Jose Melo’s opener and 7th goal of the season sent Scarborough to 3-1 victory
Scarborough SC handed York Region Shooters a 3-1 defeat in the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.
Scarborough jumped into a 2-0 halftime lead at Downsview Park on goals by forward Jose Melo, who struck his eighth goal of the season at seven minutes, a well-placed effort from a corner kick, and Marc Jankovic, who found the net past Shooters’ goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez at 37 minutes for the 2-0 lead at the break.
Scarborough midfielder Dobrin Orlovski scored the third goal for the home side, a drive from outside of the box at 67 minutes that left Ibanez will little chance to make a save. It was Orlovki’s fourth goal of the current campaign.
York Region’s David Schipper reduced the lead to 3-1 with a goal at 86 minutes, beating Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika.
Scarborough move up to eighth position in the standings following Friday’s win, the Toronto side now has a 5-6-7 WLT record for 22 points, while York Region Shooters remain in third position with a 9-7-1 record for 28 points.
London City upset York Region Shooters nine-game unbeaten streak with a 3-2 victory, Toronto Atomic defeated Brampton City Utd 1-0 and Brantford Galaxy won 2-1 over Burlington SC, three games in the CSL First Division Sunday.
London City were off to a quick start when Edin Kozika scored at the sixth minute mark for a 1-0 score in the game with York Region Shooters at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple.
Richard West tied the game 1-1 for the Shooters at 29 minutes – it was goal number 13 for West and it was 1-1 at the break.
Zoran Pesic beat York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis for a 2-1 lead for the visitors, the goal coming at 52 minutes, and Kozica scored his second goal and sixth of the season for London City at 64 minutes for a 3-1 London lead.
Adrian Pena struck for the Shooters at 78 minutes, his fifth of the campaign, to reduce the lead to 3-2, the score at the final whistle.
The win lifted London City into eighth position in the standings, they now have a 6-8-2 record for 20 points, while York Region Shooters remain in third spot with a 9-6-1 record for 28 points. London snapped a nine-game unbeaten streak held by the Shooters.
Vladimir Vujovic opened the scoring for Burlington, at the 12th minute mark, a drive from outside the box that had Brantford Galaxy goalkeeper Luka Besenic well beaten. It was Vujovic’s 11th goal of the season.
The Galaxy tied the game 1-1 when midfielder Armin Mahovic found the net at the 30 minute mark, it was 1-1 at half-time.
Zdenko Jurcevic struck the winner for Brantford at 51 minutes for a 2-1 score which held until the final whistle. It was Zdenko’s 18th goal of the season.
Brantford Galaxy improve to a 7-8-2 WLT record for 23 points, while Burlington are at 5-9-3 for 18 points
Dario Brezek scored the only goal for Toronto Atomic FC in a tough encounter with Brampton City Utd at Victoria Park in Brampton. The 1-0 victory that gives Atomic a 8-7-2 record for 26 points and a clear fifth position in the standings, while Brampton are at 6-7-5 for 23 points and tied with Brantford Galaxy in sixth position.
There were four games in the CSL Second Division Sunday:
Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo fought to a scoreless tie in their bid to close the gap at the top of the CSL First Division standings, while at the other end of the table Scarborough SC pulled off a 2-1 victory over Niagara United, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday.
There were few good opportunities to score in the game between Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo in the game at the Loyola HS Stadium, both teams bidding to catch top-of-the-table and runaway leader Serbian White Eagles.
The 0-0 final score gave Toronto Croatia a 9-4-3 WLT record for 30 points and second position, while SC Waterloo now have a 8-5-3 record for 27 points and fourth in the standings.
Serbian White Eagles have 37 points, while York Region Shooters have 28 points in third spot.
Dobrin Orlovski opened the scoring at 25 minutes for Scarborough against Niagara United at the Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls, the midfielder’s volley leaving Niagara goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic with little chance for a save as the ball entered the net at the near post.
It was 1-0 at the break.
