PICTURE: Serbian White Eagles brought skilled players from Europe to launch an expansion team in the CSL in 2006, a side that played attractive football before large crowds, home and away. Dragoslav Sekularac (rear, third from right) one of Europe’s greats while playing for Red Star Belgrade 1955 – 1965 with 375 appearances and capped 41 times for Yugoslavia, was head coach.  

Photo by Djuradj Vujcic

It’s not often a 19 year old enters the tough Canadian Soccer League to score 21 goals in his first season, but that’s what Marko Stajic achieved while playing for Serbian White Eagles in 2019.

Most of the goals were scored for the White Eagles reserves in the CSL Second Division where the Serbian-born striker was top scorer with 13, a tally that played an important part in his team reaching the Second Division championship final at season end. Eight were added when Stajic was playing double duty in the club’s First Division side.

Stajic grew up in Novi Sad in the northern part of Serbia in real soccer country not far from the capital Belgrade and during a brief professional career before arriving in Canada was with FOB Biograd and FK Zemun in Serbia and listed in the league’s top 10 goal scorers.

While the CSL has a storied history with a long reputation for its players going the other way to higher levels in other countries, particularly during the period 2009 to 2012 when a total 27 moved to various clubs in Europe, the league also has a strong reputation for bringing successful players, known as import players, to Canada, mostly from Europe. Add to this during the time leading up to 2012, no less than 40 CSL players were selected for various, mostly youth, national teams.

Marko Stajik, recruited by Serbian White Eagles in 2019, continued a trend set by the club since entering the CSL in 2006. At that time the White Eagles attracted much attention in the soccer community by bringing in former Yugoslavian great Dragoslav Sekularac as head coach.  Seki, as he was affectionately known, was one of the top players in Europe while a star for Red Star Belgrade during the 1960s and had coached a number of high profile club teams in other countries as well as the Guatemala national team. He helped to launch the expansion team White Eagles in the CSL in front of large crowds, home and away.

The present White Eagles coach Uros Stamatovic, who made his mark in the Serbian First Division, was one of the import players to arrive in Toronto, and so was Branislav Vukomanovic from top clubs in Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, defender Mirko Medic, CSL defender of the year in 2009, goalkeeper Dusan Belic, defender Radenko Kamberovic, midfielders Marko Krasic and Marko Marovic, Bozo Milic, Goran Svonja and Milan Mijailovic, just a few of a long list that that now includes a much younger Stajic.

“Marko was very impressive last season and we expect he will get even better with time. And we will continue to bring good players to Canada, making our league even more attractive and which also helps the needed development here while some of these players pass on skills to young Canadians,” said Serbian White Eagles president Dragan (Doug) Bakoc.

Many fans will say that some goals were great goals worth the price of admission.  Last minute winners even more so. Some goal scorers score goals that are never foregotten. They are goals that win championships, important trophies. There are goals that are controversial while others are picture goals, goals we see just once in a while.

Some goal scorers find the net with great goals, but not in big numbers. CSL playmaker Sasa Viciknez who played for several clubs in Europe and had a brief stint in China before ending his career with Serbian White Eagles in the CSL during 2006 to 2012, scored 64 goals in the CSL. But he is best remembered for his picture goals, especially from a dead ball free kick from just outside the box which he would slot just inside the post with great precision. Just like he held a patent.

Strikers that gain most recognition are those scoring the most goals. And rightly so, it’s goals that count.

FC Vorkuta striker Mykola Temniuk, with 18 goals during the regular season, won the top CSL goal scorer award to be one of three players the charts show scored the most goals. They were the most outstanding strikers in the Canadian Soccer League in 2019. Temniuk, 27, Ukrainian-born, has a reputation of being a prolific striker in Europe. He was a significant addition to the Vorkuta line-up when signed early 2019 to play a big part in the north Toronto team while winning the CSL First Division title.

Marko Stajic, 20, of Serbian White Eagles B, was number one in the Second Division with 13 goals and attracted attention by adding eight more as a regular in the Serbian White Eagles First Division team for a total season tally of 21. One of the youngest to score so many in the tough CSL.

Vladimir Strizovic, 27, a native of Serbia who played for Polet Ljubicand a recent signing for Serbian White Eagles, was also doing double shift all season to enter the scoring picture with a combined total of 21 goals – ten in the First Division and an additional 11 playing for the club’s reserves.

Goals scored by Stajic and Strizovic accounted for more than 40 per cent of all goals scored by Serbian White Eagles First Division team and reserve team in 2019.

