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Undefeated Serbian White Eagles jumped to a three-point lead in the First Division standings following a late scoring 2-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy Friday night to kickoff a busy weekend in the Canadian Soccer League. SC Scarborough won by a 2-0 margin over Royal Toronto over the weekend, while York Region Shooters were held to a 2-2 tie at home by SC Waterloo.

Dusan Kovacevic at 81 minutes and  Goran Svonja at 86 minutes were the scorers for a fourth consecutive win for Serbian White Eagles in the game with the Brantford Galaxy at Centennial Stadium at Etobicoke. There was one red, which means Djordje Jocic of Serbian White Eagles will miss their next game at least after being ejected by referee in the dying minutes of the game.

In a game at Birchmount Stadium, Aleksander Stojiljkovic gave Scarborough an early lead against Royal Toronto, finding the net at the 4 minute mark for a 1-0 score at the break and Krum Bigishkov made it 2-0 at 65 minutes, the final score.

Stojiljkovic was shown the red card by referee at the 87th minute mark.

Midfielder Evan Beutler struck for York Region Shooters at 23 minutes in the game against SC Waterloo played at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium, Maple, and midfielder Jure Glavina tied the game at 44 minutes for the visiting SC Waterloo side. It was 1-1 at halftime.

Defender Odain Omaro Simpson of York Region Shooters was shown the red card by referee at 70 minutes for Serious Foul Play and one minute later Glavina scored a second goal to put  Waterloo into a 2-1 lead with a free kick from 40 yards.

York Region lost a second player at 76 minutes when forward Richard Edwards was ejected by referee, reportedly for dissent, and at 82 minutes York Region tied the game, a second goal by Evan Beutler – 2-2 at the final whistle.

There were four games in the CSL Second Division over the weekend when on Saturday FC Ukraine United B destroyed Royal Toronto B 12-2 and Burlington B defeated Branford Galaxy B 2-1. Taras Hromiak (5) and Pavlo Lukianets (4) accounted for nine of the Ukraine United goals.

This was followed by another Goalfest on Sunday when Vorkuta B demolished Serbian White Eagles B 11-1 and on the same day SC Waterloo B scored a 3-1 victory over London City B.

There will be a rare midweek game in the CSL First Division when Milton SC are at home in the Milton Community Park this coming Wednesday, July 12 at 9 pm for a game against Scarborough SC.

FC Vorkuta and Serbian White Eagles scored narrow victories over the weekend to remain unbeaten at the top of the CSL First Division, while York Region Shooters kept pace with a 3-0 defeat of Royal Toronto FC and Brantford Galaxy defeated SC Waterloo 4-0.

A goal by forward Sergii Lvliev at 13 minutes was all that was needed for Vorkuta to come away with an away victory and three points in the game against Scarborough SC Saturday. The former FC Ukraine United striker lifted the ball from 40 yards over the advancing Milos Djurkovic in the Scarborough goal and the 1-0 lead held until the final whistle.

Vorkuta was reduced to 10 men at the 85 minute mark when Oleksandr Volchkov  was ejected after being shown a second yellow card.

Serbian White Eagles held a two-goal lead at 14 minutes of the first half in the game with Milton at Milton Community Park Sunday, both scored by forward Vukasin Lukic. Milton’s Leandro Aguilar reduced the lead to 2-1 at 21 minutes and Lucky Maghori tied the game for the home side, scoring on the counter attack at the 26 minute mark.

Djordje Jocic put Serbian White Eagles into a 3-2 lead at 30 minutes and Miroslav Jovanovic made it 4-2 for the visitors just before the interval. Maghori struck a second goal for Milton at 51 minutes for a 4-3 score, the result at the final whistle.

Theofanis Sotiris scored twice for York Region Shooters in the Vaughan team’s 3-0 victory over Royal Toronto, also on Sunday, finding the net just before halftime for a 1-0 lead at the break. The second goal by Sotiris came at 50 minutes before Abdulumumini made it 3-0 at the 80 minute mark.