Scarborough forward Kiril Dimitrov made it 2-0 for the visitors at 62 minutes, and Niagara United made the scoresheet with a goal from eight yards by Adam Whitwell who put the ball past Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika at 85 minutes following a breakaway passing play which started in the Niagara half.
Scarborough improve with a 4-6-7 record for 19 points up to ninth position in the standings, while Niagara United remain at the foot of the table with a 1-11-3 record for six points.
Vitomar Jelic impressive in Serbian White Eagles defence struck second goal
Serbian White Eagles extended their lead at the top of the First Division to eight points with a 2-0 defeat of Milton SC in the only game played in the CSL Friday.
Defender Branislav Vukomanovic opened the scoring for the league leaders at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton, a well drilled free kick from outside the box that left Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica with no chance to make a save. The left foot drive went inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.
Vitomar Jelic, an impressive addition to the Serbian White Eagles defence, increased the lead to 2-0 for the visitors with a well-placed header into the net from a corner kick at 21 minutes.
The 2-0 half-time lead held to the final whistle following a scoreless, but well-played second half , mostly in the midfield with few serious opportunities to find the net.
The victory improved Serbian White Eagles to a 11-2-4 WLT record for 37 points, eight points in front of Toronto Croatia in second spot, while Milton remain in seventh position with a 6-7-3 record for 21 points.
Zdenko Jurcevic of Brantford Galaxy is the CSL’s leading goalscorer with 17
BY NICHOLAS FIORE AND STAN ADAMSON
It’s the time of year when things start to heat up in the Canadian Soccer League.
To earn those three points for a victory is crucial for a number of teams as they reach desperately for one of eight playoff berths in both the First and Second Divisions and a chance at being part of Championship Day at Waterloo on Sunday, October 25.
In making an announcement earlier this week, league administrator Pino Jazbec explained that the SC Waterloo Region club will host this year’s championship at Warrior Field following three weeks of playoffs that get underway late September.
Currently, Serbian White Eagles are on top of the First Division, followed by perennial contender Toronto Croatia and close-up is SC Waterloo, the champions in 2013. Toronto Croatia has won most CSL titles with nine championships since entering professional soccer in 1956.
Then you have the surging York Region Shooters, the current CSL champions, who suffered five losses in their first six games of the season and are now on a roll without losing a game since June 12. They won seven games in a row, are now nine unbeaten, and now find themselves right up there bidding for first place.
After the Shooters, Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo, and new club Toronto Atomic FC find themselves in pretty decent positions. Milton are hanging on by their limbs to clinch a playoff spot, and so is Brantford Galaxy and Burlington. Brampton City Utd and new club Scarborough SC are not too far behind and well within reach.
Getting closer to the action is London City, and despite their ‘Never Say Never’ attitude it may be too late for Niagara United which have already been to the falls and now sit at the bottom of the First Division table.
In the Second Division the race to claim a playoff spot is really tight with 10 clubs in the mix for eight playoff berths. SC Waterloo reserves appear to have a comfortable lead, but knocking on their door is Milton reserves, the new and talented Toronto Atomic FC reserves, Burlington SC reserves, York Region Shooters reserves and Brantford Galaxy reserves, the Niagara United second string and Serbian White Eagles. Just sitting outside the playoff picture are Brampton City Utd reserves and the Toronto Croatia B team.
With the season now well past the half way point, the First Division scoring race is close throughout.. Leading is, Zdenko Jurcevic from Brantford Galaxy SC, followed by Sahjah Reid of Serbian White Eagles, Adis Hasecic of SC Waterloo and Richard West of York Region Shooters.
The Second Division is tight as well with Nikola Miocovic of SC Waterloo B on top, followed by Amardo Oakley from Burlington SC B, Ed Syllie of SC Waterloo B and Adrian Smajic of Milton B.
Serbian White Eagles regained a five-point lead at top of the CSL standings while held to a 2-2 tie by SC Waterloo in the only First Division game played in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday.