TWO DECADES OF TOP GOALSCORERS IN THE CSL

2000      Gus Kouzmanis   (Toronto Olympians)        12

2001      Kevin Nelson     (Ottawa Wizards)               23

2002      Darren Tilley (Mississauga Olympians)       20

2003      Carlo Arghittu     (St. Catharines Wolves)   18

2004      Paul Munster      (London City)                     25

2005      Aaron Byrd          (Windsor Border Stars)    17

2006      Gabriel Pop         (Serbian White Eagles)    27

2007      Nicolas Lesage   (Trois-Rivieres Attak)       20

2008      Daniel Nascimento (Brampton Lions)        18

2009      Reda Agourram  (Trois-Rivieres Attak)       13

2010      Tihomir Maletic (Toronto Croatia)             17

2011      Stefan Vukovic   (Toronto FC II)                   18

2012      Drazen Vukovic  (SC Waterloo)                    20

2013      Guillaume Surot (Kingston)                           28

2014      Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic (London City)     20

2015      Richard West (York Region Shooters)         23

2016      Sergiy Ivliev (FC Ukraine United)                 15

2017      Aleksandar Stojiljkovic     (Scarborough)     17

2018      Sani Dey (Hamilton City)                                13

2019      Mykola Temniuk (FC Vorkuta)                      18

 

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURE: This was Scarborough SC’s third attempt in the past three years at winning the CSL Championship following two narrow defeats in the 2017 and 2018 finals. Just being there yet again was a highlight in itself for 2019 and the perseverance paid off with victory.

  Some of the season’s highlights:

 The biggest home win of the 2019 season was the 7-0 result by Vorkuta against Real Mississauga on June 15 which followed a 7-2 score by the same team over CSC Mississauga a week earlier on June 8.

The biggest away win was an 8-1 victory by CSC Mississauga against local rivals Real Mississauga on August 3.

Quickest goal of the season was scored by Vorkuta on in the first minute of play from the penalty spot against Real Mississauga on September 21. A foul in the box by Real Mississauga defender Vadim Gozbunov was recorded as 35 seconds following kickoff. Vorkuta captain Liubomyr Halchuk scored from the spot.

The most rapid scoring in the season came on June 22 when Vorkuta blitzed SC Waterloo with five goals in the first 20 minutes of play at the Ontario Soccer Centre.  The match eased up afterwards for a 5-1 score at the final whistle.

The CSL season’s first hat-trick was scored by Taras Kryvyy of FC Ukraine United on May 31. Kryvyy struck all three goals in a 3-0 Ukraine United victory over CSC Mississauga. The midfielder found the net at 14, 78 and 84 minutes.

Vorkuta won the CSL First Division on September 21 as a result of the 7-1 victory over Real Mississauga. The north Toronto-based club finished the season on September 28, unbeaten in 18 games, winning 15 with three draws.

Gonzalo Matias Cabrera Celis scored three for Scarborough in a 5-1 victory over Real Mississauga on June 8.

Mykola Temniuk scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 Vorkuta victory over Real Mississauga on June 15 – then repeated for three goals in the Vorkuta 5-1 victory over SC Waterloo on June 22.

Matthias Garcia led CSC Mississauga with a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Kingsman SC at Esther Shiner Stadium on June 16 the goals coming at 10, 35 and 53 minutes.

Pavlo Lukianets scored a hat-trick in the Ukraine United 5-2 defeat of CSC Mississauga on July 14.

Sayid Belmokhtar scored a hat-trick for Kingsman in a 4-2 victory over Serbian White Eagles on August 3.

Aleksander Stojiljkovic, scored three in a 3-3 draw with Kingsman on August 10. He’s the Scarborough captain.

Vladimir Strizovic scored four goals for Serbian White Eagles in a 6-3 victory over Brantford Galaxy on July 26.

Molham Babouli scored four goals in his first game played September 8 after signing for Ukraine United. Ukraine United defeated Brantford Galaxy 5-0. Babouli also scored a hat-trick in Ukraine United’s last regular season game, a 5-2 defeat of Real Mississauga on Oct 1.

Scarborough SC won its first CSL Championship, defeating FC Ukraine United by a 2-0 score at Centennial Stadium on October 26. The championship win followed two seasons – 2017 and 2018 when the Toronto east-end side reached the final game only to be defeated in a penalty kick shootout following extra time.

