PICTURE: FC Vorkuta (red) failed to win this home encounter with FC Ukraine United at the Ontario Soccer Centre on August 3, a match ending in a 2-2 draw. But that’s one of only two games not won by the unbeaten current CSL champions. The Vorkuta reserve team is experiencing similar success, having won all seven games in the Second Division. Teams have just a short period in their late regular season run up to the playoffs if they are to share in the regular season honours. PHOTO: Samad Kadirov.
For teams aiming to capture at least one of the two titles open to clubs in the CSL First Division – the league title and the CSL Championship – the present results and standings appear all important at this stage of the campaign. It’s a short time just prior to the final run-up before the playoffs.
Three clubs – FC Vorkuta, Scarborough SC and Serbian White Eagles – are now in a position during the last month of the regular season to bid for the First Division title. It can be done by others, but would require an unlikely number of major defeats by the top trio coupled with a string of wins by teams at a lower level. An unlikely occurrence.
When the post-season playoffs do arrive, eight clubs, the top eight of 10 in the First Division at the end of the regular season, have an opportunity to win the CSL Championship. And of the eight qualifiers, the top four in the standings will have home game advantage in each round.
In the CSL Second Division, all six teams will qualify for the playoffs for the Second Division Championship and the top two at the end of the regular season will gain a bye into the semifinals, playing the two winners from the opening round.
FC Vorkuta B won its seventh of seven on Tuesday, which means the club’s two teams have yet to experience a loss this season. The Vorkuta reserve team totally dominated CSC Mississauga B 9-0 that night and there were seven scorers for Vorkuta.
Looking at the weekend games, in the First Division FC Vorkuta will not have it so easy with the visit to Centennial Stadium for a clash with Serbian White Eagles, a team attempting to pick up even more ground in an effort to get closer to the top. Real Mississauga is at home to Brantford Galaxy, two teams striving to make the playoffs. SC Waterloo visits CSC Mississauga, the southwestern Ontario side hoping to add to an important 2-1 victory over Ukraine United in its last game. Ukraine United, attempting to make amends for that loss, is at home to Hamilton City, and to complete the weekend First Division schedule, Scarborough will be attempting to close the margin at the top of the table when it hosts Kingsman A at Birchmount Stadium..
WEEKEND IN THE FIRST DIVISION
Friday August 16, Centennial Stadium 7 pm Serbian White Eagles v FC Vorkuta
Saturday August 17 Huron Park 7 pm Real Mississauga vs Brantford Galaxy
Saturday August 17 RIM Park 7 pm SC Waterloo vs CSC Mississauga
Sunday August 18 Centennial Stadium 8 pm FC Ukraine United vs Hamilton City
Sunday August 18 Birchmount Stadium 8 pm Scarborough SC vs Kingsman A
MID WEEK IN THE SECOND DIVISION
Tuesday August 20, Ontario Soccer Centre 9 pm CSC Mississauga B vs Brantford Galaxy B
Wednesday August 21 Cardinal Newman Field 9 pm Hamilton City B vs Serbian White Eagles B