Waterloo took a 1-0 lead when Adis Hasecic found the net from close range past Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper Bojan Vranic at the 39 minute mark and it was 1-0 at half-time. The goal was Hasecic’s 13th of the season.
Forward Sahjah Reid tied the game 1-1 for Serbian White Eagles, he beat Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura at 50 minutes, and Reid scored a second goal for the visitors – the goal coming from the penalty spot following a pushing incident inside the box – a 2-1 Serbian Eagles lead at the 70th minute mark. The goals were numbers 13 and 14 this season for Reid.
Substitute Ranko Golijanin tied the game 2-2 for Waterloo, he found the net after taking a pass from Hasecic, the goal coming at 84 minutes for a 2-2 draw at the final whistle.
Serbian White Eagles have a 10-2-4 WLT record for 34 points, that’s five points in front of second place Toronto Croatia, while Waterloo improve to 8-5-2 for 26 points and fourth position in the table.
There were three games in the CSL Second Division Sunday when Milton SC B nipped Brantford Galaxy B 1-0, Toronto Croatia B won by the same score over Brampton City Utd B, and Burlington SC B dropped Toronto Atomic FC 2-1.
Toronto Atomic FC defeated Burlington SC 3-1, Toronto Croatia were held to a 1-1 tie by Brampton City Utd and the Niagara United vs London City encounter was abandoned during the second half while London City were leading 4-1.
Toronto Atomic opened the scoring at 25 minutes on a goal by forward Ihor Melnyk at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke and Melnyk struck again when he found the net just two minutes later for a 2-0 lead
Midfielder Nenad Simic scored for Burlington at 32 minutes, a 2-1 Atomic lead at the break.
Stas Katana increased the lead to 3-1 for Toronto Atomic at 71 minutes, the score at the final whistle.
Toronto Atomic improve their standing with a 7-7-2 WLT record for 23 points and move into a fifth place tie with Brampton City Utd, while Burlington are at 5-7-4 with 19 points.
Krzysztof Pierzchala opened the scoring for Brampton City Utd at the 24 minute when he beat Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Faris Efendic at 24 minutes for a 1-0 lead at the Loyola HS Stadium. It was 1-0 at the interval.
Toronto Croatia tied the score 1-1 at 42 minutes on a goal by midfielder Jure Glavina who found the net past Brampton goalkeeper Cristian Montero Valez. It was Glavina’s eighth goal of the campaign.
It was an entertaining contest to the final whistle when the game ended a 1-1 draw.
London City were leading 4-1 against Niagara United when the game was stopped by the referee at 60 minutes. There will be a league enquiry.
There were two games in the CSL Second Division Saturday when York Region Shooters B defeated Niagara United B 4-3 and SC Waterloo B demolished Serbian White Eagles B 12-0.
York Region Shooters snapped an 11-game Serbian White Eagles unbeaten streak with a 3-0 away victory over the league-leaders, while Milton and Brantford Galaxy fought to a 3-3 draw, two games in the CSL Friday night.
Richard West opened the scoring for York Region in the top-of-the-table battle at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, the prolific goalscorer finding the net for his 12 goal of the season at 52 minutes following a hard-fought, scoreless first half. Steve McDougall struck the cross bar with the first attempt, with West picking up the rebound for the 1-0 lead.
Des Humphrey made it 2-0 at 63 minutes, his strike finding the net from a deflection off a Serbian Eagles’ defender and Humphrey scored a second goal to increase the lead to 3-0 at 77 minutes, the score at the final whistle.
York Region stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games with an improved 9-5-1 WLT record for 28 points moving into a tie for second place with Toronto Croatia in the standings. Serbian White Eagles are still on top with a 5-point lead and a 10-2-3 record on the season.
It was a well-played contest at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton where Brantford Galaxy took the lead on a penalty by midfielder Harris Fazlagic who found the net after referee Davor Krasic pointed to the spot following a foul in the box. The goal came at 32 minutes.
Adnan Smajic scored for Milton three minutes later, also on a penalty kick for a 1-1 tie. It was Smajic’s fifth goal of the season and a 1-1 tie at the interval.
