Scarborough will extend an unusual achievement to now be in the CSL championship final for the sixth time in succession when the Toronto east side team meets opposition Continentals FC at Lamport Stadium in downtown Toronto on August 27.
Scarborough defeated York Region Shooters 3-1 in the second game of a double-header semi-final at Esther Shiner Stadium Saturday, while Continentals FC eliminated Serbian White Eagles 2-0 in the opener.
Serbian White Eagles kicked off with confidence in the first game of a double header following a regular season ending with a four-game winning streak that decided the league title. Several early attempts following kickoff came close to scoring, including a drive by midfielder Nikola Durkovic intended for the left corner and saved by Continentals’ goalkeeper Anatolii Starushchenko. Serbian White Eagles’ defender Adrian Cann drove over the bar at 13 minutes, and other near misses followed.
But it was a breakaway opportunity for Continentals that changed the course of the game at 28 minutes when White Eagles’ goalkeeper Marko Kostic met the ball in a 50/50 challenge on the edge of the box. Kostic was still handling the ball inches outside of the 18 yd. line, causing the assistant referee to raise the flag and leaving a yellow or red card decision for the offence up to the referee. The referee chose the red card which suggests a deliberate attempt to stop an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Kostic was replaced by Bojan Zoranovic who was beaten by a deflected shot by Continentals midfielder Bogdan Borovskyi three minutes later and the ball crossed the line inside the right post for a 1-0 lead. Serbian White Eagles had near misses closing in on the end of the first half, including a strong drive from 20 yars that crashed the crossbar. It was 1-0 at the interval.
Continentals midfielder Basel Rashrash struck from seven yards at the 78th minute for a 2-0 result at the final whistle.
Continentals’ coach Viktor Raskov commented following the game of Serbian White Eagles being a good team “But following the goal we were in a position to control the game and that went well with our players,” he said.
Scarborough took the lead at seven minutes on a goal by Misel Klisara and York Region Shooters tied on a goal by forward Mahmood Mehdi at the 33rd minute mark. The second half was well played and at times physical with frequent cautions and ended with a 1-1 tie and extra time.
York Region Shooters defender Sabree Doka was shown a second yellow card and was ejected, followed by a Scarborough penalty kick for Klisara’s second goal 17 minutes into extra time, a 2-1 lead resulting from a hand ball in the box.
Scarborough forward Taha Ilyass struck Scarborough’s third goal 23 minutes into extra time for a 3-1 result at the final whistle.
Scarborough head coach Mirko Medic was surprised to not be playing against Serbian White Eagles in the upcoming final following that team’s recent form in winning the league title, “but we are pleased to be in there after missing so many early chances to score. We picked it up and then played well. I now look forward to the final with Continentals and expect a tough game,” he said
The CSL Championship Final is set for Saturday, August 27, an 8 pm kickoff at Lamport Stadium in Toronto