LEAGUE SUMMARY

First Division Winner: FC Vorkuta

Second Division Winner: FC Vorkuta B

 PLAYOFFS SUMMARY

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – QUARTERFINALS

FC Vorkuta 2, Kingsman A 2 (after extra time) Kingsman wins 4-2 on penalty kicks

Scarborough SC 2,  CSC Mississauga 1 (after extra time)

SC Waterloo 1, Serbian White Eagles 1 (after extra time) Waterloo wins 5-4 on penalty kicks

FC Ukraine United 1, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time) Ukraine United wins 4-3 on penalty kicks

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMIFINALS

SC Scarborough 4, Kingsman A 2

FC Ukraine United 5, SC Waterloo 3

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Scarborough SC 2, FC Ukraine United 0

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – QUARTERFINALS

The two top teams in the regular season standings, FC Vorkuta B and Serbian White Eagles B, gained a bye to the semifinals

CSC Mississauga B 1, Brantford Galaxy B 0

Hamilton City B 3, Kingsman B 2

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMI FINALS

FC Vorkuta B 5, Hamilton City B 1

Serbian White Eagles B 2, CSC Mississauga B 0

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

FC Vorkuta B 2, Serbian White Eagles B 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURE: It was on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the Ontario Soccer Centre ground that 2018 CSL champions FC Vorkuta was the first team to be eliminated from the 2019 post-season playoffs. It was a shock defeat by Kingsman SC, an expansion team that squeaked into the playoffs after finishing eighth of ten in the First Division standings at the end of the regular season. It was a stunned Vorkuta’s first loss in league and post-season playoffs in more than 12 months.

The penalty kick victory by Kingsman SC to knockout FC Vorkuta from the CSL Championship playoffs in the opening quarterfinal game was the shock result of the 2019 season. The match, played at Vorkuta’s home ground, eliminated a side poised to successfully defend its 2018 CSL Championship triumph after winning the 2019 First Division and Second Division regular season titles with ease. The First Division title win was particularly impressive with an 18-game unbeaten streak from start to finish. To advance in the playoffs appeared to be routine, and would put Vorkuta in a position to win all four titles, a first ever in the CSL.

The shock result was Vorkuta’s first defeat in league and post-season competition since September 1, 2018.

By contrast, Kingsman, a promising expansion club in the 10-team First Division, ended the regular season a disappointing eighth in the standings, which was the last spot to qualify for the post-season championship series.  Prior to eliminating Vorkuta, Kingsman also lost its last four games of the regular season while conceding 17 goals in doing so. Any success in the playoffs appeared doubtful.

With two league titles, First and Second Divisions already won, Vorkuta GM Samad Kadirov was asked early October about the prospect of Vorkuta creating a new CSL record by winning the CSL Championship and CSL Second Division Championship to scoop up all four titles in one season ?

“Playoffs are completely different story. Of course, we are dreaming of winning both playoffs titles and winning 4 titles in the same season would be something unbelievable. We will try our best, we will fight from the first second of the game till the very last one.  We sincerely hope that we will lift both playoffs trophies on October 26,” he said.

The early elimination of Vorkuta opened the door for any one of several teams to win the championship title and Scarborough, which had just three defeats in its 18-game First Division schedule to secure the runner-up position by seven points over nearest rivals, stood out as the likely candidate. Scarborough also held a reputation of being consistent in both regular season and post-season playoffs. Scarborough was also a finalist in the championship in 2017 and 2018, suffering narrow penalty kick defeats in both games.

At about 8.30 pm on Saturday, October 12, 2019, Vorkuta was the first team to be knocked out of the playoffs, losing on penalty kicks following a 2-2 tie at the end of extra time. Kingsman advanced, and Scarborough moved on to the semifinals with a result over CSC Mississauga in overtime. Waterloo eliminated Serbian White Eagles on penalty kicks and the fourth game was played the following day when Ukraine United advanced with a penalty kicks victory over Hamilton City.

Scarborough (4-2 over Kingsman) and Ukraine United (5-3 over Waterloo) won their semifinals to then meet in the final at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on October 26  Scarborough were crowned champions following the 2-0 victory.

Upcoming – THE CSL SEASON IN RETROSPECT  – Part 4 – Times Worth Remembering.

 

 

 

PICTURE: Kingsman (red) earned the distinction of eliminating  the 2018  CSL champions FC Vorkuta from the 2019 playoffs, a penalty kicks shocker following a 2-2 tie at the end of extra time on October 12.

