returned to Scarborough as an expansion team in the Canadian Soccer League  in 2015.

GM Kiril Dimitrov, given complete control to develop a championship-winning side by owner Angel Belchev during those early days, had a strong professional career in Europe and knew the CSL well following a period with Serbian White Eagles and SC Waterloo. The year-by-year strengthening of the Scarborough franchise has since paid big dividends with a First Division championship in 2020, a CSL Championship title in 2019 and CSL Championship finalists in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Dimitrov has now announced one of the club’s more significant additions with the signing of the impressive Mirko Medic of Serbian White Eagles as Scarborough’s head coach.

Medic is a seasoned professional following several years as a player in the former Yugoslavia with Buducnost Valjevo and FK Zeleznicar before signing in 2001 with First Division side FK Miadost Lucani of Serbia. A standout defender, Medic arrived in Canada in 2006 to sign for a CSL expansion Serbian White Eagles team to be coached by one of Europe’s earlier greats Dragoslav Sekularic. Medic was an immediate success and was selected during that year to the CSL All Star team for a match against visiting Clyde FC of the Scottish First Division. Medic was a member of a successful Serbian White Eagles side that won the International Division of the CSL and the championship winning Serbian White Eagles team of 2008. In 2009 he was named the Canadian Soccer League’s Defender of the Year and the following year was in the Toronto FC side at the BMO Field against visiting Bolton Wanderers of England.

Medic was transferred to the CSL’s Brampton City, returned to Serbian White Eagles the following year and was assigned coaching and managerial positions.

“We are very pleased Mirko Medic has chosen to join our club where he will be in complete charge of the team.“ said Scarborough owner and GM Kiril Dimitrov.  “Mirko has a first class reputation as a winner and Scarborough SC and the players will benefit. We also expect Mirko will identify players available in Europe and we will continue to provide opportunities for local players as well,” he added.

The CSL expects to play a five-month full season in 2021, setting the kickoff date mid-May  through to the end of October.

 

 

PICTURE: Sierra Leone international goalkeeper John Trye (right) signs with Serbian White Eagles president Dragan (Doug) Bakoc before leaving on February 7 to join the West African team in training for an upcoming World Cup qualifier.

Despite the uncertainty of scheduling matches for the upcoming season due to the prevailing government regulations during the pandemic, team owners in the Canadian Soccer League are upbeat in their approach to the upcoming 2021 campaign. New signings, transfers, players called up by their national teams, a leading team is about to announce a new coach, are all part of the activity with three months to go to a mid-May kick-off-time, and however tentative that may be there is cautious optimism that a full season will be played in 2021.

Goalkeeper John Trye, who has played a major part in the success of Scarborough SC since joining that club in 2016, is newly signed by Serbian White Eagles just weeks after being called up by his Sierra Leone national team preparing for World Cup qualifiers. Trye,35, was first invited to the West African country’s national team in 2011 and last played in 2014, losing 3-1 to Congo in a Group D qualifier for the African Cup of Nations.

Trye’s professional career started in 2002 with FC Kallon, one of the top clubs in Sierra Leone’s National Premier League, then in 2007 with Alianza of San Salvador in El Salvador. In 2011 the 6ft 2in. Trye signed with Northern Virginia Royals of the U.S Premier Development League, then ASA Charge of the U.S.National Premier League before signing for Scarborough.

Fadi Salback continues to impress with Ukrainian club FC Podillya Khmelnytskyi  where the former Vorkuta FC forward is listed as the leading scorer at the half-way mark in the season. There is now interest by the European club in another Vorkuta player, Jon Michael Perkins, a defender, sometimes midfielder. Perkins, 23, born in Kingston, Jamaica and now living in Bowmanville, Ontario, was a regular with the soccer team at St. Bonaventure University in New York State for four years before joining the CSL club.. Perkins has been listed twice in the U-17 and U-20 Jamaican National Team player pool.

Vorkuta’s management considers that following the explosion of youth registrations in Canadian soccer some years ago, following which the game became the most played team sport in the country, there are now many young talented players ready to take the first step into high level football if given the opportunity.

Canadian players in other countries has a beneficial effect with the federal government’s reciprocity policy which requires some reasonable balance of player movement between countries if they are to allow foreign players into Canada.