The visiting Brantford Galaxy were in control most of the game against SC Waterloo at RIM Park in Waterloo Sunday, goals coming from Maksim Boksic, Nemaja Simeunovic, Stefan Vukovic and Bojan Samardzija.

There was one CSL Second Division game played over the weekend, a 2-1 victory for Burlington SC B over London City B Friday night.

 

 

There were three games in the CSL First Division over the weekend when Vorkuta FC and Serbian White Eagles scored important wins to take first and second position respectively in the standings.  Vorkuta defeated York Region Shooters, 2-1, while Serbian White Eagles came back from an early 1-0 setback to score three goals, ending with a 3-1 victory over Royal Toronto FC, both games played Friday. On Saturday, Brantford Galaxy enjoyed a 4-1 home victory over Milton at the Kiwanis ground in Brantford.

Dario Brezak scored with a flying header from close in at 11 minutes for Royal Toronto in the game against Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium, the ball finding the net inside the right post out of reach of Serbian Eagles goalkeeper Goran Skaric. The 1-0 lead held up until 43 minutes when the home side made it 1-1 with a goal by Goran Svonja. The play started from a corner kick by the ever prominent Djordje Jocic that was cleared by the Royal defence to Filip Velasevic of Serbian Eagles. Velasevic drove the ball from 22 yards and it was diverted by Svonja into the net.

Luka Bojic put Serbian Eagles into a 2-1 lead with a goal at 74 minutes, taking a pass from newcomer Dusan Kovacevic, recently acquired from McMaster University. Kovacevic entered the game as a substitute 10 minutes earlier and was playing his first game for the home side.

Kovacevic made it 3-1 for Serbian White Eagles with a near solo effort when he beat several players at 77 minutes. It was 3-1  the final whistle.

Midfielder Camaal Reid opened the scoring for the home side York Region Shooters against Vorkuta at the Joan of Arc Stadium in Maple, beating visiting goalkeeper Ruslan Zarubin at the 25 minute mark and this was followed up five minutes later with a tying goal by Vorkuta defender Volodymyr Rudyi when he found the net past York Region keeper Adam Majer. It was 1-1 at the break. Vorkuta forward Kristijan Kezic struck the winning goal at 84 minutes for a 2-1 Vorkuta victory.

Brantford Galaxy took a 3-0 halftime lead in the games against Milton SC at the Kiwanis ground in Brantford on goals by Maksim Bosic at 17 minutes, midfielder Dragan Milovic at 35 minutes and Miroslav Cabrilo at the 41 minute mark.

Striker Stefan Vukovic increased the Galaxy lead to 4-0 at 75 minutes before Harris Fazlagic found the net for Milton three minutes later, beating Stefan Avramovic in the Galaxy goal for a 4-1 final score.

There were three games in the CSL Second Division over the weekend with Serbian White Eagles B bouncing back after being crushed 12-0 by  FC Ukraine United B on June 18 to defeat SC Waterloo B 6-3 , Royal Toronto FC B defeated Brantford Galaxy B 5-2, both games on Saturday, while on Sunday,  it was Burlington SC B 2, Vorkuta B 1 at the St. Robert ground in Thornhill.

York Region Shooters are on top of the First Division with a 2-0 defeat of SC Waterloo at RIM Park, Waterloo on goals by Bryan Kevin and Darren Chambers,  FC Vorkuta defeated Royal Toronto 5-1 at Esther Shiner Stadium on 4 goals by Sergii Ivliev goals coming at 10, 13, 16 and 82 minute mark and a single by Vadym Gostiev at the 86 minute mark, Royal Toronto only goal was scored by Jerry Gbodume at the 81 minute mark, Serbian White Eagles also scored a decisive away win, a 6-1 result over Brantford Galaxy at the Kiwanis Field in Brantford goal scorers where Djordjije Jocic with two singles by Filip Velasevic, Zoran Pesic and two goals by Miroslav Jovanovic, to wrap-up games played in the Canadian Soccer League over the weekend.

