The Shooters won their most important game of the 2014 campaign with a 1-0 playoff semifinal defeat of North York Astros to extend an unbeaten stretch into 20 games. While doing so, the team from just north of Toronto earned a place in the CSL Championship Final to meet Toronto Croatia at Esther Shiner Stadium October 26.
It could be York Region’s impeccable defensive skills won this one – only 15 goals conceded in the 18-game regular season followed by a 3-0 shutout of Brampton City Utd in the quarterfinals – and while Sunday’s game could have gone either way, it all made for a tough proposition for any visiting team, including North York Astros.
Midfielder Hector Mackie scored the winner at the St. Joan of Arc ground following a scoreless first half and a long stretch into the second half. The goal came at 78 minutes when Mackie lifted the ball from 30 yards over advancing Astros’ goalkeeper Jason Lopes.
York Region Shooters enter the final game with a championship victory in 2006 when the team was known as Italia Shooters, while Toronto Croatia has taken the CSL championship four times in the last 10 years, in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2012.
SC Waterloo B and Kingston FC B are the Second Division Championship finalists following their semifinal victories Sunday. Waterloo reserves defeated Milton FC 4-2 in overtime at RIM Park in Waterloo, while later in the day Kingston reserves were in control by a 5-1 score at the Queen’s West Field in Kingston.
Midfielder Adrian Smajic opened the scoring for Milton at 23 minutes, but Zoran Kukic equalized for the home side four minutes later — it was 1-1 at the break.
Nikola Miokovic put Waterloo into a 2-1 lead at the 75 minute mark, and Smajic struck his second goal at 86 minutes to put the game into extra time.
Miokovic scored twice in overtime for a hat-trick that won the game for the current CSL Second Division champions, a 4-2 score at the final whistle.
Forward Stephane Assengue opened the scoring for Kingston reserves at the ninth minute mark and Corey Faughnan increased the lead to 2-0. This was followed by a goal by midfielder Simon Schmitke for a 3-0 Kingston lead before Derek Paterson scored from the penalty spot for Niagara United to make it 3-1 following a pushing incident in the box.
Faughnan increased the lead to 4-1, a solid header from a corner kick, and Mademba Ba rounded the scoring to 5-1 with a solo effort during added time.
Toronto Croatia has won the CSL Championship four times in the past 10 years and took a big step in the direction of yet another title with a 2-1 victory over Kingston FC in the first semifinal of the CSL playoffs at the Hershey Centre Saturday night.
The win moves Toronto Croatia into the final to meet either York Region Shooters or North York Astros at Esther Shiner Stadium on October 26 – these two teams meet in the second semifinal at Maple, just north of Toronto Sunday evening.
Toronto Croatia pressed early, favoured by the strong wind in cold conditions at the Mississauga location and the home side came close to scoring in the first 10 minutes when forward Ante Zivkovic rattled the cross bar with hard drives that had Kingston goalkeeper Erwann Ofouya beaten.
Midfielder Shawn Brown did find the net to put the Toronto side into a 1-0 lead at 14 minutes, lifting the ball over Ofouya while closing in from 12 yards, and it was 1-0 at the interval.
Favoured by the wind advantage in the second half, Kingston defender Joseph Zupo equalized for the visitors, finding the net off a corner kick at 56 minutes and just when the game was looking at 30 minutes of overtime, Zivkovic struck at 89 minutes to give Toronto Croatia a 2-1 lead which they held until the final whistle.
Kingston, which won the reserve division with just one defeat in the regular season, still has a further opportunity to capture a title with a win in the Second Division semifinal against Niagara United B on Sunday, the winner going on to the Second Division championship final on October 26.
Sunday’s games:
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP- Semifinals
Sun Oct 19 St. Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs North York Astros
CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – Semifinals
Sun Oct 19 RIM Park 1 pm SC Waterloo B vs Milton SC
Sun Oct 19 Queen’s West Field 5:30 pm Kingston FC B vs Niagara United B
For the first time in the league’s history a club captured both the CSL Championship and the championship of the reserve division in 2013. It was an exceptional achievement by SC Waterloo, a new team which entered the Second Division of the Canadian Soccer League as K-W United just two years earlier.