“ FC Vorkuta is proud to play a strong and constructive role in developing young Canadian soccer talent into future international soccer stars and the club’s approach to reciprocity between the Canadian club and clubs in Ukraine is some indication that there can now be an explosion of Canadian soccer talent being recognized internationally,” said FC Vorkuta owner Igor Demitchev.

GM Kiril Dimitrov of Scarborough has indicated an announcement will be made soon of a new coach in good time for the approach to the new season.

PICTURE: Enio Perruzza (left) received a special CSL Broadcaster Award in 2012

Enio Perruzza will always be known as one of Canada’s top announcers in sporting events but for many years he held a private but proud memory of playing a game in the Canadian Soccer League. It was on September 5, 1999 when one of the league’s top teams, the Toronto-based North York Astros, had three goalkeepers on the injured list and a hurried transaction at the league office provided a temporary permit allowing Perruzza to play in an important match at Dufferin Park in Thornhill, just north of the city. It was a disastrous CSL debut for the  sports announcer and commentator with the Astros losing 7-0 to Glen Shields Sun Devils. The amiable, always fun to be with Perruzza, entered the game as a substitute and did not concede all goals, nevertheless quickly returned to using his booming voice at the microphone, leaving the business of playing soccer to the players.

Enio Perruzza died on January 15 at the age of 54 after being admitted to hospital in York Region several times during the past two years for surgery and treatment of a heart condition.

While an avid fan of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and a follower of many sports, soccer was the Italian-born Perruzza’s favourite and his talent for detail and clarity that could often be heard outside a stadium, attracted attention during the summer of 1986 which led to an invitation to announce a Toronto Blizzard game on August 3 that year.  The appointment was the beginning of 34 years of announcing and commentary of more than 3,000 events.

In his itinerary were many visiting teams including Benfica, Red Star Belgrade, the Mexican under 20 side and the Italian military team, but he held a pride also in being invited to announce 18 Ontario Cup finals and the occasional appointment to provide colour commentary on television.

Perruzza was recognized for his work in Canadian soccer, including a special broadcaster award at the Canadian Soccer League’s annual awards banquet in 2012.

David Rumack, who often assisted at games and stepped in when Perruzza was double booked, knew Enio well and was saddened by the news of his passing. “ Enio was a natural behind the microphone. An amazing professional he was great to work with, often well dressed and wore a tie for his work. His always wide smile was quick to greet many special guests to the press box. We in the soccer community are going to miss Enio greatly,” he said

Dragan Bakoc, president of the Canadian Soccer League, paid tribute to Enio Perruzza: “Enio was very much a part of the CSL as a friend and colleague covering many games for a very long time. Enio was known for his happy personality and great sense of humour while being highly professional with his announcements. He was very much in our plans when games resume this year and I know he would be looking forward to that time. This is a sad time and Enio will be missed for a very long time in the future,” he said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Cyndy De Thomasis of York Region Shooters, a team that engaged Perruzza to announce home games on a regular basis over many seasons: “We are very saddened by the news and I am quite shocked. Enio was well liked by everyone at the club, also the fans he often greeted as they arrived. The players enjoyed his careful pronunciation of their names and got to know Enio as ‘the voice of the CSL’, he was clear and loud and at times could still be heard during a microphone malfunction. But apart from all of that, Enio was a nice guy with a very pleasant personality, always positive. He’s going to be a big miss for us and the soccer community,” she said.

Enio Perruzza is survived by parents Crescenzo and Angela, sisters Rosanna (Joe) Cuzzolino and Maria (Paul) D’Aguanno. Enio was uncle of Julia (Mark), Ashley (Jonathan), Gian Paolo and Alessandro, loving great zio of Sarino and Lorena.

A private visitation and service has taken place. In lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the charity of choice.

 Liber Soria photo

While there is little doubt that Scarborough SC had the edge in the first half of a tough, entertaining  encounter to deserve a 1-0 lead at halftime of the Canadian Soccer League championship final at Racco Park in Vaughan Saturday, it became even more clear as the game progressed that FC Vorkuta was taking control during the second half and looked like the eventual winner moving to the final whistle.