Vorkuta, Serbian White Eagles and York Region Shooters are the only unbeaten First Division teams, while the Shooters are the only team yet to concede a goal since the season kickoff May 26.

There was one other game scheduled in the CSL First Division over the weekend, the Milton SC vs. Scarborough SC encounter was called off at the Milton Community Park after several Scarborough players were held up due to an incident in traffic en route the game. The game will be rescheduled.

There were two high scoring games in the CSL Second Division when Burlington SC B dominated Royal Toronto FC 9-0 and FC Ukraine B demolished Serbian White Eagles B, 12-0. Amardo Oakley struck four of the nine goals for Burlington.

Two additional games in the CSL Second Division, SC Waterloo B vs Brantford Galaxy B scheduled for Saturday and Vorkuta B vs London City B to be played Sunday, were both postponed.

Midfielder Djordjije Jocic opened the scoring to give Serbian White Eagles a 1-0  lead at 75 minutes in the weekend’s opening game in the CSL First Division played at Centennial Stadium at Etobicoke on Friday night, but Iourii Stepaniuk tied the game 1-1 at 93 minutes for Vorkuta. The goal came following a free kick by the visitors and miscue by the Serbian Eagles’ defense that allowed Stepaniuk to find the net past Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper  Goran Skaric.

SC Scarborough traveled to the Kiwanis Field in Brantford for the first of two First Division games played Sunday and the Toronto team came away with a 5-2 victory over Brantford Galaxy, while in the late game at Centennial Stadium Royal Toronto were held to a 2-2 draw by  visiting SC Waterloo. Vladimir Zelenbaba and Drazen Vukovic struck first half goals for Waterloo, while Chris Simm scored twice in the second half to salvage a 2-2 draw for the home side.

There is one game scheduled for Monday night when York Region Shooters host Milton SC at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium at Maple, an 8.30 pm start.

There were four CSL Second Division games over the weekend, with Serbian White Eagles B winning a 7-6 squeaker over London City B at the Hellenic Centre in London, FC Vorkuta B also gained an away win with a 4-1 defeat of Royal Toronto B at the Lakeshore Sports Centre in Toronto, Burlington SC B dumped SC Waterloo B 7-2 and FC Ukraine United B dominated Brantford Galaxy B 10-0 at Centennial Stadium on Sunday.

Expansion team FC Vorkuta surprised Milton SC by a 7-0 score at Esther Shiner Stadium Saturday, one of three games played in the opening weekend of a five-month long Canadian Soccer League First Division season.

On Friday night at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, Serbian White Eagles were held to a 1-1 tie at home by SC Waterloo, and on Saturday SC Scarborough were held to a scoreless tie at home by York Region Shooters, a game played at Birchmount Stadium.

A fourth game scheduled in the CSL First Division for the opening weekend, Royal Toronto FC vs Brantford Galaxy, was postponed on Sunday due to ground conditions at Varsity Stadium. The game will be played Monday night at 8 pm.

Vorkuta midfielder and captain Oleh Kerchu struck twice in his team’s dominance, opening the scoring after nine minutes, and scoring the seventh goal at 89 minutes. Defender Danylo Lazar found the Milton net at 16 minutes, midfielder Oleh Shutov scored twice, at 36 and 39 minutes, and it was 4-0 at the break.

Defender Vadym Gostiev made it 5-0 at 52 minutes and midfielder Yaroslav Svorak scored at 82 minutes before Kerchu’s goal to end the scoring seven minutes later.

There were four games to open the CSL Second Division season over the weekend. SC Waterloo B defeated Royals Toronto FC B 6-1, Brantford Galaxy B won 4-1 over London City B, FC Ukraine United B opened its season with a 3-1 defeat of FC Vorkuta B and Burlington SC B sored a 4-0 victory over Serbian White Eagles B to close the CSL opening weekend on Sunday night.

Two expansion teams, FC Vorkuta and Royal Toronto FC, will give a new-look to the Canadian Soccer League 2017 kickoff set for the weekend May 26 -28.