This weekend, Kingston FC enter the semifinals as the only club with an opportunity to pull-off what Waterloo did last year – win both titles.
Kingston FC followed a similar path as SC Waterloo, entering Prospect FC in the Second Division and the club from eastern Ontario re-branded with a complete new look and new management as Kingston FC to win the First Division table in 2013 and go on to be a finalist in the CSL Championship Final game.
It’s not going to be easy for Kingston, they travel to Mississauga on Saturday to meet Toronto Croatia, the most successful CSL team in recent years, and the Kingston reserve team are at home to Niagara United reserves on Sunday.
Of interest also, this weekend, is York Region Shooters’ 20 game of the season after an unbeaten run of 19 going back to the kickoff last May. The Shooters are at home in Maple to North York Astros, a team that enjoyed a long overdue stretch of fine form during the second half of the regular season.
In the Second Division, Milton SC reach the semifinals in their inaugural year, to meet last year’s Second Division champions, SC Waterloo, an intriguing encounter at RIM Park in Waterloo on Sunday.
The winners advance to the CSL Championship and Second Division Championship at Esther Shiner Stadium on October 26.
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP- Semifinals
Sat Oct 18 Hershey Centre 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs Kingston FC
Sun Oct 19 St. Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs North York Astros
CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – Semifinals
Sun Oct 19 RIM Park 1 pm SC Waterloo B vs Milton SC
Sun Oct 19 Queen’s West Field 5.30 pm Kingston FC B vs Niagara United B
York Region Shooters extended their unbeaten streak into the playoffs with a 3-0 defeat of Brampton City Utd, and in one other CSL Championship game Sunday, North York Astros controlled the quarterfinal game over Burlington SC to win 4-0.
In Second Division Championship games, SC Waterloo B beat Burlington SC B 3-1, Niagara United B defeated Toronto Croatia B 2-0, and Milton SC cruised to a 5-1 victory over York Region Shooters B.
Forward Igor Pisanjuk opened the scoring for North York Astros at Esther Shiner Stadium following a play with Jose Melo which left Pisanjuk to tap into the net from 6 yards at the 39 minute mark. Melo struck the second to make it 2-0 for the Astros at 43 minutes and it was 2-0 at half-time.
Midfielder Jose De Sousa increased the lead to 3-0 for the home side at 78 minutes, finding the net past Burlington goalkeeper Vladimir Vujasinovic and Mark Jankovic completed the scoring when he lifted the ball over the head of the oncoming Vujasinovic to make it 4-0.
Oswald Adu opened the scoring for York Region Shooters at the St. Joan of Arc ground at Maple, the goal coming at the 16 minute mark for a 1-0 lead at the break.
Richard West headed in from a corner kick at 79 minutes to make it 2-0 for the home side and midfielder Hector Mackie put the ball past Brampton goalkeeper Cristian Montero Velez at the 91 minute mark to complete the scoring.
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP –
Complete quarterfinal results:
Kingston FC 3, Serbian White Eagles 0 (after extra time)
Toronto Croatia 4, SC Waterloo 2
North York Astros 4, Burlington SC 0
York Region Shooters 3, Brampton City Utd 0
Semifinals to be played weekend October 17 -19:
York Region Shooters vs North York Astros
Toronto Croatia vs Kingston FC
SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – Complete quarterfinal results:
Kingston FC advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 overtime victory over Serbian White Eagles and Toronto Croatia moved forward following a 4-2 defeat of the current CSL champions SC Waterloo, two games in the CSL Championship playoff series played Saturday night.
There was one game in the Second Division championship series played earlier in the day when Kingston FC B reserve team eliminated Brampton City Utd B by a score of 4-1.
The Kingston vs Serbian White Eagles encounter at Queen’s West Field at Kingston was scoreless through 90 minutes which set the game up for 30 minutes of extra time and it was at 111 minutes when midfielder Edgar Soglo found the net for a 1-0 lead for the home side. Mademba Ba increased the Kingston lead to 2-0 at 113 minutes and Ba struck a second three minutes later for a 3-0 Kingston victory.
Pero Menalo opened the scoring for Toronto Croatia at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga when he found the net past Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hukara at the 15 minute mark and Ante Zivkovic increased the lead to 2-0 at 33 minutes, the score at half-time.