Scarborough, the defending champions, looked determined early and came close to scoring on several raids, mostly on the left where midfielder Neven Radakovic was a constant danger to the Vorkuta goal and played a part when Scarborough took the lead at the 40^th minute mark. Defender Angel Angelov found the net past Vorkuta goalkeeper Anatolli Starushchenko from a Radakovic cross for a 1-0 lead at the break.

Vorkuta rallied early in the second half and midfielder Bohdan Borovskyi  struck at 56 minutes to tie the score 1-1, a goal that set Vorkuta on the way to a further rally that led to the winning goal at 70 minutes  by substitute Pavlo Chornomaz who entered the game early in the second half.

It’s the second CSL Championship for Vorkuta following the memorable penalty kicks victory against Scarborough in 2018 and follows league titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019, to be one of the most successful expansion clubs to enter the Canadian Soccer League. FC Vorkuta first entered Canadian professional soccer in May 2017 following several seasons at the amateur level in Toronto and York Region after being launched in 2008 by Russian immigrants Samad Kadirov and Toronto lawyer Igor Demitchev, the major investor.

Scarborough won the CSL First Division in the season just ended and Saturday’s championship final was the fourth in succession, claiming victory in 2019.

FC Vorkuta

Anatolli Starushchenko (Goalkeeper), Illia Piltenko (Defender), Liubomyr Halchuck (Defender), Mykyta Tkachov (Defender), Bohdan Borovskyi (Midfielder), Sergii Ivliev (Midfielder), Vadym Gostiev (Midfielder), Serhii Melnyk (Midfielder), Dmytro  Polyuhanych (Midfielder), Roman Sakhno (Midfielder),

Mykola Temniuk (Forward)

Substitutes:

Oleksandr Lozinskyi (Goalkeeper), Oleksandar Alieksieiev (Defender) 78 min., King Cannes Choy (Midfielder), Pavlo Chomomaz (Midfielder) 57 min., Iaroslav Solonynko (Midfielder) 57 min., Amir Hossein Karami (Midfielder), Viktor Raskov (Forward), Oleksandr Volchkov, Kristijan Kezic.

Head Coach: Yanchuk Denys GM: Samad Kadirov

Scarborough:

Vladimir Dragicevic (Goalkeeper), Angel Angelov (Defender), Ricardo Fonseca (Defender), Jesus Eduardo Compean Gonzales (Defender), Vladimir Zelenbaba (Midfielder), Amir Hosic (Midfielder), Odain Omaro Simpson (Midfielder), Neven Radakovic (Midfielder), Michael Feyehun (Midfielder), Gonzalo Matias Cabrera Celis (Forward), Alyass Taha (Forward).

Substitutes:

Daniel McIntosh (Defender), Halburto Harris (Defender), Marvin Oneil Morgan (Midfielder) 78 min.,Dragan Cicovic (Midfielder) 73 min., Ivan Prieto (Midfielder), Zoran Rajovic (Midfielder) 70 min.,Milorad Stefanovic (Midfielder), Krum Bibishkov (Forward), Aleksander Stojiljkovic (Forward), Moussa Limane (Forward)

Head Coach: Zoran Rajovic GM: Kiril Dimitrov

Referee: Braden K., Assistant referees: Afsar Khan, Timor Qayoum, 4^th Official: David Sardina

Ground: Racco Park, Vaughan, Ont.

Racco Park (Concord – Thornhill Regional Park) at 299 Racco Parkway in Concord, just east of Woodbridge in Vaughan, is the venue for the CSL Championship Final on Saturday, October 17. It’s a 3 pm kickoff.

There is little to choose between Scarborough and FC Vorkuta as they prepare for the Canadian Soccer League championship to be played this coming Saturday, October 17, at a new venue just north of Toronto, a move necessary following the announcement of new restrictions and public health measures affecting sports events in the city.

The two teams have been impressive in sharing most of the top Canadian Soccer League honours during the past three seasons.

FC Vorkuta won the CSL championship by defeating Scarborough on penalty kicks in the 2018 final. Scarborough won the CSL championship in 2019 while FC Vorkuta took the league honours finishing on top of the First Division, a year the north Toronto side became the fourth team in the long CSL history to finish the season undefeated, winning 15 matches and tying three. Scarborough finished in the runner-up position that year, the third time in as many years the east Toronto club took part in the final. The final on Saturday will be Scarborough’s fourth in succession. The two sides ended their 2020 First Division standing at the top, tied on points to be separated by a tie-breaker rule that awarded the First Division title to Scarborough for winning one more game than FC Vorkuta.