Eight teams will form a strong CSL First Division for a five-month long regular season campaign, to be followed by playoffs leading to the Givova Championship Cup Final early October.

Vorkuta FC, formed in Toronto in 2008, derives its name from a Russian town situated just north of the Arctic Circle.  The local group adopted the name as a dedication to that Russian community and its troubled past, and to represent the Russian speaking community in Canada.

Vorkuta FC played in the early days in a downtown Toronto senior amateur league before moving to the northern outskirts of Thornhill and Richmond Hill, winning league title wins along the way. Players being signed for the CSL team are from the broader Eastern Europe and Canada.

Samad Kadirov has been an ever present force in the development of the Vorkuta team both on and off the field, while lawyer Igor Demitchev has been a leading sponsor to help move the club into the CSL, Canada’s only professional soccer league.

Royal Toronto FC has a strong academy background with a reputation for skills training and emphasizing a lifestyle for young players aiming to make an impression at higher levels. It’s a ‘total preparation’ attitude at Royal Toronto –  being ready when the opportunity comes along at the professional level in Canada and elsewhere.

Dario Brezak and Luka Majstorovic are the principals in a club that’s now reached a stage of adding a professional dimension to the organization, ready to step into the tough Canadian Soccer League. Each has experience with several CSL clubs, including Toronto Croatia, Milton and Toronto Atomic

“We want our young academy players to be in a position of taking advantage of an opportunity that may come their way from Europe and other parts of the world and playing in the CSL is going to provide that necessary experience as they interface and eventually play with our professionals,” explained Brezak.

Returning teams in the CSL First Division from last season are Brantford Galaxy, Milton SC, Scarborough SC, Serbian White Eagles, York Region Shooters, while SC Waterloo is back after using 2016 to reorganize, and new teams FC Vorkuta and Royal Toronto FC rounding out the eight.

The CSL Second Division, considered a developmental loop for players moving into professional ranks, has in its 2017 league formation Brantford Galaxy B, Burlington SC, London City, Royal Toronto FC B, Serbian White Eagles B, Ukraine United, FC Vorkuta B and SC Waterloo B.

Serbian White Eagles are the current CSL title holders following their championship victory over Hamilton City at Birchmount Stadium last October, while the York Region Shooters reserve squad defeated Toronto Atomic reserves to capture the Second Division championship.

 

While Serbian White Eagles would eventually win the CSL title, there was little to suggest in the opening game of the 2016 season on May 28 when losing 3-0 to Scarborough at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough that the longstanding team going back to the 70s in the forerunner National Soccer League would eventually be crowned champions on the same ground six months later.

Two home defeats followed, a 1-0 home loss to Brantford Galaxy on June 3 and the same result at home one week later against York Region Shooters looked bleak for the team that won the CSL First Division just one year earlier, won the championship in 2008 and was the finalist a year later.

But 2016 was unpredictable year in the CSL with two unlikely finalists in the championship game at the Birchmount location on October 28. Serbian Eagles ended their regular season fourth of eight teams in the CSL First Division, and Hamilton City a lower sixth spot after struggling for most of their regular season campaign.

An unpredictable end to the season came on other fronts, the most notable being in the First Division goalscoring race won by unknown striker Sergii Ivliev of expansion team FC Ukraine United who found the net 15 times in the regular season to finish on top and ahead of more seasoned CSL players Richard West of York Region Shooters with 13, Milton’s Adrian Smajic with 12 and Adis Hasecic of Scarborough who scored 11. West was the CSL’s top scorer in 2015. The scoring ability of Ivliev became apparent during Ukraine United’s first CSL victory against Hamilton City on June 12 when the Canadian-born forward struck twice.

While York Region Shooters captured the First Division title with no surprise following their outstanding unbeaten performance in 2014 and third place finish in 2015, the winning margin of 18 points in front of second place FC Ukraine United was a startling, unexpected wide gap not previously experienced in the professional CSL. The Shooters’ defensive record of allowing just 10 goals in 21 games resulting in only two defeats was responsible for creating the rare margin of victory.