Radovan Ivkovic put Milton into a 2-1 lead at 60 minutes and Zdenko Jurcevic tied the game 2-2 for the Galaxy, his 17 of the season to continue to lead the CSL goalscorer race.
Anes Besic put Milton into a 3-2 lead with a goal at 66 minutes and nine minutes later Brantford tied the game 3-3 on second penalty by Fazlagic, and the game ended a 3-3 draw at the final whistle.
Milton move up to sixth position in the standings with a 6-6-3 for 21 points, while Brantford Galaxy are at 6-8-2 for 20 points.
A late goal by Jonathan Jebbison gave Brampton City Utd a 2-1 victory over Burlington SC, London City surprised SC Waterloo 2-1 and York Region Shooters were held to a 1-1 draw by Brantford Galaxy, three games in the CSL First Division Sunday.
Nikolic Nenad opened the scoring for Burlington SC, finding the net from a corner kick at 13 minutes in the game with Brampton City Utd at Victoria Park.
Jean Tshimpaka tied the game for Brampton at 39 minutes for a 1-1 score at the interval and striker Jonathan Jebbison struck the winning goal for the home side at 84 minutes, a 2-1 win in favour of Brampton City Utd.
Brampton improve to a 6-6-4 WLT record for 22 points, while Burlington are at 5-7-3 for 18 points.
Defender Edwin Navarrete gave York Region Shooters the lead at 40 minutes in the game with Brantford Galaxy at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, but the lead was short-lived when forward Stefan Vukovic put the ball past York Region goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez from close in just one minute later.
It was 1-1 at the interval and Ibanez for the home side and Luka Besenic in goal for the Galaxy were both solid for a scoreless second half and 1-1 draw at the final whistle.
York Region Shooters are at 8-5-1 for 25 points and tied for third place in the First Division standings with SC Waterloo, while Brantford are at 6-8-1 for 19 points.
Igor Kmar opened the scoring for London City at 75 minutes and defender Vladimir Zelenbaba tied the game 1-1 for Waterloo at the 89 minute mark.
London’s Zoran Pesic struck the winning goal at 90 minutes when he found the net past Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura, a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
London City improve to 5-8-2 for 17 points, while Waterloo are at 8-5-1 for 25 points and tied for third place in the standings.
Tim Zakrajsek – second half strike in Serbian Eagles’ 4-1 victory for an 11-game unbeaten streak.
Serbian White Eagles extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 4-1 victory over Niagara United, while Toronto Croatia defeated Milton SC 3-1, two games in the CSL First Division Saturday night.
Defender Miroslav Jovanovic opened the scoring for the league-leaders at the Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls, finding the net past Niagara goalkeeper Matthew Greco off a free kick from 25 yards at 13 minutes.
Striker Sahjah Reid made it 2-0 for Serbian White Eagles at 45 minutes, scoring from a penalty kick awarded by referee Goran Babic for a foul in the box, a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Midfielder Tim Zakrajsek increased the lead to 3-0 at 80 minutes before Chris Lanni put Niagara United on the scoresheet with a goal at 84 minutes for a 3-1 Serbian Eagles’ lead.
Reid struck his second goal for a 4-1 lead at 89 minutes, striking a volley off a cross from the left wing for his 12 goal of the campaign, and the score remained to the final whistle.
Serbian White Eagles now have a 10-1-3 WLT record for 33 points to continue at the top, five points in front of Toronto Croatia in second spot in the CSL First Division.
Adrian Smajic opened the scoring for Milton SC for a 1-0 lead at 16 minutes at the Loyola HS Stadium, and Toronto Croatia’s Jure Glavina tied the score 1-1 seven minutes later. It was 1-1 at the interval.
Glavina scored his second goal to put Toronto Croatia into a 2-1 lead at 75 minutes . The midfielder found the net past Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica for his 7 of the season, and forward Darren Chambers made it 3-1 at the 87 minute mark to lift his goal tally to nine.