Midfielder Ramon Bailey struck for Waterloo at 65 minutes to reduce the Toronto side’s lead to 2-1 and Waterloo midfielder Adis Hasecic tied the score 2-2 at the 79 minute mark.
Daniel Niksic put Toronto Croatia into a 3-2 lead at 83 minutes and Zivkovic scored his second and the home side’s fourth goal at 90 minutes for a 4-2 final score.
REMAINING PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FOR THANKSGIVING DAY WEEKEND:
FIRST DIVISION SCHEDULE – Quarterfinals
Sun Oct 12 Esther Shiner Stadium 3.30 pm North York Astros vs Burlington SC
Sun Oct 12 St. Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs Brampton City Utd
SECOND DIVISION SCHEDULE – Quarterfinals
Sun Oct 12 Warrior Field 1.30 pm SC Waterloo B vs Burlington SC
Sun Oct 12 Hershey Centre 6 pm Toronto Croatia B vs Niagara United B
Sun Oct 12 St. Joan of Arc 8.30 pm York Region Shooters B vs Milton SC
Eight teams in each of the CSL first and second divisions will begin a bid for post-season honours this coming Thanksgiving Day weekend that will go three weekends to October 26. The CSL playoffs consist of three single knock-out games – the quarterfinal, semifinal and the final for the CSL Championship and the Second Division Championship.
The playoffs follow a regular season which saw an unbeaten York Region Shooters take over the First Division title (won by Kingston FC in 2013), Kingston FC reserve team had a successful campaign to take the Second Division title (won by Toronto Croatia B in 2013) following a pre-season prediction from the eastern Ontario club that the team would do well while aiming for the top. SC Waterloo will be out to defend their CSL Championship and Second Division Championship wins of November 3, 2013, the first time a CSL club has won both titles in the same year.
The finals will be played on Championship Day, Sunday, October 26 to be preceded by a Gala Awards Night to pay tribute to the league’s best in 2014 for an outstanding weekend to follow a successful regular season for the CSL as a private league.
North York Astros, with a history going back to 1990, are hosting both the awards night on October 25 and the championship final games at Esther Shiner Stadium the following day, have an attractive combo package for fans wanting to attend both events. For the purchase of a Gala Awards Dinner ticket, there will be ticket for free admission to the stadium for the final games. But there is limited seating available for the dinner – enquiries should be made as early as possible to: cslchampionsgala.ca
THE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE FOR THANKSGIVING DAY WEEKEND:
FIRST DIVISION SCHEDULE – Quarterfinals
Sat Oct 11 Queen’s West Field 6.15 pm Kingston FC vs Serbian White Eagles
Sat Oct 11 Hershey Centre 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs SC Waterloo
Sun Oct 12 Esther Shiner Stadium 3.30 pm North York Astros vs Burlington SC
Sun Oct 12 St. Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs Brampton City Utd
SECOND DIVISION SCHEDULE – Quarterfinals
Sat Oct 11 M.A. Sills Park, Belleville 1 pm Kingston FC B vs Brampton City Utd B
Sun Oct 12 Warrior Field 1.30 pm SC Waterloo B vs Burlington SC B
Sun Oct 12 Hershey Centre 6 pm Toronto Croatia B vs Niagara United B
Sun Oct 12 St. Joan of Arc 8.30 pm York Region Shooters B vs Milton SC
York Region Shooters pulled it off, a 3-2 victory over Toronto Croatia to complete the regular season unbeaten, while elsewhere in the CSL Kingston FC ended their season on a winning note, a 1-0 result at Brampton and struggling Niagara United ended the season with a 1-0 upset win over in-form North York Astros, three games in the CSL First Division Sunday.
York Region took an early lead and never looked back. A draw was always a possibility, but that the Shooters would go the distance without losing a key game with Toronto Croatia at an unseasonably chilly St. Joan of Arc ground at Maple, just north of Toronto, was as safe as a street of houses. They were determined not to fall apart. They were determined to complete the 18-game regular season unbeaten.