With a 100 per cent record from seven victories, Vorkuta faced a big test on July 14 against Scarborough and the match met expectations. It was a tough, attractive encounter at Birchmount Stadium with both sides playing strong defensively. The only goal of the game came at 22 minutes after Vorkuta’s Serhii Ursulenko was brought down in the box and captain Liubomyr Halchuk scored from the spot. Despite the defeat, Scarborough was in second position in the standings and appeared strong enough at mid-season to be one of three teams that could break the Vorkuta/FC Ukraine dominance of the First Division.

The victory against Scarborough was Vorkuta’s eighth before losing a 100 per cent record with points dropped in the tie against Serbian White Eagles on July 20.

Ukraine United were already slipping in the standings including a surprise 2-1 defeat by Kingsman on July 5 and just one victory during August. This was not entirely a surprise to GM Vladimir Koval who had struggled to assemble the team that won the First Division in 2018. Players were held up in Europe this time around and there were early season injuries. With five defeats up to the final month of the regular season in September, Ukraine United would not one of the dominant teams despite an important late signing.

Molham Babouli, an impressive local striker, joined Ukraine United to hit four goals in his first game. It was a 5-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy on September 9 and the win moved Ukraine United from mid-table up to fourth in the standings and the team eventually made third.

CSC Mississauga was living up to an early season forecast by GM Mile Milkovic that his side would be much improved following a bottom of the season finish after entering the league in 2018. The Mississauga side was playing well in the new season and qualified for the post-season playoffs following solid victories against Serbian White Eagles, Brantford Galaxy and Kingsman during September.

Brantford Galaxy, the CSL champions in 2010 while supported at home games and at times away games by Walter Gretsky, father of Wayne Gretsky, again missed the playoffs and generally struggled to make headway in the standings. The club is owned by president Bosko Borjan, father of Canadian national team goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

Real Mississauga also missed the 2019 playoffs while at times playing attractive soccer. Expansion team Kingsman played well in its 2019 inaugural season, but faltered late following impressive wins including victory against Ukraine United on July 5. Kingsman also earned the distinction of eliminating current champions FC Vorkuta from the playoffs, a penalty kicks shocker following a tie at the end of extra time on October 12.

Waterloo ended the regular season in a flurry, winning six of its last seven games to take fourth place in the standings, Hamilton City ended the regular season winning three of its last four to finish sixth, while Serbian White Eagles slumped late to win only one of its last five games to finish fifth.

The year-end review of the 2019 season, the playoffs and Vorkuta elimination shocker continues in Part 3.

 

 

PICTURE: Scarborough was a known quantity in the bid for 2019 honours, having finished third in the  2016 First Division standings and was a championship finalist in 2017 and 2018, losing by the narrowest of margins in a penalty kick shootout decider.

On May 31 at the beginning of the 2019 season FC Ukraine United scored a 3-0 victory over CSC Mississauga and on the following day FC Vorkuta, playing its second game of the new season, ran over Brantford Galaxy 6-0. It was looking like déjà vu for a new campaign being dominated by two relatively new teams that demonstrated an ability to step into the CSL First Division and scoop up most of the honours with ease. Vorkuta had opened its season with a 4-2 win over Kingsman a few days earlier.

Ukraine United midfielder Taras Kryvyy hit all three goals for a hat-trick that 3-0 win on Friday, May 31, all happening while memories were still tuned in to Ukraine United finishing on top in the 2018 season standings with both Ukraine United and Vorkuta having a nine-points clear margin over third place Waterloo.  Vorkuta were also the CSL champions, having won the title in 2018.

As the season progressed, Vorkuta became unbeatable, winning its first eight games and going two months before dropping points with a 1-1 draw against Serbian White Eagles on July 20. Ukraine United showed signs of slipping with a 2-1 loss to new club Kingsman on July 5.

In the meantime, SC Waterloo GM Vojo Brisevac had signed five new players from Europe and had some confidence that his side could improve its 2018 third place finish and that Vorkuta and Ukraine United would have to face a strong challenge from at least his club as the season progressed.

Scarborough was a known quantity and an obvious contender after demonstrating a season by season improvement since entering the CSL in 2015, finishing third in the 2016 First Division standings and was a championship finalist in 2017 and 2018 – losing both games in a penalty kick decider by the narrowest of margins.

Serbian White Eagles, CSL champions in 2008 and 2016, and always likely to succeed with league and championship honours, also posed a serious challenger to Vorkuta and Ukraine United while  strengthening the team with talent imported from Europe, rounded out the three teams most likely to be candidates to upset the top two during 2019.

The  year-end review of the 2019 season and its highlights continue in Part 2.

