Scarborough SC defeated York Region Shooters by a 1-0 score to snap the Shooters’ unbeaten streak at 11 games at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium, the only game in the CSL First Division Sunday night.
Forward Adis Hasecic struck the winner for Scarborough at 85 minutes at a time when it appeared York Region was heading for an unbeaten 12 game of the season.
Hasecic drove a low ball into the net from a rebound off Shooters’ goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis following an evenly contested scoreless first half and most of the second half.
Scarborough were reduced to 10 just two minutes after the goal was scored when referee showed a red card to Zdravko Karadachki following a second caution.
York Region Shooters had little opportunity to take advantage of the extra man and it was 1-0 in favour of the visitors at the final whistle.
The York Region Shooters lead at the top of the First Division is reduced to seven points with a 9-1-2 WLT record for 29 points with second-place Scarborough now 7-3-1 for 22 points.
It is the third game that the league leaders have failed to score, but on the positive side York Region have conceded a remarkable just five goals in their 12 games played.
There were two games in the CSL Second Division Sunday when SC Waterloo coasted past London City 5-1 and York Region Shooters B humbled Serbian White Eagles B, 6-1.
There were two scoreless ties in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night. Serbian White Eagles were held to a 0-0 draw on home ground by Hamilton City, while in the late game Brantford Galaxy and Toronto Atomic also played to a scoreless tie. One other game scheduled for Friday night, Milton SC vs FC Ukraine United, was postponed.
It was an even encounter in the scoreless tie at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke where both Serbian White Eagles and Hamilton City had opportunities to come away with a win, particularly forward Milos Scepanovic for the home side Serbian Eagles who came very close to finding the net and Josip Keran of Hamilton City almost brought a victory for the visitors.
Serbian White Eagles now have a 5-5-2 WLT record for 17 points and fourth in the standings, while Hamilton City are 3-7-3 for 12 points and are in sixth position in the table.
The referee was the busiest individual on the field of play during a rough encounter between Brantford Galaxy and Toronto Atomic FC which also ended 0-0 at the Kiwanis ground in Brantford. The Galaxy now has a 2-6-4 record for 10 points and are in seventh position in the standings, while Atomic has a 5-4-4 record and now tied for second position with Scarborough SC, each team with 19 points.
The Milton SC vs. FC Ukraine United postponed game will be re-scheduled for a later date.
The tall, athletic-like defender, known for his on the field intelligence, has been a very good player for more than a decade now and really did grow up kicking a soccer ball many years before that.
That was in Thornhill, Ontario, just above Toronto at St. Luke’s Elementary School, to be followed by more soccer at St. Robert Catholic High School where he was named Athlete of the Year. A scholarship moved Cann to the University of Louisville in Kentucky where he was named the team’s most valuable player in both his sophomore and junior seasons and was eventually described by his coach as the most complete soccer player ever to play at the university.
He was a sought-after talent and played in North America – Colorado Rapids, Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps – before signing for Esbjerg in Denmark. He then returned to North America during 2010 to become a popular defender with Toronto FC, making 48 appearances before moving to San Antonio Scorpions in the North American Soccer League. Cann was capped nine times for the Canadian national team following three appearances for Canada’s U-20 squad.
Adrian Cann is now with Scarborough SC of the Canadian Soccer League and made his first appearance on August 8, winning a 4-3 see-saw battle with FC Ukraine United at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium in Maple. “We made a few mistakes, but worked through that to win a game I enjoyed,” said Cann the following day.
Adrian Cann will be 36 in September and is in the twilight of his playing career. While his intelligent play, obvious talent and physical fitness will continue for a period of time to translate into the effective and attractive soccer player he is, it is these same attributes that makes the inevitable switch to soccer spectator a difficult process.
But in the meantime, Cann will be of considerable help to Scarborough in the east Toronto team’s bid for the First Division title and the CSL playoffs leading to the championship, and there’s always coaching or managerial considerations later to ease the transition from what has been a sparkling career for the amiable York Region native.
Scarborough has been a force in the CSL since being launched as an expansion team in 2015 by Kiril Dimitrov. The Bulgarian-born midfielder entered the CSL when transferred from Bulgarian club Belasica to Serbian White Eagles in 2009, later moving to SC Waterloo.
Now playing out of Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough, the team is in a position to bid for the league title and there is little doubt that having Adrian Cann as a defender will increase its chances of success.
Scarborough SC jumped into second position in the First Division standings with a 4-3 victory over FC Ukraine United at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium in Maple, the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday night.