Des Humphrey struck the first goal at 10 minutes to give the Shooters the early lead they needed to put the game on solid footing, but Toronto Croatia replied with a goal from Pero Menalo, his seventh of the season six minutes later and it was 1-1 at the break.
Richard West put the league leaders 2-1 up at 50 minutes – his seventh of the season and probably the best goal of the match, a drive inside the right post to leave Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Antonio Ilic with no chance.
Midfielder Babjide Fatoba increased the lead to 3-1 at 59 minutes for the home side, and Toronto Croatia’s Josip Keran reduced the lead to 3-2 at 81 minutes. It was 3-2 at the final whistle.
The regular season ended for York Region with an impressive 13-0-5 WLT for 44 points, that’s 11 points ahead of second place Toronto Croatia. The Shooters will be at home to Brampton City Utd in the quarterfinals. The Toronto team completed its schedule with a 10-5-3 record for 33 points to meet SC Waterloo at the Hershey Centre for their quarterfinals game.
It was scoreless until late in the game at the Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton with few opportunities to put the ball past Brampton goalkeeper Cristian Montero Velez or Erwann Ofouya in goal for Kingston, but Kingston broke through at the 87th minute mark when midfielder Oussama Silmani found the net past Montero Valez for the winning goal from a free kick, a 1-0 final score.
The win moves Kingston into third in the standings with a regular season record of 8-6-4 for 28 points and a home draw against Serbian White Eagles in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Brampton has a 6-9-3 record for 21 points and will meet York Region in the quarterfinals.
Goals were also in short supply at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York where the visiting Niagara United scored a 1-0 upset win over North York Astros. The goal came at 89 minutes, a solo effort by Niagara forward Lucas Forlino who collected the ball to break away and chip over the head of Astros’ goalkeeper Kevin Lumbsden Pinto as they met 40 yards from goal.
The goal was scored just three minutes after North York’s Boris Milicic was shown the red card at 86 minutes following a second caution. The game ended 1-0 in favour of Niagara United.
The Astros complete their regular season with a 7-6-5 record for 26 points to end in fourth position in the standings for a quarterfinals home draw against Burlington SC. Niagara United completed their season with a 3-13-2 record for 11 points at the foot of the table.
The First Division schedule for the quarterfinals is:
FIRST DIVISION SCHEDULE – Quarterfinals
Sat Oct 11 Queen’s West Field 6.15 pm Kingston FC vs Serbian White Eagles
Sat Oct 11 Hershey Centre 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs SC Waterloo
Sun Oct 12 Esther Shiner Stadium 3.30 pm North York Astros vs Burlington SC
Sun Oct 12 St. Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs Brampton City Utd
Sunday night’s Second Division games:
Kingston FC B 2, Brampton City United B 1
SC Waterloo B 6, Milton SC 1
York Region Shooters B vs Toronto Croatia B POSTPONED (To be rescheduled mid-week)
SECOND DIVISION SCHEDULE – Quarterfinals – To be arranged
Serbian White Eagles outplayed London City 5-1 to clinch the last berth in the post-season playoffs, one game in the CSL First Division Saturday night.
The Toronto-based team needed an outright win to be in the post-season championship competition – a tie would put London through – and it was clear that even in a game scoreless for most of the first half on home ground at Lamport Stadium in Toronto’s west-end the Serbian Eagles were going to be hard to beat.
London’s chances went downhill at 37 minutes when striker Guillaume Surot was shown the red card by referee Afsar Khan for Serious Foul Play and this was followed at 43 minutes by a goal from Serbian Eagles defender Mirko Medic. He drove the ball to the left of London ‘keeper Vladimir Markotic, putting the home side one up at half-time.
Midfielder Timotej Zakrajsek made it 2-0 at 52 minutes and Serbian White Eagles took a 3-0 lead at 84 minutes on a goal by Sahjah Reid.
Medic struck his second goal at 86 minutes and Reid scored his second at 88 minutes for a 5-0 lead, before Marin Vucemilovic Grgic reduced the lead for London City to 5-1, the score at the final whistle.
It was Vucemilovic Grgic’s 21 goal of the season for a 5-goal lead in the race for leading goalscorer.