The always dangerous striker Mykola Temniuk will no doubt be a force for Vorkuta in the final, and Sergii Ivliev to name just two up front. GM Samad Kadirov and coach Yanchuk Denys are bound to go with goalkeeper Anatolii Starushchenko who has been outstanding.

GM Kiril Dimitrov and player-coach Zoran Rajovic will be counting on in-form defender Daniel McIntosh and players to look out for also are Ilyass Taha upfront and little used Moussa Limane in the side’s effort to repeat Scarborough’s 2019 championship victory.

A thumping header winning goal off a free kick with lots of pace following 107 minutes of attractive semifinal soccer moved FC Vorkuta to the CSL Championship Final by a 2-1 victory at Centennial Stadium Saturday.

The goal, by the prolific scoring midfielder Serhii Melnyk, assured Vorkuta of a place in the final following three years highlighted by league or championship successes since entering the Canadian Soccer League First Division in 2017.

But Vorkuta was not assured of yet another successful season in the semifinal against the improving Serbian White Eagles, especially while the outcome was in doubt following a 1-0 first half lead stretching well into the second half. A strike by defender Branislav Vukomanovic put the White Eagles ahead with a free kick that penetrated the wall at the 37th minute mark. While Vorkuta rallied time and again for an equalizer, the Serbian White Eagles’ defence held firm until the 70th minute when Vorkuta forward Mykola Temniuk collected a long ball to beat goalkeeper Christian Maraldo with a low drive for a 1-1 tie that held to the end of regular time and setting up 30 minutes of overtime.

The Melnyk winning goal gives the north Toronto side the opportunity to repeat its post season 2018 championship victory and add to the 2017 and 2019 First Division league titles and similar impressive achievements with a reserve team in the CSL Second Division.

“It was a very good game, they played well but we just didn’t give up. We look forward to taking on Scarborough in the final,” said Vorkuta GM Samad Kadirov following the final whistle.

FC Vorkuta will meet current champions Scarborough SC in the post regular season 2020 CSL Championship Final at Centennial Stadium on Saturday, October 17 at 2 pm, a game that wraps up the brief First Division regular season of five teams with Scarborough finishing on top.

It will be just one semifinal leading to the Canadian Soccer League championship following the elimination of Hamilton City from the post-season playoffs following a disqualification of the steel city side at the end of the regular season on October 3.

Hamilton City ended the season with a Not-in-Good Standing status, a standing that according to CSL By-laws forfeits ‘benefits and privileges’, which can include playing in the league championship.

The one semifinal, FC Vorkuta vs Serbian White Eagles, with be played at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west end on Saturday, October 10 at 2 pm and the winner will meet the current CSL champion and winner of the 2020 First Division, Scarborough SC, at the same ground on Saturday, October 17, also at 2 pm.

Scarborough will be attempting to repeat its 2019 championship triumph, a victory that was forecast by many following the club’s strong performance in the CSL First Division since 2016 when GM Kiril Dimitrov moved the team to Birchmount Stadium. The Toronto east-end side defeated Ukraine United 2-0 in the 2019 championship final after being the runner-up in both 2017 and 2018 finals. FC Vorkuta has an enviable record in league play and won the championship in 2018, defeating Scarborough on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie, but the most successful of today’s teams in CSL championship playoffs is Serbian White Eagles which won in 2008 and 2016 and were finalists in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

The final game on October 17 will conclude an abbreviated 5-team league and championship competition shortened by the COVID 19 pandemic.

In the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Wednesday, Serbian White Eagles picked it up where they left off on September 19 when the Mississauga-based side handed unbeaten Scarborough a  3-0 loss.

It was a different time, same teams, same ground, when Serbian White Eagles handed current CSL champions Scarborough a second 3-0 defeat on Wednesday.

It was an equally impressive performance for Serbian White Eagles in a game that was end-to-end for both teams, while the White Eagles had the edge when it came to finding the net.