Despite their season-long remarkable performance, York Region failed to reach the CSL championship final in 2016, but were Second Division champions when their reserve squad survived a penalty in extra time to score a 2-1 overtime victory over Toronto Atomic reserves on October 23.

Time and again, winger Sasa Viciknez slotted free kicks from just outside the penalty box inches inside the post while playing for Serbian White Eagles in the Canadian Soccer League, the skills of a dead ball specialist developed in northern Serbia and Bulgaria. When Eagles’ defender Mirko Medic was relentless in keeping the ball away from his penalty box, the skills were developed in Serbia, with lots of practice at higher levels in France and Denmark.

Viciknez and Medic did not play when Serbian White Eagles defeated Hamilton City for the CSL Championship on October 30, but some new faces were a reminder that the procession of outstanding Serbian players arriving from Europe to play in the Canadian Soccer League is never ending.

Serbian White Eagles have developed a reputation over the years of being attractive to watch. Making its first appeared in Hamilton in the late sixties, the team moved to Toronto in 1974,  winning the National Soccer League championship that year and continuing with some prominence  until  withdrawing from professional soccer in 1980 when the club maintained an amateur structure to focus on the development of young, local players.

The professional team then re-appeared in the CSL in 2006 and was an immediate hit, drawing large crowds and reaching the championship final, losing to Italia Shooters. The team was a finalist again in 2007, won the CSL championship in 2008 and again runners-up in 2009. Serbian White Eagles also won the then CSL International Division in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and the CSL First Division in 2015.

Mike Stojanovic was probably the best Serb player to arrive in Canada. The explosive centre forward  scored 54 goals in his first season with Serbian White Eagles of the National Soccer League (NSL) back in 1974. The NSL was a forerunner league of the CSL.  Stojanovic followed up with 42 goals the following season and was immediately sought by clubs in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the highest level club soccer in Canada and the United States at the time.

The native of Lapovo, Serbia, signed for Rochester Lancers of the NASL, followed by San Diego Sockers and was named North American Player of the Year by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association. He was selected for Canada in 1980, the first year ruled to be eligible. The prolific striker made 14 appearances for Canada and was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009. Mike Stojanovic died at Toronto in 2010 while maintaining his unstinting support for the CSL team. He is the only Serbian White Eagles player to have his number (9) retired.

Players  Blagoja Tamindzic, Mike Bakic (became a Canadian international), Trifun Mihajilovic, Tibor Gemeri (capped for Canada) and Dragan Popovic were also prominent players for Serbian White Eagles during that period.

In recent times, CSL fans enjoyed watching players like Viciknez (2006 – 2012) and Medic.  Other experienced players to make Serbian Eagles one of the prominent teams in Canada are goalkeeper Dusan Belic, Nenad Stojcic, Bozo Milic, Aleksandar Braletic and Niki Budalic.  Zoran Rajovic scored 18 goals in 22 games in 2012 before returning to Europe, Boris Milicic, Aleksandar Radosavljevic, Zoran Rajovic, Ivan Stankovic, Branislav Vukomanovi,  Đorđe Jocic, Milos Kocic, Marko Krasic, Radenko Kamberovic, Milos Scepanovic, Milos Ljubenovic and Uros Stamatovic – who has moved on to be coach and manager –  have all left an indelible mark on the Toronto area-based club.

Budalic, the former captain and later appointed coach, is now enjoying an extended soccer career as assistant general manager at Orlando City of Major League Soccer.

The procession of players during the 2006 re-birth of Serbian White Eagles was highlighted with the presence of Dragoslav Sekularac as head coach. Sekularac,  a top player in Europe with Red Star Belgrade and making more than 50 appearances for the former Yugoslavia, arrived in Toronto to assist the new local team to become established in the tough CSL.

Dragan Bakoc, president of Serbian White Eagles, commented on the club’s success leading up to winning the CSL Championship victory on October 30:

“We are extremely happy with this year’s success of our team. Our players, coaches and community at large all contributed to winning this championship. My congratulations go to our players and coaches and a huge thank you to all in our community who contributed. A special thanks also, to the clubs of the CSL and the league management for their hard work and continuing progress in Canadian soccer,” he said.