The eight teams to kickoff the quarterfinals the weekend October 12 are: York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia, North York Astros, Kingston FC, Burlington SC, SC Waterloo, Brampton City Utd and Serbian White Eagles.
York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia. North York Astros and Kingston FC have home advantage in the quarterfinals and home advantage will be retained for the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.
The quarterfinals will be announced Sunday night.
The remaining games this weekend:
FIRST DIVISION
Sun Oct 5 Terry Fox Stadium 2.30 pm Brampton City Utd vs Kingston FC
Sun Oct 5 Esther Shiner Stadium 3.30 pm North York Astros vs Niagara Utd
Sun Oct 5 St Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Toronto Croatia
SECOND DIVISION
Sun Oct 5 Terry Fox Stadium 12 pm Brampton City Utd B vs Kingston FC B
Sun Oct 5 Bishop Reding 12 pm Milton SC vs SC Waterloo B
Sun Oct 5 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters B vs Toronto Croatia B
York Region Shooters face the stiffest of opposition against second place Toronto Croatia in their bid to complete the regular season without a loss. This weekend marks the end of the regular season in the Canadian Soccer League
It’s on Shooters’ home ground at Maple where the First Division leader will be attempting to complete the regular season unbeaten in the entire 18-game campaign and the achievement should not be taken lightly. Since 1920 only eight pro teams in Europe have gone an entire season unbeaten and it hasn’t happened at all in Major League Soccer. So it’s a rare achievement anywhere.
Another contest that’s attracting a lot of attention is the Serbian White Eagles home game against London City at Lamport Stadium in Toronto on Saturday night. One of these teams will clinch the eighth and final playoff spot with Serbian Eagles needing an outright win to succeed, while a win or tie is enough for London City.
The first round of the playoffs – the quarterfinals – will be announced this coming Sunday night to be played the weekend October 10 – 12, the semifinals will take place the weekend October 17 -19 and the finals on Championship Day at Esther Shiner Stadium, Toronto on Sunday, October 26.
This weekend’s games:
FIRST DIVISION
Sat. Oct 4 Lamport Stadium 7 pm Serbian White Eagles vs London City
Sun Oct 5 Terry Fox Stadium 2.30 pm Brampton City Utd vs Kingston FC
Sun Oct 5 Esther Shiner Stadium 3.30 pm North York Astros vs Niagara Utd
Sun Oct 5 St Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Toronto Croatia
SECOND DIVISION
Sun Oct 5 Terry Fox Stadium 12 pm Brampton City Utd B vs Kingston FC B
Sun Oct 5 Bishop Reding 12 pm Milton SC vs SC Waterloo B
Sun Oct 5 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters B vs Toronto Croatia B
North York Astros scored a timely and decisive 4-1 victory over the current CSL champions SC Waterloo and benefitted by a scoreless tie between Burlington SC and Toronto Croatia several hours later, two games in the CSL Sunday.
The win followed by the tie assured the Astros of one of the four top positions in the standings for home advantage in the playoffs.
Astros’ defender Boris Milicic opened the scoring at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, a drive from the edge of the box which caught the top right corner of the net out of reach of Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura.
Forward Wiler Costa made it 2-0 at the 35th minute mark, the score at the break.
North York took a 3-0 lead immediately following the second half kickoff, a goal by midfielder Jose De Sousa on a breakaway and three minutes later SC Waterloo cut the lead to 3-1 with a goal from Kiril Dimitrov who found the net past Astros’ goalkeeper Jason Lopes.
Darragh Roe rounded the scoring to 4-1 for the home side, the goal coming on a breakaway.
North York Astros improve to a 7-5-5 WLT record for 26 points in third position in the standings with one game – a home encounter with Niagara United on October 5 – remaining. North York have secured a position in the top four of the standings for home advantage in the playoffs – they will finish the season in third or fourth position depending upon the outcome of games in the final weekend of the regular season.
Waterloo SC, the current CSL champions, have completed their regular season with a 6-8-4 record for 22 points in sixth position and are already assured of a playoff position.
The Burlington SC vs Toronto Croatia game at Nelson Stadium ended scoreless with most of the play in the midfield with few scoring opportunities.