Defender Branislav Vukomanovic’s decision to go up for the corner kick paid off with a header that found the net for Serbian White Eagles after just 5 minutes of play for a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Forward Milos Scepanovic made it 2-0 from a penalty kick awarded at 51 minutes after Scarborough midfielder Michael Fayehun saved a shot on goal with his hand to then be shown the red card by referee Norman Oliveira for the offence.

Short-handed Scarborough rallied late to get back into the game, including a good attempt by Stefan Stojiljkovic that scraped the top of the crossbar, but it was Marko Jankovic of Serbian White Eagles who found the net past Scarborough goalkeeper Aubrey Lowe at 89 minutes, a well-placed drive from 25 yards to complete the scoring. It was 3-0 at the final whistle.

Serbian White Eagles have a 3-3-1 WLT record for 10 points for fourth position in the First Division standings following the victory, while Scarborough suffered its second defeat of the season with a 4-2-0 record and are second in the First Division standings with 12 points.

Hamilton City, Scarborough, Vorkuta and Serbian White Eagles will be the semifinalists in the playoffs following the completion of the regular season.

The remaining regular season games are:

Sat Sep 26 Centennial Stadium 5 pm Brantford Galaxy vs Scarborough SC

Sat Sep 26 Centennial Stadium 7 pm FC Vorkuta vs Hamilton City

Sat Oct 3 Centennial Stadium 5 pm Scarborough SC vs FC Vorkuta

Sat Oct 3 Centennial Stadium 7 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Brantford Galaxy.

 

 

PICTURE: Midfielder Martin Mamic opened the scoring leading to a 3-1 victory lifting Hamilton City  to the top of the CSL standings.

Hamilton City defeated Brantford Galaxy 3-1 at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke Tuesday night, a result that eliminated the Galaxy from playoff contention in favour of Serbian White Eagles joining Scarborough, FC Vorkuta and Hamilton City in the Canadian Soccer League’s post-season championship.

Hamilton City went into an early 1-0 lead when midfielder Martin Mamic headed in from a free kick taken from the left of the box at the 5^th minute mark and the city increased the lead to 2-0 when Luke Rankin drove the ball into the net from 15 yards past Brantford goalkeeper Ognjeh Savic just before the interval. It was 2-0 at the break.

Milos Vuruna increased the Hamilton lead to 3-0 at 75 minutes, taking a pass from midfielder Raine Lyn for a left foot drive inside the left post well out of Savic’s reach.

Brantford defender Miljan Milovic reduced the lead to 3-1, a goal at 84 minutes from a free kick outside the box almost saved by Hamilton goalkeeper Alexandar Nicolic, but the hard drive slipped through into the net. It was 3-1 at the final whistle.

The victory lifts Hamilton City on top of the CSL First Division standings with a 4-2-1 WLT record for 13 points and one game remaining in the short 8-game regular season of five CSL teams participating. Brantford Galaxy remains winless with two games to play.

Hamilton City, Scarborough, Vorkuta and Serbian White Eagles will be the semifinalists in the playoffs following the completion of the regular season games on October 3.

Upcoming regular season games this week:

Wed Sep 23 Centennial Stadium 7:15 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Scarborough SC

Sat Sep 26 Centennial Stadium 5 pm Brantford Galaxy vs Scarborough SC

Sat Sep 26 Centennial Stadium 7 pm FC Vorkuta vs Hamilton City

PICTURE: Striker Dusan Kovacevic of Serbian White Eagles struck an important hat-trick to  move his club closer to the post-season championship playoffs  while handing  top club and 2019 CSL champions Scarborough its first defeat of the season.

Serbian White Eagles forward Dusan Kovacevic almost single handedly gave Scarborough a surprise they weren’t expecting at Centennial Stadium Saturday.

The former standout with McMaster University landed an impressive hat-trick on the east Toronto side at a time when it was expected the current Canadian Soccer League champions would cruise to yet another victory while leading the CSL First Division without dropping a point in the four games played to date.

But Kovacevic rocked the Scarborough side with a hat-trick for a 3-0 Serbian White Eagles’ victory, a score that reflected a cutting edge attack that gave promise the goals were coming as the match progressed.