Toronto Croatia are at 9-4-1 for 28 points for the season, while Milton have a 6-6-2 record for 20 points in sixth position.
There were two games in the CSL Second Division Saturday, SC Waterloo B defeating Toronto Atomic FC B 3-0 and Niagara United B defeated Serbian White Eagles B 2-0.
Brampton City forward Jonathan Jebbison led his team with a hat-trick in a 6-0 away romp against Scarborough SC at Downsview Park, the only game played in the CSL First Division Friday night.
It was a close game in the first half when Jebbison opened the scoring at 20 minutes for a 1-0 Brampton lead at the interval and that score held up until Brandon Simoes made it 2-0 for the visitors at 73 minutes.
Jebbison scored his second goal for a 3-0 lead at 81 minutes, then Brampton scored three late goals in just three minutes for a commanding 6-0 lead.
Simoes struck his second at 86 minutes for a 4-0 lead, Jebbison then beat Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika for his third goal at 87 minutes and Adrian Tismenar completed the scoring at 89 minutes for a 6-0 final.
It was Jebbison’s 7 goal of season and the 20 year old striker’s second hat-trick after finding the net three times in the 3-1 Brampton victory over Brantford Galaxy on June 21.
Brampton leap to 7 in the standings following the 6-0 victory, they now have a 5-6-4 WLT record for 19 points, while Scarborough have a 3-6-7 record for 16 points.
There was one Second Division game in the CSL Friday when Burlington SC B and Milton SC B played to a 1-1 draw.
Darren Chambers – two goals to lead Toronto Croatia to 4-1 victory
York Region Shooters hit a 7-game winning streak with 4-1 victory over Niagara United, Burlington SC defeated London City 3-1, Toronto Croatia beat Brantford Galaxy 4-1 and Brampton City Utd settled for a 1-1 home tie with Scarborough SC, four games in the CSL Sunday.
League-leading scorer Zdenko Jurcevic opened the scoring for Brantford Galaxy against Toronto Croatia at Lions Park in Brantford, finding the net at the 24 minute mark for a 1-0 lead, but Toronto Croatia’s Sven Arapovic levelled the score 1-1 four minutes later.
Forward Darren Chambers made it 2-1 for Toronto Croatia at 42 minutes, the score at the interval.
Chambers added a second goal at 68 minutes for a 3-1 score, his eighth of the season, and defender Josip Keran increased the Toronto Croatia lead to 4-1 at 93 minutes, just before the final whistle.
Toronto Croatia improve to a 8-4-1 record for 25 points to be tied for second place in the standings with SC Waterloo. Brantford Galaxy have a 6-8-0 record for 18 points.
Following a scoreless first half at the Hellenic Centre in London, forward Vladimir Vujovic opened the scoring for the visiting Burlington SC at the 66 minute mark and Aldin Kukic tied the game 1-1 for London City three minutes later.
Burlington took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Bojan Stepanovic at 80 minutes – his fourth of the season – and Vujovic secured the 3-1 win from the penalty spot at 82 minutes. It was the second goal of the game for the prolific Vujovic and 10 of the campaign.
Burlington improve to a 5-6-3 WLT record for 18 points and London City are at 4-8-2 for 14 points.
Scarborough forward Jose Melo opened the scoring from the penalty spot at 42 minutes following a foul that resulted in a red card to Brampton’s Michael Ajibade in the game with Scarborough SC at Victoria Park. It was Melo’s 7 goal of the season.
Midfielder Adrian Tismenar tied the game1-1 for Brampton at the 71 minute mark and the home side had several scoring opportunities to score the winner, but had to settle for the draw while Scarborough goalkeeper Mladen Kukrika made several key saves in the closing minutes.
Brampton are at 4-6-4 for 16 points, while Scarborough have a 3-5-7 for 16 points following the 1-1 draw.
York Region Shooters hit a seventh game winning streak while cruising to a 4-1 defeat of Niagara United at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, but it was the visiting Niagara side that opened the scoring when midfielder Michael Vitaterna found the net from close range past York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis for a 1-0 lead at the 13th minute mark.
