MISSISSAUGA EAGLES CLINCH LAST PLAYOFF SPOT TO ELIMINATE CSL CHAMPS BRANTFORD GALAXY

Mississauga Eagles FC clinched the last playoff berth with a decisive 4-0 victory over North York Astros, while SC Toronto kept up their hot pace with a 2-1 win over York Region Shooters and in one other game in the CSL Friday night, London City surprised Serbian White Eagles with a 2-1 away win.

 

Mississauga defender Shaun MacDonald scored twice in the 4-0 defeat of the Astros at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, but it was Tristan Watson who opened the scoring at 24 minutes when he diverted a cross to score from close in.

 

 MacDonald made it 2-0 at 52 minutes when he struck a volley from 8 yards to catch the corner and eight minutes later Matthew Macri increased the home lead to 3-0.

 

MacDonald scored his second goal and the fourth for Mississauga at 84 minutes for the 4-0 final.

 

Mississauga Eagles FC is one of two teams in their inaugural season in the CSL to secure a 2011 playoff spot (the other is Capital City FC) and the Mississauga entry’s victory puts the current CSL champions Brantford Galaxy out of the post-season competition.

 

SC Toronto gained their 20^th regular season victory with the 2-1 defeat of York Region Shooters in an attractve, well-played encounter at Lamport Stadium.

 

Following a scoreless first half in which both teams had opportunities to score, the First Division winners took a 1-0 lead on a goal by forward Alexandros Halis at the 70^th minute mark.

 

York Region Shooters drew level at 75 minutes when referee Manuel Orellana ordered a penalty kick for tripping in the box and Kadian Lecky scored off a rebound.  The spot kick was saved by SC Toronto goalkeeper Scott Cliff on the first attempt, but Cliff had little chance to save the second attempt which entered the net It was Lecky’s 15^th goal of the season.

 

Halis struck the winner and his second of the game at 79 minutes, a right foot drive from just inside the 18 yard line. With two goals in the game, Halis now has 14 for the season, just three behind the leaders.

 

SC Toronto now has a seven point lead on second place Toronto Croatia.

 

London City played well enough to win 2-1 over Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium despite a lead at 16 minutes by the home side when Milan Rakic opened the scoring. It was 1-0 for Serbian Eagles at the break.

 

Genti Buzali equalized for London with a thunderous drive from 35 yards into the top right corner at 48 minutes, well out of reach of Serbian Eagles goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic. Midfielder Eris Tafaj scored the winner for London City on a free kick that found the net from 17 yards.

 

Serbian White Eagles have secured a playoff berth and are now bidding for a favoured fourth position for the playoffs.

 

Remaining games in the CSL this weekend:

 

FIRST DIVISION

Sat, Oct 1 Terry Fox Stadium 7:00 PM Capital City FC vs Brantford Galaxy

Sat, Oct 1 Windsor Stadium 7: 00 PM Windsor Stars vs Toronto Croatia

Sun, Oct 2 Saputo Stadium 1:00 PM Montreal Impact Academy vs Brantford Galaxy

Sun, Oct 2 Victoria Park 3:00 PM Brampton City Utd vs St. Catharines Wolves

Sun, Oct 2 Centennial Stadium 4:30 PM TFC Academy vs SC Toronto

Sun, Oct 2 Esther Shiner Stadium 4:30 PM North York Astros vs Mississauga Eagles FC

Sun, Oct 2 Windsor Stadium 5:00 PM Windsor Stars vs Serbian White Eagles

 

SECOND DIVISION

Sat, Oct 1 Budd Park 11:00 AM KW United FC vs Mississauga Eagles FC B

Sat, Oct 1St.Joan of Arc 12:00 PM Serbian White Eagles B vs SC Toronto B

Sat, Oct 1 Norval Park 2:00 PM Toronto Croatia B vs Niagara United

Sat, Oct 1 St. Joan of Arc 2:00 PM North York Astros B vs London City B

Sun, Oct 2 Victoria Park  5:30 PM Brampton City Utd B vs Serbian White Eagles B