 

 

Nikola (Niki) Budalic, the former player and later coach of Serbian White Eagles in the Canadian Soccer League, is one of the busiest individuals in soccer these days after joining David Beckham in the launch of  new team Inter Miami CF.  Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, which is referred to as Inter Miami CF or just Inter Miami, is set to kickoff in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the upcoming 2020 season.

Budalic first entered the CSL in 2001 with Glen Shields Sun Devils when the league was known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL). Following stints with the Toronto Lynx of the U.S.-based A-League, Orebro of Sweden, Montreal Impact and Haugesund of Norway, the attacking midfielder signed for Serbian White Eagles in 2006 to win the league title and also reach the CSL championship final.

Budalic was named team captain for Serbian White Eagles in 2008 and was appointed head coach in 2009. While with Serbian White Eagles as a player, Budalic was on loan for a brief period in 2007 with Toronto FC II. He served in a managerial role for Serbian White Eagles and last played in Canada briefly while assuming the role of director of soccer operations for K-W United, a team in southwestern Ontario and member of the Premier Development League of the USL. He holds an MBA from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.

In recent times, Budalic has been the assistant GM and later GM of Orlando City in MLS and worked also with Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). He was appointed Director, Soccer Operations with Inter Miami early in 2019.

Inter Miami CF is formed from a partnership which includes Jorge Mas, a prominent Cuban American businessman and philanthropist and David Beckham, a former player in the English Premier League, also in Europe before moving to the U.S. to join LA Galaxy, then ending his playing career with Paris Saint Germain. Beckham has 115 caps for England.

Dragan (Doug) Bakoc, president of Serbian White Eagles, considers Kitchener-born Budelic has served his team and Canadian soccer well over the years and deserves the recognition he is now receiving in MLS and the United States.  “ Niki Budalic was a very good player who put his skills to good use while coaching in Canada. He is of pleasant disposition and also served us well in managerial positions and we wish him every success in this new, exciting venture with the new club in Miami,” he said.

Inter Miami CF will play out of Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale for two seasons until the team moves to its home ground in Miami Freedom Park.

PICTURE: Kiril Dimitrov (right) overcomes an FC Vorkuta challenge during the regular season. The Scarborough player-coach missed the semifinal and final championship games but was busy on the other side of the touch-line to assist in the Toronto east-end team’s first championship victory.

He’s been through the heavy going that is the Canadian Soccer League First Division and will undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee surgery the week of November 18, but Kiril Dimitrov, player-coach and GM of new CSL champions Scarborough, considers the championship final 2-0 victory over FC Ukraine United was well worth the almost uninterrupted bouts of pain experienced late in the season.

Dimitrov missed playing in the semifinal and final following knee damage, but many consider his contribution from the other side of the touch-line as productive as his playing skills and lifting the championship trophy at Centennial Stadium was proof in the pudding.

Fact is, Dimitrov created and readied the Scarborough club for championship professional soccer from scratch. Following his transfer from Belasitsa Petrich of Bulgaria in 2009 to the Canadian Soccer League’s Serbian White Eagles, followed by a season with SC Waterloo, the midfielder/forward launched Scarborough as an expansion team in the CSL in 2013.

A Scarborough resident in what is some of the best soccer territory in Canada, the Bulgarian-born Dimitrov considered his community in Toronto’s east side deserved of professional soccer. Following a period playing out of Downsview Park in Toronto, the new club moved to Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough, the home of the popular Robbie Tournament and billed as the largest charity soccer tournament in the world and held annually for 52 years.

Following a modest beginning in the CSL First Division in its first season, Scarborough climbed up the standings to be second in the 2019 just ended. The team made the post season championship playoffs in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 to be finalists in 2017 and 2018 and champions on October 26, 2019.

Following a championship final defeat in a penalty shootout win by York Region Shooters in 2017, Dimitrov said “We will win this very soon,” a pronouncement held true with the 2019 2-0 defeat of FC Ukraine United.

Following knee surgery, Dimitrov, 34, will prepare during the winter months for Scarborough’s 2020 season kickoff, to again be active both sides of the touch-line, but this time around his club will be known as the CSL defending champions.

PICTURE: Mykola Temniuk, the CSL’s top goalscorer for 2019, was the top scorer  for Ukrainian club FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk in the 2016-17 season.

Mykola Temniuk of FC Vorkuta led the CSL First Division scoring in the regular season just ended and Marko Stajic of Serbian White Eagles was the leading goalscorer in the Second Division.

Temniuk found the net 18 times to be five ahead of Aleksander Stojiljvovic of Scarborough SC, the CSL First Division leading goalscorer in 2017. Stajic scored 13 times during the regular season.