Aleksander Stojanovski tied the game 1-1 at 28 minutes and Shooters’ Adrian Pena gave the home side a 2-1 lead two minutes later, the score at the break.
Pena made it 3-1 at 60 minutes, his fourth goal of the season, and Dino Gardner rounded out the scoring, a 4-1 final score in favour of York Region.
York Region Shooters continue their winning way with a 8-5-0 record for 24 points and third in the standings, while Niagara United are at 1-9-3 for six points at the foot of the table.
There were three games in the CSL Second Division:
SC Waterloo vaulted up the standings to second spot following a 2-1 victory over Scarborough SC, Milton defeated London City 3-1 and York Region Shooters beat Toronto Atomic FC by a 2-1 score, three games in the CSL Friday night.
Midfielder Adrian Smajic opened the scoring for Milton at the Jean Vanier Field, a 1-0 lead at the at the 21 minute mark and Jasmin Halkic made it 2-0 five minutes later. Halkic scored with a low drive from 22 yards that found the net inside the right post and out of reach of London goalkeeper Vladimir Markotic. It was 2-0 at the interval.
Forward Dusan Popovic made it 3-0 for the home side at 56 minutes and at 81 minutes London made the scoresheet when Aldin Kukic beat Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica to cut the lead to 3-1, the score at the final whistle.
Milton improve to a 6-5-2 WLT record for 20 points, while London City are at 4-7-2 for 14 points in the standings.
Forward Richard West opened the scoring for York Region Shooters for a 1-0 lead at 36 minutes in the game against Toronto Atomic at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke. It was 1-0 at half-time.
West made it 2-0 when he beat Toronto Atomic goalkeeper Vasyl Shpuk at 88 minutes and Toronto Atomic reduced the lead to 2-1 with a goal by forward Oscar Dui who beat York Region goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez at 93 minutes, a 2-1 final score.
The goals were West’s 10 and 11 of the season.
York Region Shooters, the current CSL champions, continue to climb the standings following a slow early season and are now have a 7-5-0 record for 21 points, while Toronto Atomic are at 6-7-2 for 20 points in the standings.
Vladimir Zelenbaba opened the scoring for SC Waterloo against Scarborough SC at the 28 minute mark for a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Ramon Bailey increased the lead for the home side when he found the net past Scarborough goalkeeper Isaak Bonk for a 2-0 score at 67 minutes, and forward Jose Melo struck for Scarborough at 86 minutes for a 2-1 final score. It was Melo’s sixth goal of the season.
The win lifts SC Waterloo into second position in the standings with a 8-4-1 record for 25 points, now five points behind league-leading Serbian White Eagles. Scarborough are now at 3-5-6 for 15 points.
Zdenko Jurcevic of Brantford Galaxy a hat-trick striker.
By Nicholas Fiore and Stan Adamson
It is tough to score goals in any competitive game, especially in the CSL. To score three goals in one game is not impossible, but it sure is hard to do. As we reached this point in the season six players have managed to score the remarkable three goals in one game, which all led their team to victories.
Toronto Croatia’s Tihomir Maletic, Burlington SC’s Vladimir Vujovic and Adis Hasecic, Brantford Galaxy’s Zdenko Jurcevic, Brampton City Utd’s Jonathan Jebbison. York Region Shooters’ Richard West.
Three goals in one game by the same player, has the famous ‘hat-trick’ term attached to it and that’s what these players have achieved.
Canadian fans, and especially soccer fans in the United States, often judge soccer by the goals scored in a game, unlike most other countries where a scoreless draw can be just as attractive if the game is played well.
Ironically, a U.S.A. player, Bert Patenaude, is considered to be the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup game – the July 17, 1930 match between the United States and Paraguay. The youngest player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup was Pele in the 1958 match between Brazil and France. Pele was 17 years old.