Scarborough forward Aleksander Stojiljkovic opened the scoring when he found the net past Ukraine United goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn at eight minutes.
Five minutes later midfielder Sehly Serheyev tied the game 1-1 for Ukraine United and at 19 minutes Ukraine took a 2-1 lead when Sergii Ivliev beat Scarborough goalkeeper Imad Hakura, for a 2-1 score at the break.
Scarborough midfielder Tihomir Kosturkov tied the game 2-2 at 49 minutes, Adis Hasecic put the visitors into a 3-2 lead at 69 minutes and at 80 minutes Ukraine United made it 3-3.
Stojiljkovic struck the winner for Scarborough at 83 minutes and the 4-3 score held until the final whistle.
The win gives Scarborough an improved 6-3-1 WLT record for 19 points to move the Toronto east team into second position in the table, while Ukraine United have a 4-4-3 record for 15 points, in fifth position.
There were three games in the CSL Second Division Sunday night with London City cruising past Serbian White Eagles B by a 8-2 score, SC Waterloo defeated Toronto Atomic FC B 3-2 and in the late game Brantford Galaxy B nipped York Region Shooters B, 1-0.
Toronto Atomic FC and York Region Shooters played to a scoreless tie in the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.
There were few opportunities to find the net with either team – York Region at the top of the First Division and Toronto Atomic a distant second – with most of the play in midfield, the game played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke.
Atomic goalkeeper Ihor Vitiv and Adrian Ibanez in goal for visiting York Region Shooters, were called upon to handle few attempts on goal that looked like ending up in the net.
Referee Milomir Tomic showed the red card to Atomic midfielder Tolochko Ostap at 84 minutes for a foul he considered to be a Violent Conduct infringement on Shooters’ forward Richard Edwards.
York Region Shooters continue their unbeaten run as a result of the 0-0 draw and now have a 9-0-2 WLT record for 29 points, 11 points ahead of Atomic with a 5-4-3 record and 18 points.
There is one game in the CSL First Division Sunday with Scarborough SC visiting the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple for a clash with FC Ukraine United, a 6.30 pm kickoff, while in the Second Division there are three games on Sunday: Serbian White Eagles B vs London City at 4 pm, Toronto Atomic B vs SC Waterloo at 7 and York Region Shooters B vs Brantford Galaxy B at 8.30 pm.
The CSL has announced a change in the schedule for the Brantford Galaxy vs Toronto Atomic game originally set for August 13 at Lions Park in Brantford, will now be played Friday, August 12 at the Kiwanis ground in Brantford, an 8.30 pm kickoff.
Branislav Vukomanovic prominent in 4-1 victory for Serbian White Eagles
Serbian White Eagles moved up to fourth in the standings with a 4-1 defeat of Brantford Galaxy, while Hamilton City were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Milton SC, two games in the CSL Friday night,
Following two close calls on the Brantford Galaxy goal in the early stages of the first half, Djordje Jocic opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke. The goal came at the 17th minute mark when defender Branislav Vukomanovic moved the ball from the edge of the penalty box to Jocic who drove the ball from 20 yards into the top right corner of the net.
Vukomanovic made it 2-0 for Serbian Eagles at 39 minutes when he headed home from seven yards a cross from the right wing by midfielder Milos Ljubenovic.
Ljubenovic also played a part in the third Serbian White Eagles’ goal which came three minutes later. Goalkeeper Goran Skaric cleared the ball to Ljubenovic who made a through pass to Milos Scepanovic for a low shot into the bottom right corner. It was 3-0 at the interval.
Krum Bigishkrov struck for Brantford to reduce the lead when the Serbian Eagles defence failed to clear, allowing Bigishkrov to find the net past Skaric from 10 yards at the 65th minute mark.
Serbian Eagles’ defender Miroslav Jovanovic completed the scoring when he collected a long ball from Scepanovic to put the ball into the roof of the net at 72 minutes and the 4-1 score held to the final whistle
.Serbian Eagles improve to a 5-5-1 WLT record for 16 points to move up to fourth place in the First Division standings, while Brantford Galaxy are at 2-6-3 for nine points in seven position.
Hamilton City had early chances to take a first half lead at the Cardinal Newman ground, but following a scoreless first half Maghori Lucky put Milton SC ahead 1-0 at 60 minutes when he found the net past Hamilton goalkeeper Adrian Becic.
Drazen Vukovic scored his sixth goal of the season to tie the game 1-1 for Hamilton, scoring past Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica at the 78th minute mark, a score that held until 89 minutes when Adrian Smajic struck his 7th of the season to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Miroslav Cabrilo tied the game 2-2 for Hamilton at 90 minutes, the score at the final whistle.