Temniuk led early when boosted by a hat-trick in the Vorkuta 7-0 defeat of Real Mississauga on June 15 and played a big part in Vorkuta being the most prolific team in the First Division with 66 goals.

But the achievement was not new to the Ukrainian-born striker who was the top goalscorer for FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk of the Ukraine in the 2016-17 season, a time when the team gained promotion to the Ukrainian Second Division. Temniuk was also a member of the Ahrobiznes Volochysk side when further promoted to the First Division. He was transferred to Ukrainian club Nyva Ternopil where he played 11 games before his signing for FC Vorkuta and moving to Canada early 2019. Temniuk, now 27, also played for Stal Sanok of Poland earlier in his career.

Marko Stajic, 20,  is one of a number of promising young players with Serbian White Eagles and in addition to playing 14 of the 15 regular season games for Serbian White Eagles reserves has made several appearances for the First Division side playing with distinction.

A DECADE’S LEADING GOALSCORERS

2010      Tihomir Maletic (Toronto Croatia)

2011      Stefan Vukovic   (Toronto FC II)

2012      Dražen Vukovic  (SC Waterloo)

2013      Guillaume Surot (Kingston FC)

2014      Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic (London City)

2015      Richard West (York Region Shooters)

2016      Sergiy Ivliev (FC Ukraine United)

2017      Aleksandar Stojiljkovic     (Scarborough SC)

2018      Sani Dey (Hamilton City)

2019      Mykola Temniuk (FC Vorkuta)

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURE: Aleksander Stojiljkovic drives the ball past Ukraine United goalkeeper Vladimir Dragicevic, one of 48 goals scored during the striker’s three seasons with with now CSL champions Scarborough.

Scarborough striker Aleksander Stojiljkovic made his mark in the CSL sometime ago when he became known as the 4-goal man, scoring four goals in a 7-0 victory against Milton on September 2, 2017, followed by another four goals in a 5-0 win over Brantford Galaxy, he then jumped into the 2018 season with four in a 5-1 defeat of Hamilton City on May 27, 2018.

Since arriving in Canada to play for SC Waterloo in 2014, the Serbian-born Stojiljkovic has won Player of the Week, Rookie of the Year and the CSL’s Top Scorer awards. He’s scored 48 goals in his three seasons with Scarborough.

It’s little wonder his goal-scoring threatening attitude made a difference in Scarborough’s championship win on October 26 when he scored both goals in the 2-0 Scarborough victory. Stojiljkovic’s goals won the game, but were secondary to his always ready-to-score presence that the opposition has to deal with throughout. It’s not the first time FC Ukraine United has suffered a key championship defeat by Scarborough and Stojiljkovic. Both teams will still vividly remember Stojiljkovic’s  91^st minute winning goal  in the 2018 CSL Championship semifinal, a 2-1 score which eliminated Ukraine United, putting the Toronto east-end team into the final.

Scarborough are the CSL Champions and deservedly so, and Ukraine United’s steadfast determination to bring much success to the club before and since entering the Canadian Soccer League in 2016 made for an outstanding finalist.

But FC Vorkuta cannot be overlooked as 2019 goes into the history books.  The team that bears the name of a community in northern Russia won three of the four titles up for grabs in a tough level of Canadian soccer that is the CSL First and Second Divisions.  The club’s reserve team won the CSL Second Division Championship with a 2-0 victory over Serbian White Eagles B after wrapping up both the First Division and Second Division league titles. That’s a first in the CSL’s long history.

We’ll call it a Troika.

 

 

 

 

PICTURE: A jubilant Scarborough SC are the 2019 champions following a decisive 2-0 victory over FC Ukraine United in a well played CSL Championship Final at Centennial Stadium Saturday.   It was Scarborough’s first CSL Championship win and follows two narrow  final game defeats in penalty kick shootouts, 2017 and 2018.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Photo:Liber Soria

The green flare to match the Scarborough colours released by fans at the north end of Centennial Stadium told the story just as the final whistle sounded by referee Norman Oliveira signaled a Scarborough 2-0 victory over FC Ukraine in the CSL Championship Final .  Scarborough’s perseverance after losing two penalty kick shootouts in the championships of 2017 and 2018, had finally paid off.

It was the second game of a double header championship afternoon at the Etobicoke ground with FC Vorkuta reserves winning 2-0  over Serbian White Eagles for the Second Division Championship. The victory presented Vorkuta with the club’s third title in 2019 after finishing the regular season on top of the First Division and Second Division tables.