Toronto Croatia now have a 10-4-3 record for 33 points, will end the regular season in second position in the standings with one game remaining, away to York Region Shooters on October 6, while Burlington SC have completed their regular season with a 7-8-3 record for 24 points and will play an away game in the quarterfinals of the post-season series the weekend October 10 – 12.
The playoff teams in the First Division remain at York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia, North York Astros, Kingston FC, Burlington SC, SC Waterloo, Brampton City Utd, while either London City or Serbian White Eagles will be the eighth team, to be decided by the Serbian White Eagles vs London City game scheduled for October 4.
There were two games in the Second Division Sunday, Brampton City Utd B defeated Milton FC 2-1 and Toronto Croatia B outlasted Burlington SC, 6-5.
Second Division teams taking part in the Second Division championship series are: Kingston FC B, York Region Shooters B, Burlington SC B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC, Niagara United B, Toronto Croatia B and Brampton City Utd B.
Kingston FC B have secured a home advantage position after finishing first in the Second Division, the remaining three teams for home advantage have yet to be decided.
York Region Shooters extended their unbeaten streak to 17 games with a 2-2 tie at Kingston FC, while Serbian White Eagles defeated Niagara United 6-3, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.
Both games were important in the playoff picture, particularly for Serbian White Eagles with the win providing an end of the season chance to be one of eight teams to kickoff the post-season series. But the Toronto area team needs a win over London City on October 4 to be in the quarterfinals a week later.
Kingston FC has a playoff spot, but the 2-2 draw leaves the eastern Ontario side still fighting for a place in the top four to gain home advantage in the playoffs.
Mademba Ba scored yet again to give Kingston the lead at Queen’s West Field, picking up a deflection off a York Region defender from a cross by Nathan Klemencic on the Kingston wing, a 1-0 score at 13 minutes
Forward Adrian Pena tied the game 1-1 for York Region Shooters at 41 minutes, a penalty kick awarded following hand ball by a Kingston defender and it was 1-1 at the interval.
Ba struck his second to give the home side a 2-1 lead at 51 minutes, finding the net past York Region goalkeeper Camilo Benzi on a breakaway, and the tying goal was scored by Shooters’ midfielder Mehdi Baratimahvar off a corner kick at the 70th minute mark, a 2-2 score at the final whistle.
Benzi was shown the red card and ejected for dissent at the end of the game.
Milos Scepanovic score three in the 6-3 Serbian White Eagles victory over Niagara United at Lamport Stadium in Toronto, he found the net at 31, 60 (from the penalty spot) and 82 minutes for eight goals on the season.
The game’s opening goal was scored by Serbian Eagles’ midfielder Branislav Vukomanovic at the 20th minute mark, forward Milos Rudan made it 2-0 at 23 minutes, Scepanovic struck the third before Niagara’s Derek Paterson drove the ball into the net from the penalty spot at 42 minutes and it was 3-1 at half-time.
Scepanovic made it 4-1 at 60 minutes, Vitomar Jelic increased the lead to 5-1 six minutes later, Colin Dougan scored for Niagara at 72 minutes for a 5-2 score, Niagara’s Ben N’Goran reduced the lead to 5-3 at 77 minutes and Scepanovic completed the scoring off a free kick at 82 minutes, a 6-3 final score.
The seven First Division teams with playoff berths for the quarterfinal games October 10 -12 are: York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia, Kingston FC, North York Astros, Burlington SC, SC Waterloo, Brampton City Utd while London City or Serbian White Eagles will be the eighth team.
There was one game in the CSL Second Division Saturday night, Kingston FC B and York Region Shooters B playing to a 2-2 tie.
Mademba Ba nets four in 5-4 victory for Kingston FC
Unbeaten York Region Shooters clinched the CSL First Division title with a 1-1 tie with North York Astros, Kingston striker Mademba Ba scored four in his side’s 5-4 victory over Toronto Croatia, Burlington’s Nicolas Lindsay led his side with a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Niagara United, Brampton City Utd dropped Serbian White Eagles 1-0, and Waterloo helped their playoff chances with a 2-1 defeat of London City, five games in a busy CSL first Division Sunday.
Midfielder Gabriel Gala opened the scoring for North York Astros at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, the goal coming at the 11 minute mark and forward Oswald Adu scored the tying goal for York Region Shooters at 30 minutes, a 1-1 tie at half-time and at the final whistle.