Hamilton now have a 3-7-2 record for 11 points in sixth position in the standings, while Milton remain at the foot of the table with a 2-7-1 record and seven points.
Ukraine United ends York Region Shooters’ nine-game winning streak Sunday
While Ukraine United failed to win its home game against York Region Shooters, the expansion team achieved a result no other CSL side has managed to do so far this season. Ukraine United held York Region Shooters to a scoreless draw to break a nine-game winning streak of the league leaders, a 0-0 score at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium in the only game played in the CSL Sunday night.
It was an even, well-played contest which almost went Ukraine United’s way when the home side was awarded a penalty at 58 minutes by referee Ramed Arbaje following a hand ball infringement in the York Region box. Midfielder Oleh Kerchu’s attempt was saved when Shooters’ goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis made a diving stop.
The scoreless match preserved York Region’s unbeaten string and their remarkable performance in the goals conceded column of the CSL First Division standings – just four goals allowed in the 10 games played by the end of Sunday night.
The Ukraine United defence was sound in preventing York Region from scoring and while there were few opportunities, Ukraine goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn also played an important part of keeping the ball out.
York Region Shooters appear to be runaway winners of the First Division with a 10-0-1 WLT record for 28 points so far this mid-season and the Maple-based club are now 11points ahead of their nearest rivals, Toronto Atomic.
FC Ukraine United improved to 4-3-3 for 15 points as a result of Sunday night’s draw and remain in fourth position.
Djordje Jocic scored in Serbian White Eagles 3-1 victory over Milton
Toronto Atomic gained an important 2-0 victory over top end of the table rivals Scarborough, Serbian White Eagles defeated Milton 3-1 and Hamilton traveled to nearby Brantford to hold the home side to a 2-2 tie, three games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.
Defender Josip Keran opened the scoring for Hamilton at the 31 minute at Lions Park in Brantford, a well-placed free kick from 25 yards that caught the top right corner out of reach of Brantford goalkeeper Besenic Luka.
Nenad Nikolic tied the game for the home side, scoring from the penalty spot ordered by referee Javier Prior for a foul in the box and it was 1-1 at the interval.
Igor Krmar put the visitors in front 2-1 at 73 minutes, beating Galaxy goalkeeper Luka from an acute angle to the right of the goal and seven minutes later Brantford striker Stefan Vukovic found the net following a breakaway, a 2-2 draw at the final whistle.
Brantford now has a 2-5-3 WLT record for 9 points, while Hamilton City are at 3-7-1 for 10 points.
Following a scoreless first half in a close encounter at Birchmount Stadium, Toronto Atomic went ahead on a goal by midfielder Terry Dunfield who found the net past Scarborough goalkeeper Imad Hakura at the 76 minute mark.
Atomic defender Nazamir Drahan increased the lead to 2-0 at 88 minutes, the score at the final whistle.
Atomic has an improved 5-4-2 record for 17 points in second position in the standings, while Scarborough in in third position with a 5-3-1 record for 16 points
An improving Serbian White Eagles scored their fourth win of the season, defeating Milton SC 3-1 at the St. George ground at Niagara Falls. The win gives Serbian Eagles a 4-5-1 record for 13 points, while Milton has a 2-7-0 record for six points.
There was one game in the CSL Second Division Saturday, SC Waterloo B with a 6-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy B.
Shawn Brown made it 2-0 in 3-0 victory for York Region Shooters
York Region Shooters continued on their winning way with a 3-0 victory over Toronto Atomic, while in one other game in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night, Brantford Galaxy and FC Ukraine United played to a 1-1 draw.
Richard West opened the scoring for York Region Shooters after 12 minutes of play at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, a tap into an almost open net after Atomic United goalkeeper Vasyl Shpuk was drawn out of position.
Shawn Brown made it 2-0 at 71 minutes for the visitors and midfielder David Guzman beat Shpuk to complete the scoring at 78 minutes for a 3-0 final score.
York Region are now nine wins in succession for a 9-0-0 WLT record for 27 points , leading the First Division by 11 points ahead of second place Scarborough SC.
Toronto Atomic now has a 4-4-2 record and tied for third position with FC Ukraine United with a 4-3-2 record, both teams with 14 points.
Striker Stefan Vukovic opened the scoring for the Galaxy at Lions Park in Brantford, the goal coming at 18 minutes when Vukovic collected the ball on the corner of the penalty box, passed two defenders before driving the ball inside the right post out of reach of Ukraine United goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn.
It was 1-0 at half-time.