Both sides served up attractive soccer in the main event CSL Championship game, with little to choose between two evenly matched teams that were scoreless at the half and until the 69 th minute when Scarborough striker Aleksander Stojiljkovic drove the ball from 12 yards past Ukraine United goalkeeper Oleksandr Popravka.

Ukraine United fought to get back on even terms, but a tripping foul  in the  penalty box as Scarborough was closing in gave Stojiljkovic his second goal when he scored from the spot. The 2-0 lead held up until the final whistle.

“Ukraine gave us a good game, but my team played well and I think we deserved the win,” said Scarborough GM, sometimes player Kiril Dimitrov. “ We’ve had some injury problems, but it was a fair result and I’m very pleased”.

Ukraine United GM Vladimir Koval was quick to congratulate Scarborough when asked to comment on the game: “They are a good side and I congratulate Scarborough. We had injuries a good part of the season, but in the end Scarborough came through,” he said.

FC Vorkuta B had a distinct first half edge in the opener against Serbian White Eagles B, coming close to scoring three times in the first half, particularly a near miss by midfielder Sergii Ivliev inside the six yard line.

Mykola Temniuk struck for Vorkuta reserves at 80 minutes, and midfielder Denys Yanchuk made it 2-0 at 92 minutes to secure the Second Division Championship victory.

SCARBOROUGH SC ROSTER

Vladimir Dragicevic (Goalkeeper), Halburto Harris (Defender), Angel Angelov (Defender), Alen Kucalovic (Defender), Ivan Prieto (Midfielder), Naieemollah Mobin (Midfielder), Odain Omaro Simpson (Midfielder), Zoran Rajovic (Midfielder), Neven Radakovic (Midfielder), Zoran Knezevic (Midfielder), Milorad Steanovic (Midfielder), Marvin Oneil Morgan (Midfielder), Kavin Bryan (Forward), Gonzalo Matias Cabrera Calis (Forward), Kiril Dimitrov (Forward), Mehdi Barati Mahvar (Forward), Bojan Zoranovic (Forward), Aleksander Stojiljkovic (Forward).

HEAD COACH: Zoran Rajovic, ASSISTANT COACH: Kiril Dimitrov, DIRECTOR: Angel Belchev PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Shannon White

FC UKRAINE UNITED ROSTER

Oleksandr Popravka (Goalkeeper), Ricardo De Vincenzo (Defender), Ivan Kucherenko (Defender), Andrew Gray (Defender), Andrii Sukhetskyi (Defender), Bohdan Skotskyl (Defender), David Velastagui (Midfielder), Nuno Ponte (Midfielder), Amir Hosic (Midfielder), Christiano Alves Da Silva (Midfielder), Ihor Sorotoskyi (Midfielder), Roman Kukharskyy (Midfielder), Ihor Shyshka (Midfielder), Serhyi Savchenko (Midfielder), Pavlo Lukianets (Midfielder), Andriy Bandrivskyy (Goalkeeper), Nazar Milishchuk (Forward), Molham Babouli (Forward).

HEAD COACH: Mykhailo Gurka, ASSISTANT COACH: Ishak Egven, GENERAL MANAGER: Vladimir Koval, MANAGER: Maksym Rohovskyi

MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee: Norman Oliveira, Assistant Referee 1: Faris Efendic, Assistant Referee 2: Gezim Koka, Fourth Official: Zeljko Bojic.

Ground: Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke, Ontario

 PLAYOFFS SUMMARY

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – QUARTERFINALS

FC Vorkuta 2, Kingsman A 2 (after extra time) Kingsman wins 4-2 on penalty kicks

 Scarborough SC 2,  CSC Mississauga 1 (after extra time)

 SC Waterloo 1, Serbian White Eagles 1 (after extra time) Waterloo wins 5-4 on penalty kicks

 FC Ukraine United 1, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time) Ukraine United wins 4-3 on penalty kicks

 CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMIFINALS

 SC Scarborough 4, Kingsman A 2

FC Ukraine United 5, SC Waterloo 3

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

 Scarborough SC 2, FC Ukraine United 0

 CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – QUARTERFINALS

The two top teams in the regular season standings, FC Vorkuta B and Serbian White Eagles B, gained a bye to the semifinals