Graham Leggat, a Scottish international and former head coach of the Toronto Metros of the North American Soccer League (later Toronto Metros-Croatia), scored the fastest hat-trick in the English League, three goals in three minutes on December 26, 1963. That record lasted half a century until it was broken by Sadio Mane of Southampton at the end of last season. Today, Leggat lives in the Niagara region of Ontario.
In the CSL, when Toronto Croatia defeated Toronto Atomic FC 4-2 on May 30, Tihomir Maletic opened the scoring for Toronto Croatia with two quick goals at 34 and 35 minutes, a 2-0 lead for the home side at the Loyola HS Stadium in Oakville. Maletic scored a third goal to complete the hat-trick at the 90th minute mark, a 4-2 lead that held to the final whistle.
On Sunday, May 31, Burlington SC crushed Brampton City Utd with a 5-0 score line. Burlington SC hammered five goals before the interval, three by Burlington forward Vladimir Vujovic to complete a hat-trick in the first half. Vujovic opened the scoring for Burlington at the 20th minute mark when he found the net from 20 yards past Brampton goalkeeper Cristian Montero-Valez. The home side went ahead 3-0 at 33 minutes with a second goal by Vujovic, and Vujovic completed a hat-trick from a corner kick, a 4-0 score at the 43rd minute mark.
You would think that Vujovic is done with all the scoring, but on Saturday, June 6 game Burlington SC played against Niagara United, Vujovic scored his second hat-trick in less than a week to play a big part in Burlington’s 8-1 away victory at Niagara United. Vujovic scored in the first half for Burlington, followed by two after the interval in the one-sided affair.
When we all talk about how many goals we may think we would score in a season, Zdenko Jurcevic of Brantford Galaxy probably didn’t he think he would be on the top of the scoring chart. On Wednesday, June 10, Brantford Galaxy completed a solid 3-1 victory over Niagara United and Jurcevic scored a hat-trick.
Niagara took an early 1-0 lead at Lions Park in Brantford, but Jurcevic tied the game 1-1 at 16 minutes and put the home side ahead 2-1 at the interval. Jurcevic then completed his hat-trick to put Brantford 3-1 up at the 59 minute mark. Brantford didn’t need any other player to score as Jurcevic took it into his own hands and scored all three goals for the Galaxy. The goals were numbers 7, 8, and 9 for the season to move the Brantford striker on top of the First Division goal scoring chart.
SC Waterloo didn’t need anyone else to step up to the plate and score goals, because their midfielder did it all for them when they took on Burlington SC on Sunday, June 14.
Midfielder Adis Hasecic scored all three goals to lead SC Waterloo to a 3-0 victory over Burlington SC at Warrior Field in Waterloo. Hasecic opened the scoring just two minutes into the game, finding the net from close in past Burlington goalkeeper Vladimir Vujasinovic. Hasecic made it 2-0 following a miscue in the Burlington defence and it was 2-0 at the interval. The Waterloo forward completed the hat-trick at 47 minutes when he collected a high ball down the middle to drive the ball under Vujasinovic into the net, a 3-0 score that held until the final whistle.
Just one week later on Sunday, June 21 the hat-tricks continued when forward Jonathan Jebbison scored all three goals for Brampton City Utd in the 3-1 defeat of Brantford Galaxy at the Victoria Park ground in Brampton. Following a scoreless tie at the break, Jebbison found the net for the home side at the 53 minute mark and he again beat Brantford goalkeeper Luka Besenic for a 2-0 lead at 66 minutes. Jebbison struck again for his hat-trick at 76 minutes for a 3-0 lead until Zdenko Jurcevic reduced the lead to 3-1, which was the final score at the end of regulation time.
Richard West was the most recent player to score a hat-trick in a York Region Shooters 4-1 defeat of SC Waterloo on July 26. West had his hat-trick off to a quick start with a goal after just three minutes and followed up with goals at 36 minutes and a third just two minutes following resumption of play for the second half.
The season is just past the half-way mark, we can see a lot more hat-tricks, but to already have six players that scored hat-tricks and one player to score a hat-trick in two games is a pretty significant achievement.