Serhly Serheyev tied the score 1-1 for Ukraine United with a picture goal from 35 yards, taking a pass and driving into the bottom left corner out of reach of Brantford. It was 1-1 at the final whistle.
Brantford Galaxy now has a 2-5-2 record for eight points and in 7th position.
In the CSL Second Division Saturday night Toronto Atomic B defeated York Region Shooters B 3-1 and in one other game, Brantford Galaxy B are at home in Lions Park to London City.
Maghori Lucky, seen here in earlier indoor action struck opening goal for Milton
A late equalizer gave Scarborough a 1-1 draw against Serbian White Eagles, while Milton defeated Hamilton City 2-1, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.
Serbian White Eagles took a 1-0 lead at 34 minutes against visiting Scarborough at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, a goal by Marko Marovic and it was 1-0 at the break.
There were few scoring opportunities for either side well into the second half until midfielder Marc Jankovic took a throw-in to find the net past Serbian Eagles goalkeeper Goran Skaric. The goal came at the 81 minute to tie the game 1-1 and the score held until the final whistle.
Serbian White Eagles improve to a 3-5-1 WLT record for 10 points for fifth position in the standings, while Scarborough remain in second position with a 5-2-1 record for 16 points.
Maghori Lucky opened the scoring for Milton at 48 minutes following an evenly contested scoreless first half at the Cardinal Newman ground and forward Adnan Smajic made it 2-0 for the visitors nine minutes later.
Drazen Vukovic struck the only goal for Hamilton, finding the net past Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica at the 64 minute mark, a 2-1 victory for Milton at the final whistle.
Hamilton City have slipped to a 3-7-0 record for nine points and remain in sixth position in the table following a fourth straight defeat since the 3-2 win over Brantford Galaxy on June 25, while Milton gained its second win of the season since the 2-1 victory over Hamilton City on May 27. Milton remain in the cellar position in the standings with a 2-6-0 record for six points.
The Canadian Soccer League continues to receive information from the Ethnic Channels Group of an increasing number of television providers for viewing of its weekly show, GivovaCSL Primetime and scheduling times for Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be announced as they are confirmed.
Confirmation has been received that the show can be seen on BeIN Sports, a network rich in world soccer, each Thursday night at 7.30 pm ET, on channels 1412 and 1413 with Bell, 391 392 and 491 with Rogers, 859 with Cogeco, 618 with Shaw, 425 with Eastlink, 983 with Telus, 797 with Videotron, 527 and 1527 with MTS.
CSL Primetime will keep fans and the general public connected and up-to-date with the latest highlights, interviews, league statistics and what’s upcoming in Canada’s foremost soccer league.
Host Alex Bastyovanszky, accompanied Jason De Thomasis, will analyze highlights and provide insight on a number of issues, such as will league-leading York Region Shooters repeat their remarkable unbeaten 2014 season, and why is Milton SC, a team with so much early promise, in a mid-season struggle to move up from the foot of the CSL First Division.
Terry Dunfield (right) of Macclesfield gets the better of Leon Osman of Everton in FA Cup action
It’s long been recognized that being blessed with a fair share of luck is an important ingredient in any field of endeavor and soccer is no exception. Being in the right place at the right time, seen by the right people, being possessed of the necessary skills, all play an important part of being identified as a special player.
The Canadian Soccer League has had its fair share of exceptional players over the years and midfielder Terry Dunfield, now with Toronto Atomic FC, is one of the most recent and one of the most impressive.
For Terry Dunfield it all started unexpectedly as a visiting schoolboy playing in a small community in England. Born in Vancouver, Dunfield was playing with his Canadian team in a tournament at Keele, Staffordshire in the summer of 1999, unaware that a scout from Manchester City – today one of the world’s top clubs – was strolling the field perimeter hoping to pick out any teenager that might look like a real soccer player.
Canadians soccer players had earlier ventured to the UK to be identified as the real deal, so that scouts in England were familiar with Les Wilson, Frank Yallop and Craig Forrest, all having played youth soccer in British Columbia before enjoying lengthy careers at the top level with English clubs. Scouts will tell you, such players come along just once in a while, a bit like winning the lottery.
Manchester City put Dunfield on trial and under contract. He later captained the youth team and was named Youth Player of the Year. He appeared for Manchester City before moving on to make almost 200 appearances over a 17 year period in first class football in England and Scotland despite an early, serious injury that almost ended his career.