Photo: Les Jones (Covershots)

A winning goal by striker Milos Scepanovic just inside extra time following a 1-1 deadlock at 90 minutes gave Serbian White Eagles the CSL Givova Championship following a hard fought encounter with Hamilton City at Birchmount Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Scepanovic  scored after moving through two Hamilton defenders to find the net from 8 yards past Hamilton goalkeeper Adrijan Becic in the second minute of extra time for a 2-1 victory. The deciding goal came after Hamilton took a 1-0 lead at 14 minutes on a goal by forward Domagoj Zubac, then Luka Bojic equalized  for Serbian Eagles  at 59 minutes when on the receiving end of goalkeeper  Becic’s  attempted clearance which rebounded off Bojic into the Hamilton net.

Scepanovic came close to scoring a second goal when near the end of the extra time, his drive was saved by Becic.

Serbian White Eagles had pressed most of the time during the overtime period, a contrast from the early exchange when Hamilton appeared to have the edge.

It was Serbian White Eagles’ second championship victory since winning the title in 2008 and the club’s fifth championship game having been a finalist in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Serbian White Eagles captured the CSL First Division title in 2015.

Uros Stamatovic, coach and GM of Serbian Eagles attributed the team’s strong second half to a determination to win. ”While I think fitness was a consideration, we showed a determination that paid off as the game progressed and that led to the two goals. The players really wanted to win and succeeded,” he said, while giving a mention to Scepanovic, Radenko Kamberovic, defenders Branislav Vukomanovic and Milan Kusic.

It is Hamilton City’s first year in the CSL following a relocation of the previous London City and while GM Kathleen Nurse considered her team had a strong game, she also showed disappointment at the early injuries, one of which forced team captain Nikola Stanojevic to be substituted.

“The injuries in a physical game obviously played a part, but the team played well and it was a close game to the final whistle,” said Nurse.

COMPLETE PLAYOFF SUMMARY

CSL Championship Final

Serbian White Eagles 2, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time)

at Birchmount Stadium

 Quarterfinals

York Region Shooters 5, Milton 0

Hamilton City 3, Scarborough SC 0

FC Ukraine United 3, Brantford Galaxy 0

Serbian White Eagles 1, Toronto Atomic FC 0

 Semifinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, FC Ukraine United 0

York Region Shooters 1, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time)

(Hamilton City won 3-1 on penalty kicks)

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Serbian White Eagles 2, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time)

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

SC Waterloo and Toronto Atomic FC B gained a bye to the semifinals

Quarterfinals

Brantford Galaxy B 3, Serbian White Eagles B 2 (after extra time)

York Region Shooters B 1, London City 0

Semifinals

York Region Shooters B 1, SC Waterloo B 0

Toronto Atomic B 2, Brantford Galaxy B 0

CSL Second Division Championship Final

York Region Shooters B 2, Toronto Atomic FC B 1 (after extra time)

 

Just when Hamilton City were feeling some disappointment at the team’s low finish in the regular season standings – sixth of eight teams in the CSL First Division – the side from Steeltown finds itself with an even chance to be crowned champions of Canada’s professional league.

There were earlier signals, however, that Hamilton was underachieving and capable of a much higher standing. Results such as the 1-0 victory over York Region Shooters in a late season game on August 19  – one of only two defeats suffered by the First Division winners in their 21-game season  – provided reason to consider Hamilton as a championship possibility.

A relocation of the original London City Soccer Club which launched in that city in 1973 and which  changed ownership twice in recent years, brought the team to Hamilton with high level signings from Europe for some attractive home games at the Cardinal Newman ground at Stoney Creek . To reach the final, Hamilton defeated Scarborough 3-0 in the quarterfinals and York Region Shooters in a penalty kick decider in the semifinals.

“We had a difficult regular season but picked it up as we moved into the playoffs and we now look forward to the championship game at full strength and with confidence,” said Hamilton GM Kathleen Nurse.