The Shooters now have a 12-0-4 WLT record for 40 points in an unbeaten streak of 16 games to win the First Division. The side from just north of Toronto has two games remaining in the regular season, while North York Astros are at 6-5-5 for 23 points and in fourth position, also with two games remaining.
Forward Mademba Ba, the most prolific goalscorer for Kingston reserves in the Second Division with 31 to his credit this season, struck the first of his four goals for the Kingston FC First Division side at the Queen’s West Field in Kingston, the goal came at the 14 minute.
Toronto Croatia’s Sean Brown tied the score 1-1 at 24 minutes and two quick goals by defender Josip Keran,, one from a free kick at 32 minutes and the second from the penalty spot four minutes later, gave the visitors a 3-1 lead.
Ba responded with his second goal at 40 minutes and Kingston midfielder Nathan Klemencic found the net at 42 minutes to tie the game 3-3, the score at the interval.
Ba put the home side into a 4-3 lead at 51 minutes and Toronto Croatia’s Ante Zivkovic – who scored a hat-trick in last week’s 3-1 win over North York Astros – tied the game 4-4 when he found the net past Kingston goalkeeper Ewann Ofouya at 90 minutes.
Ba scored the winner in added time, for a 5-4 Kingston victory.
Kingston improve to a 7-6-3 WLT season record for 24 points and move up to third in the standings. The 2013 First Division winner also clinches a playoff spot and has two games remaining in the regular season schedule. Toronto Croatia are in second spot in the standings with a 10-3-3 record for 33 poinw
With both teams chasing a playoff spot, Brampton City Utd scored an important 1-0 victory over Serbian White Eagles at the Terry Fox Stadium in Chinguacousy Park, Brampton.
Following a scoreless first half, the lone goal came at 64 minutes by Brampton’s Juber Quintos who drove the ball into the lower right corner of the net from 20 yards and the 1-0 score held up to the final whistle.
Serbian White Eagles played with 10 men for the final 15 minutes following the ejection of midfielder Oscar Cordon at the 78 minute mark.
Brampton City Utd now have a 6-8-3 record for 21 points with one game remaining in the regular season, while Serbian White Eagles are at 4-7-5 for 17 points with two games still to be played.
Two second half goals by Waterloo’s Drazen Vukovic proved to be enough to give the southwestern Ontario side three points in their 2-1 victory over London City at the Warrior Field in Waterloo.
Vukovic scored at 63 and 70 minutes, his 14 and 15 goals of the season, and the 2-0 lead was followed by a goal from London’s league-leading goalscorer Marin Vucemilovic Grgic who found the net past Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura at the 82 minute mark. It was goal number 20 for Grgic.
The win lifts Waterloo to a 6-7-4 record for 22 points for sixth position with one game remaining in the regular season, while London City have a 6-9-2 record for 20 points, also one game remaining and in eighth position in the standings.
Forward Nicolas Lindsay led Burlington SC with three goals, the hat-trick coming in the first half to give the home side a distinct edge in a well-played game with Niagara United at Nelson Stadium in Burlington.
Lindsay struck at 10 minutes, and this was followed by a goal from Burlington’s Marijan Vuka at 25 minutes for a 2-0 lead. Lindsay scored his second at 33 minutes to make it 3-0 for the home side, to be followed by a goal from Niagara’s Jordi Amores who found the net past Burlington goalkeeper Vladimir Vujasinovic at the 35 minute mark.
Lindsay completed his hat-trick at 42 minutes for a 4-1 Burlington lead at the interval and the 4-1 score carried through until Harrison Fyke scored a second goal for Niagara United at 90 minutes for a 4-2 final score in favour of Burlington.
Burlngton move up to be tied in fourth place in the standings with North York Astros, each have 23 points. Burlington has a 7-8-2 record for 23 points and have clinched a playoff spot with York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia and Kingston FC
Niagara United have a 2-12-2 record for eight points at the foot of the table.
