Brantford Galaxy defeated York Region Shooters 3-2 and Toronto Croatia striker Tihomir Maletic hit a hat-trick to lead his team to a 4-2 victory over Toronto Atomic FC, two games in the Canadian Soccer League First Division Saturday night.
Following a scoreless first half at Lions Park in Brantford, forward Zdenko Jurcevic opened the scoring for the home side from a penalty kick after referee Goran Babic called a foul inside the 18 yard line, the goal coming at the 55 minute mark.
Brantford’s Kyle Grootenboer put the ball into his own net past goalkeeper Luka Besenic to tie the game 1-1 at 64 minutes, and eight minutes later York Region Shooters went ahead 2-1 on a goal by Michael Binns.
Galaxy tied the game 2-2 when defender Stuart Heath put the ball into the Shooters’ net following a free kick taken just outside the 18 yard line. Heath tapped the ball in following a collision involving York Region goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez and a defender, the goal coming at the 74 minute mark.
Brantford forward Aleksa Markovic struck the winner at 76 minutes, a 3-2 score at the final whistle.
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.
Darren Chambers made it 3-0 at 42 minutes, finding the net past Atomic goalkeeper Semeniuk Oleksandr, it was a 3-0 Toronto Croatia lead at the break.
Melnyk Ihor scored twice for Toronto Atomic at 47 and 49 minutes to reduce the home lead to 3-2, but Maletic scored a third goal for Toronto Croatia to complete the hat-trick at the 90 minute mark, a 4-2 lead that held to the final whistle.
Melnyk was ejected near the end of the game after being shown a second yellow card.
There were three games in the CSL Second Division Saturday, Brantford Galaxy B defeated York Region Shooters B, 2-1, Burlington SC B scored a 2-1 victory over Brampton City Utd B, while Serbian White Eagles B and Niagara United B played to a 1-1 tie.
REMAINING GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
FIRST DIVISION
Sun May 31 Hellenic Centre 4 pm London City vs Milton SC POSTPONED – Ground conditions
Sun May 31 Warrior Field 7 pm SC Waterloo vs Scarborough SC – POSTPONED – Power failure at the ground
Sun May 31 Nelson Stadium 8 pm Burlington SC vs Brampton City Utd
SECOND DIVISION
Sun May 31 Karlovac Park 4 pm Toronto Croatia B vs Toronto Atomic FC B
Sun May 31 Jean Vanier Field 5 pm Milton SC B vs SC Waterloo B