Serbian White Eagles have also signed players from Europe and will be bidding for their second championship victory having won the title in 2008. The same organization goes back much further with a championship victory in the National Soccer League in 1974. Serbian White Eagles finished the regular season in fourth spot in the regular season standings, went on the defeat Toronto Atomic 1-0 in the quarterfinals, then FC Ukraine United 1-0 in the semifinals.

Dragan Bakoc, speaking for Serbian White Eagles, commented earlier in the week:  “We are looking forward to what we expect to be a difficult game with Hamilton, a team with some very good players with experience of big games in Europe. They  showed improvement toward the end of the season, but we are ready and with a good positive outlook, he said.”

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL  – How they got there !

Quarterfinals

York Region Shooters 5, Milton 0

Hamilton City 3, Scarborough SC 0

FC Ukraine United 3, Brantford Galaxy 0

Serbian White Eagles 1, Toronto Atomic FC 0

 Semifinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, FC Ukraine United 0

York Region Shooters 1, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time)

(Hamilton City won 3-1 on penalty kicks)

                                                CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Sun. Oct. 30 Birchmount Stadium 2 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Hamilton City

 

 

York Region Shooters, the leading contender for CSL championship honours,  were eliminated  by Hamilton City and Serbian White Eagles defeated FC Ukraine United,  two semifinal games in the CSL Championship playoffs Sunday night.

York Region finished on top of the table to take the First Division title at the end of the regular season, FC Ukraine United finished second.

Serbian White Eagles and FC Ukraine United were scoreless in the early semifinal at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York until Miroslav Jovanovic of Serbian Eagles beat Ukraine United ‘keeper Nazar Lytvyn with a low shot from 12 yards at the 71^st minute mark and the goal was enough to settle what had been a hard fought encounter throughout.

Ukraine United pressed for an equalizer in the last 20 minutes, a time during which Serbian Eagles were reduced to 10 men following the ejection by referee Ramee Arbaji of Djordje Jocic at 88 minutes. Jocic was shown the red card following a second caution.

York Region Shooters and Hamilton City were scoreless until late in the second half in the second semifinal played at the Joan of Arc Stadium in Maple. Midfielder David Guzman broke the deadlock shortly after entering the game as a substitute. Guzman took a cross from the right wing to beat Hamilton City goalkeeper Adrian Becic at 76 minutes to give York Region a 1-0 lead.

Hamilton City equalized just two minutes later when Frane Grbesa found the net past York Region goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez and the 1-1 score held until the end of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time.

Penalty kicks were taken and Igor Krmar, Zdenko Jurcevic and Miroslav Cabrilo found the net for Hamilton City, while Richard West was the lone scorer of four penalties taken by York Region Shooters.

Serbian White Eagles and Hamilton City advance to the CSL Championship set for Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough on Sunday, October 30, a 2 pm kickoff.

CSL PLAYOFFS SUMMARY

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Sunday, October 30 Birchmount Stadium 2 pm Serbian White Eagles vs. Hamilton City

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS TO DATE

Quarterfinals

York Region Shooters 5, Milton 0

Hamilton City 3, Scarborough SC 0

FC Ukraine United 3, Brantford Galaxy 0

Serbian White Eagles 1, Toronto Atomic FC 0

Semifinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, FC Ukraine United 0

York Region Shooters 1, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time)

(Hamilton City won 3-1 on penalty kicks)

 CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Sunday, October 30 Birchmount Stadium 2 pm Serbian White Eagles vs Hamilton City

 CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

SC Waterloo and Toronto Atomic FC B gained a bye to the semifinals

Quarterfinals

Brantford Galaxy B 3, Serbian White Eagles B 2 (after extra time)

York Region Shooters B 1, London City 0

Semifinals

York Region Shooters B 1, SC Waterloo B 0

Toronto Atomic B 2, Brantford Galaxy B 0

CSL Second Division Championship Final

York Region Shooters B 2, Toronto Atomic FC B 1