Kovacevic beat Scarborough goalkeeper Vladimir Dragicevic to open the scoring at the 12^th minute mark and it was 1-0 at the interval. Serbian White Eagles added a second at 73 minutes when defender Nemanja Simeuenovic moved the ball to Kovacevic who side-stepped a defender for a rising shot into the net while closing in with only Dragicevic to beat.

Scarborough rallied to get back on even terms, but Kovacevic completed his hat-trick at 82 minutes after collecting a pass from midfielder Vladimir Strizovic, and it was 3-0 at the final whistle.

“It is not easy to take points away from Scarborough or Vorkuta, “ said Serbian White Eagles’ head coach Uros Stamatovic  when asked following the final whistle how his side played so well for a 1-1 with Vorkuta on September 12 to follow-up with a well-earned decisive 3-0 win over unbeaten Scarborough a week later.  “ We did give thought to each game and that has paid off, but we have also added several new players to the roster. They and the entire team are playing well and deserved tonight’s result,” he said.

Kovacevic and Serbian White Eagles’ midfielder Vladimir Strizovic playing mostly on defense were rated the top players in the match.

Serbian White Eagles have a 2-3-1 WLT record following the victory, while Scarborough suffered its first defeat of the season with a 4-1-0 record, but remain on top of the First Division with 12 points.

In the opening game of the double header, Hamilton City won their third game of six in the abbreviated and depleted regular season involving five CSL teams, a 1-0 squeaker over Brantford Galaxy following a strike at 45 minutes by midfielder Ilija Bajcetic. Hamilton now has a 3-2-1 record for 10 points, while the Galaxy remain winless following Saturday’s fifth game.

The teams will each play eight games to complete their regular season early October, moving to post-season payoffs with the top four teams entering the two championship semifinals leading to the Canadian Soccer League Championship mid-October.

Scarborough, FC Vorkuta and Hamilton City have qualified for the playoffs. Serbian White Eagles or Brantford Galaxy will advance as the fourth team.

Upcoming mid-week games:

Tues. Sept. 22, Centennial Stadium 7.15 pm Brantford Galaxy vs Hamilton City

Wed. Sept. 23, Centennial Stadium 7.15 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Scarborough SC

 

PICTURE: FC Vorkuta were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbian White Eagles and slipped to second position in the standings to Scarborough SC which holds a 100 per cent record following a narrow win over Hamilton City.

Scarborough SC defeated Hamilton City 2-1 for a fourth win in as many games to move top of the Canadian Soccer League First Division standings, while Vorkuta were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbian White Eagles, both games played at Centennial Stadium at Toronto Saturday.

Scarborough, the current CSL champions, were down 1-0 to Hamilton City in the early going of the first game when forward Haris Redzepi found the net just inside the left post out of reach of Scarborough goalkeeper Aubrey Lowe. The goal came at the 9^th minute mark. Moussa Limane tied for Scarborough on a breakaway from a goal kick at 3o minutes  and it was 1=-1 at the break.

Scarborough player-coach Zoran Rajovic struck the winner from close-in after collecting a cross at 79 minutes from the right wing for a 2-1 result following a late end to end period in which both teams had scoring chances.

Scarborough have won all four game for 12 points to take the top position over second place FC Vorkuta which was held to the 1-1 draw in the second game against Serbian White Eagles. Hamilton City has 7 points from five games.

Vorkuta opened the scoring when midfielder Roman Sakhno struck from a free kick at the 37^th minute, a first half when Serbian Eagles appeared to have a slight edge. Following a 1-0 score at the interval, Vorkuta took control in the second half but failed to add a second goal. Serbian White Eagles leveled the score 1-1 at 73 minutes when forward Dusan Kovacevic drove the ball into the left corner of the net out of reach of Vorkuta goalkeeper Anatolli Starushchenko. It was 1-1 at the final whistle. Vorkuta has 11 points from six games played and Serbian White Eagles 4 points from five games.

The Canadian Soccer League continues its abbreviated 2020 schedule with a select group of five First Division teams with two games on Saturday, September 19. Regular season games are played through to early October, to be followed by post-season playoffs during October leading to the CSL Championship.

Sat. Sept. 19 Centennial Stadium 5 pm Hamilton City vs Brantford Galaxy

Sat. Sept. 19 Centennial Stadium 7 pm Scarborough SC vs Serbian White Eagles