 CSC Mississauga B 1, Brantford Galaxy B 0

 Hamilton City B 3, Kingsman B 2

 CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – SEMI FINALS

 FC Vorkuta B 5, Hamilton City B 1

 Serbian White Eagles B 2, CSC Mississauga B 0

  CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

  FC Vorkuta B 2, Serbian White Eagles B 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURE: Scarborough (green) on the offensive winning 4-2 over Kingsman in the CSL Championship semifinal at Birchmount Stadium Saturday. It will be Scarborough’s third final in three years on October 26, and will be against semifinalists FC Ukraine United or SC Waterloo. PHOTO: Oleg Kalyadin

Scarborough SC advanced to the Canadian Soccer League Championship Final with a 4-2 victory over Kingsman A on Saturday. On the same day, FC Vorkuta B defeated Hamilton City B 5-1 in the CSL Second Division Championship semifinal, and Serbian White Eagles B won its CSL Second Division semifinal against CSC Mississauga B by a 2-0 score.

Scarborough’s opponents in the final will be either FC Ukraine United or SC Waterloo, to be decided in the semifinal played on Sunday, October 20.

FC Vorkuta B  and Serbian White Eagles B will meet in the Second Division Championship Final.

Scarborough’s 4-2 semifinal victory over Kingsman A at Birchmount Stadium means a third successive CSL Championship final for the Toronto east-end team since entering the Canadian Soccer League as an expansion team in 2015. Scarborough was the finalist in 2017 against York Region Shooters and in 2018 against FC Vorkuta, both games decided by penalty kicks following 90 minutes and overtime.

Player-coach Zoran Rajovic, Gonzalo Matius Cabrera Celis, Odain Omaro Simpson and Neven Radakovic scored for Scarborough in Saturday’s match, and Sayid Belmokhtar struck twice for Kingsman.

In the Second Division Championship semifinal at Centennial Stadium, midfielder Vladimir Strizovic opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles B,  heading in a cross from the right wing at the 22^nd minute mark to beat CSC Mississauga B goalkeeper Ryan Ridley.  Luka Milidragovic of Serbian Eagles B found the net 15 minutes later, guiding the ball in again from a right wing cross, a 2-0 score for Serbian White Eagles reserve team, which held to the break.

There were opportunities at both ends during the second half, but the 2-0 scored held to the final whistle.

Serbian White Eagles B played the later stages of the match with 10 men after Stefan Dragnjevic was shown the red card following a second caution.

It was a well played, close encounter at L’Amoreaux Stadium where FC Vorkuta B and  Hamilton City B played a scoreless first half, with the best chance to score coming from a  penalty kick by Vorkuts’s Pavlo Chornomaz and saved by Hamilton goalkeeper Alexander Nikolic.

Hamilton City B opened the scoring at 50 minutes, a goal by Haris Osmanagic who found the net past Vorkuta goalkeeper Samad Kadirov. Vorkuta reserves leveled the score at 58 minutes, a diving header by Kristijan Kezic from a cross by Chornomaz.

Oleksandr Yaremchuk took a pass from Ihor Melnyk to put Vorkuta B in the lead 2-1 at 63 minutes and Melnyk also played a part in a goal by Bogdan Borovskyi to put the home side up 3-1 at 66 minutes. Kezik increased the lead to 4-1 for Vorkuta B at the 70^th minute mark and a spectacular bicycle kick by Brorovskyi for Vorkuta’s fifth goal completed the scoring at 80 minutes.

PLAYOFF RESULTS TO DATE

CSL Championship – Quarterfinals

FC Vorkuta 2, Kingsman A 2 (after extra time) Kingsman wins 4-2 on penalty kicks

Scarborough SC 2,  CSC Mississauga 1 (after extra time)

SC Waterloo 1, Serbian White Eagles 1 (after extra time) Waterloo wins 5-4 on penalty kicks

FC Ukraine United 1, Hamilton City 1 (after extra time) Ukraine United wins 4-3 on penalty kicks

CSL Championship – Semifinals

SC Scarborough 4, Kingsman A 2

Sunday, October 20 Centennial Stadium 4 pm FC Ukraine United vs SC Waterloo

CSL Second Division Championship – Quarterfinals

The two top teams in the regular season standings, FC Vorkuta B and Serbian White Eagles B, gained a bye to the semifinals

CSC Mississauga B 1, Brantford Galaxy B 0

Hamilton City B 3, Kingsman B 2

CSL Second Division Championship – Semifinals

FC Vorkuta B 5, Hamilton City B 1

Serbian White Eagles B 2, CSC Mississauga B 0

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

The CSL Championship Final and CSL Second Division Championship Final will be played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on Saturday, October 26. The Second Division Championship will kick off at 1 pm, followed by the CSL Championship at 3 pm.