Not a bench-sitting player at any time, the Canadian became more receptive to offers that promised playing time – Bury, Macclesfield Town and Shrewsbury Town and later for Ross County in Scotland, avoiding glamour club opportunities that may result in long periods as a substitute. Newly-appointed Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan (capped 63 times for England and later managed the England team) had ongoing plans for Dunfield during those Manchester City days, but reports show Dunfield preferred other opportunities with more time on the field of play.
Terry Dunfield made one appearance for the England U-18 side while in that country, followed by appearances for Canada’s U-20 and U-23 sides and eventually made 14 appearances for the Canadian men’s team, all since 2010. He captained the team against Denmark in 2013.
Following his career in the UK, Dunfield, now 34, returned to Canada to play for Vancouver Whitecaps, then Toronto FC, and is now pursuing a broadcast career with TSN. This year, he joined the CSL’s Toronto Atomic FC for pre-season training and has become a regular. He scored his first goal against Scarborough on June 25.
“I’m enjoying playing for Atomic, well organized and professional,” said Dunfield after playing the opening games. “We’re training three times a week and the team is doing well.”
Dunfield feels soccer in Canada is moving along nicely and in the right direction, that the game needs more time to attract even more sports fans now becoming familiar with the game – what actually happens on in the field of play and the excitement it generates. “The three MLS teams have helped a lot to develop more interest in the game in Canada and the media are becoming more involved,” he said.
In addition to the CSL First Division squad, Toronto Atomic also has a second string in the Second Division and an academy team in the Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF).
“Terry is great, obviously still a very good player and a nice guy to have around,” said Ihor Prokipchuk, the club’s owner. “His experience strengthens our first team and also his presence can be very helpful to our young players, including in the academy.”
Atomic ended its inaugural 2015 season in fifth position of 12 in the CSL First Division and is currently near the top of the standings.
Richard West struck two goals for York Region to keep his club’s winning streak intact.
York Region Shooters maintained a 100 per cent record with the eighth victory from as many games, a 4-0 defeat of Toronto Atomic FC, while FC Ukraine United took control of the second half to defeat Brantford Galaxy 4-2, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday night.
Forward Aleksander Stojanovski opened the scoring for York Region with the first of two goals, scoring at close range for a 1-0 lead for the home side at the 40 minute mark.
Richard West made it 2-0 just two minutes later when he tapped in a rebound and the goal was also the first of two for this striker. The 2-0 score held to the break.
West headed into the net for his second goal, to make it 3-0 at 60 minutes, and Stojanovski completed the scoring at 62 minutes, a 4-0 score at the final whistle.
York Region continue on top of the table with a 8-0-0 record for 24 points, while Toronto Atomic FC are in third position with a 4-3-2 record for 14 points.
An own goal by Brantford Galaxy’s Boris Milicic gave FC Ukraine United a 1-0 lead at the eighth minute mark at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, and Bojan Stepanovic equalized for Brantford Galaxy with a free kick just outside the box, the goal coming at 29 minutes.
Forward Stefan Vukovic gave the Galaxy a 2-1 lead at 37 minutes, a strike from 13 yards that found the net past Ukraine United goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn and it was 2-1 at the break.
Ukraine United took control as the second half progressed and equalized for a 2-2 score at 55 minutes from a penalty awarded by referee Blake Williams following a foul inside the box. Midfielder Oleh Kerchu scored from the penalty spot, a drive out of reach of Brantford goalkeeper Luka Besenic.
Defender Vadym Gostiev put the home side into a 3-2 lead at 64 minutes and striker Sergii Ivliev increased the lead to 4-2 for Ukraine United in added time, the score at the final whistle.
Ukraine United improve to a 4-3-1 WLT record for 13 points and fourth in the standings, while Brantford Galaxy are at 2-5-1 for 7 points in seventh position.
Scarborough SC moved up to second position in the First Division standings with a 1-0 victory over Hamilton City, the only game played in the CSL Saturday night.
It was a well played scoreless first half at Birchmount Stadium with few opportunities to find the net for either side and the match appeared to be heading for a scoreless tie until the 79 minute when Scarborough broke the deadlock with a goal that started on the right wing.
Scarborough forward Kiril Dimitrov broke up the wing to pass to the oncoming forward Aleksander Stojiljkovic who found the net from 10 yards past Hamilton goalkeeper Adrian Becic. It was 1-0 at the final whistle.
It was three wins in succession for the east Toronto team which now has a 5-2-0 WLT record for 15 points and second in the standings to league-leading York Region Shooters. Hamilton City now has a 3-6-0 record for nine points in sixth position.
Scarborough SC defeated York Region Shooters by a 1-0 score to snap the Shooters’ unbeaten streak at 11 games at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium, the only game in the CSL First Division Sunday night.