There were three games in the CSL Second Division Sunday, Kingston FC B and Toronto Croatia B played to a 1-1 tie, Niagara Falls B defeated Burlington SC B 4-1 and York Region Shooters tied 3-3 with Milton FC
Marin Vucemilovic Grgic struck the winner for London, number 19 this season.
London City took a big step toward a playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over Serbian White Eagles at the Hellenic Centre in London, the only game in the Canadian Soccer League Thursday night.
It was a hard fought encounter throughout with the two teams going into the game tied in lowly eighth position, each with 17 points and needing a win to bid for one of the remaining six playoff spots – the first two clinched by York Region Shooters and Toronto Croatia.
It was the league’s leading scorer, forward Marin Vucemilovic Grgic, who scored the winning goal at 22 minutes, taking a pass from forward Aldin Kukic to drive the ball into the net. It was Vucemilovic Grgic’s 19th goal of the campaign.
Serbian White Eagles pressed for an equalizer throughout the second half, but the 1-0 London lead held to the final whistle.
London played the last few minutes a man short after referee Marc Jaramillo showed the red card to Brandon Barbosa at 90 minutes for dissent.
London now have a 6-8-2 WLT record for 20 points and tied for fifth position with two regular season games remaining, while Serbian White Eagles are at 4-6-5 for 17 points in ninth position, with three games remaining.
Kingston chairman Lorne Abugov predicted 2014 honours for reserve team
Kingston chairman Lorne Abugov was unabashedly bold and confident mid-May when he announced his reserve team – which barely made the playoffs in 2013 – will finish at, or near the top this season. “Our reserve team will be much stronger,” he added to the prediction.
With three games remaining in the regular season schedule, Kingston FC B have won the Second Division and will be accompanied in the playoffs by Burlington SC B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC, Toronto Croatia B, York Region Shooters B, Niagara United B and Brampton City Utd B.
Kingston reserves, together with the next three teams in the final standings, will have home advantage in the post season games leading to the Second Division championship.
The First Division playoff picture is not as clear, with just two teams, York Region Shooters and Toronto Croatia, having secured playoff spots.
What is clear is the optimism of most clubs to clinch a playoff spot, to be one of the favoured eight. An unusual flurry of transfer activity to bolster teams’ chances of winning the coveted championship took place just before the September 1 roster freeze.
Included in the league office activity were players having already left their mark on the league during the current season, such as Kingston’s 2013 MVP and rookie of the year Guillaume Surot, a prolific striker, who was landed by London City. Other players arrived from elsewhere in Canada and a several from other countries
Bojan Stepanovic arrived from Europe to join Burlington, Milos Ljubenovic and Bojan Vranic came from Serbia to sign for Serbian White Eagles, Lukas Bajer is here from FC Milsami Moldova and is now with Kingston FC, Oleh Mykhaliu from the Ukraine to Brampton City Utd, Kenan Kajic, Osman Begovic and Hamdija Delihodic from Bosnia to Milton FC, Dyan Bams from England to York Region Shooters, and Corey Faughnan from the NPSL’s Cape Coral Hurricanes, Florida to Kingston FC.
More locally, Andrei Badescu from Montreal Impact of MLS to Kingston FC, Oscar Cordon from TFC Academy to Serbian White Eagles, Matthew Silva came from the Toronto Lynx to join North York Astros, Haris Fazlagic was transferred from SC Waterloo to London City, Marc Jankovic transferred from Brampton City to North York Astros, Pero Menalo and Igor Krampotic were transferred from Milton FC to Toronto Croatia and Shawn Brown is on loan from SC Waterloo to Toronto Croatia.
CSL administrator Pino Jazbec, responsible for ensuring the often complex transfer deals are properly completed before the roster freeze, said the amount of transfer activity was higher than usual at this time of year. “But it’s a good sign, it confirms the high level of interest in the championship playoffs and that winning a championship continues to be what all clubs aspire to,” he said.
For the time being, Kingston FC will be celebrating winning the Second Division this weekend and Abugov has emphasized that Kingston FC wants to develop players – and building a strong reserve team is the way to do that. “Our reserves play an exciting brand of football which is well worth watching,” he said this week.
The CSL Championship Finals will be hosted by North York Astros at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York on Sunday, October 26, with the league’s Gala Awards night the previous evening, Saturday, October 25.
