PICTURE: Aleksander Stojiljkovic of Scarborough (seen here) and Molham Babouli of FC Ukraine United each scored 4 goals in recent regular season action, a good sign the teams are in form and confident of the upcoming post season playoffs which begin weekend October 11, 12, 13.
With five teams, FC Vorkuta, Scarborough SC, Serbian White Eagles, FC Ukraine United and Waterloo having clinched playoff berths for the post season Canadian Soccer League Championship, the remaining five teams in the CSL First Division are completing their regular season in a late attempt to clinch the three remaining spots still open.
Brantford Galaxy will play the first of its three games remaining in the regular season on Friday and with just 7 points they need a win to stay in contention. Real Mississauga, while also having 7 points and needing wins, are in a more favourable position, have played just 13 games with five games still outstanding.
CSC Mississauga – Galaxy’s opponents on Friday – is also in a better position for a playoff spot, as is Kingsman A, a team that’s not playing this weekend, it is idle until September 27. Hamilton City, will continue its bid for a playoff spot in a rare midweek game against Real Mississauga on Tuesday, September 24.
Defending champions FC Vorkuta continues to be a force in both divisions of the CSL and are considered favourites for a repeat of the 2018 CSL Championship victory. Scarborough SC, Serbian White Eagles and FC Ukraine United and SC Waterloo are all confident after clinching early playoff berths and showing recent strong form.
Individual players in two of these teams, FC Ukraine United and Scarborough SC, each struck 4 goals in recent games and thast’s always a good sign. They are Molham Babouli, playing in his first game with Ukraine United on September 8 and Aleksander Stojiljkovic scored 4 in the 6-1 Scarborough victory over Brantford Galaxy on September 14. Stojiljkovic has some history of finding the net four times in CSL games.
UPCOMING FIRST DIVISION:
Friday, Sept.20 Hershey Centre 9 pm CSC Mississauga vs Brantford Galaxy
Saturday, Sept. 21 Huron Park 7 pm Real Mississauga SC vs FC Vorkuta
Saturday, Sept. 21 RIM Park 7 pm SC Waterloo vs FC Ukraine United
Sunday, Sept. 22 Birchmount Stadium 8 pm Scarborough SC vs Serbian White Eagles
Tuesday, Sept. 24 Esther Shiner Stadium 9 pm Real Mississauga vs Hamilton City
UPCOMING SECOND DIVISION GAMES
Saturday, Sept. 21 St. Roberts Field 1 pm FC Vorkuta B vs CSC Mississauga B
Wednesday, Sept. 25 Iceland Field 9 pm Serbian White Eagles B vs Hamilton City B
Wednesday, Sept. 25 Ontario Soccer Centre 9 pm Kingsman B vs FC Vorkuta B
Wednesday, Sept. 25 Cardinal Newman 9 pm Brantford Galaxy B vs CSC Mississauga B
