IS THE CSL CHANGING WITH PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

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The CSL is changing, is what we said almost a decade ago on November 20, 2014. That was two days after the CSL’s Rookie of the Year Jonathan Osorio entered the field for Canada at 62 minutes in an international friendly against Panama, a game that ended in a scoreless tie at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City.

Osorio was impressive in that debut 2012 season with the CSL’s Toronto SC, scoring 11 goals in 17 appearances, the second highest in the league. He was then quickly invited by Toronto FC to join the MLS team’s Toronto FC Academy.

The Toronto-born midfielder of Colombian ancestry made his debut in the Toronto FC first team on March 9, 2013 and gained his first international cap on May 23, 2013. Osorio earned his first call up to the Canadian senior team for a friendly the following week against Costa Rica.

Osorio was one of 40 CSL players to play internationally, mostly in national youth teams during a period when developing players was a desire and an overriding feature of many CSL clubs. During the period up to 2015 Toronto Croatia, Kingston FC, York Region Shooters and SC Waterloo put the strongest emphasis on developing players. During that time York Region hired Bob De Klerk, a former player, manager and coach for 10 years with the Ajax youth system before moving to North America in 2011 when he joined Toronto FC as first assistant coach.

The player development attitude paid big dividends for the Shooters when the club won the CSL Championship in 2014 and 2017 and the Second Division title with the reserve team in 2016. The First Division side was undefeated in the 1914 season, only the third time the historic achievement has occurred in the CSL.

Developing local players has faded somewhat as CSL teams move to importing players mostly from Europe, a change that brought increasing pace with the greater skills and a more attractive game for the fans.

But is there change in the works yet again ? As more players arrive from elsewhere are we paying enough attention to the development of local players ? We’ll explore that for answers in the days ahead, a heads-up as we move toward a new season.

CSL PLAYERS ON TOP IN OFF-SEASON INDOOR TOURNAMENT

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The Hanger is a longstanding facility ideal for the indoor game.

With approximately one million registered players, the game of soccer continues to be the most popular sport in Canada in terms of participation. There is also an increasing demand for the indoor game with more facilities accommodating soccer during the off season winter months for a year-round activity for many.

The Hanger, as it is known, is a longstanding spacious Toronto indoor soccer location known in earlier times a part of the Downsview air base for the Canadian Air Force and which was also for a period of time occupied by the military. its proximity to Pearson International brought an occasional commercial overseas flight mistakenly landing on the Downsview runway.

But today The Hanger is a sports centre to become newsworthy for other reasons, such as its recent soccer tournament which brought together 48 teams in a highly competitive, two-day 6 v 6 indoor competition of many high level professional players with a background of skills forged in other parts of the world and Canadian players having made the grade in North America. Many of the players are with Canada’s professional leagues during the regular season. There was one U.S.team, from Detroit.

The 48-team competition culminated with the final being played at the Hanger on December 27 when Salo United defeated Republic Athletic Elevate by a 1-0 score. The winning team was a roster of Ukrainian players from the Canadian Soccer League, while the Republic Athletic Elevate side fielded players from the Canadian Premier League and Ontario League 1.

First Touch Football Canada and Sports Leagues Canada are partners in this indoor soccer venture which is named The Classics. The success of this well attended tournament – together with a likelihood of increasingly lucrative prize money for the winners – provides much encouragement for staging it as a regular annual event. “We are also hoping to use this as momentum to further expand competitive money tournaments in the GTA,” said Josh Kohn manager of Sports Leagues Canada.

The concept of ‘money tournaments’ is more advanced over the border where TST (The Soccer Tournament) is presently launching two $1 million winner-take-all (men and women) soccer tournaments. “We are thrilled to add a third event to our portfolio and to have it be our highest stakes competition ever,” said Jon Mugar, founder and CEO of The Tournament on the company’s website. “This instantly becomes one of the highest stakes events in all of women’s sports, with the only thing standing between teams and one million dollars being four exceptional hours of soccer. This will attract some of the most talented players and clubs from around the world,” he said.

In the meantime, Yaroslav Malibo and his winning team of Ukrainian players from the CSL are on top of the world and the players will share in the modesty of $15,000, a winner’s prize that is bound to grow as similar indoor competitions take hold in Canada.

SPANISH FUTURE STARS FC IN CSL

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Juan Mina, former goalkeeper in Cali, Colombia,

is vice president of Spanish Future Stars FC

leading Canadian operations.

If you have a touch of Spanish heritage, originally from South or Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean or Spain, and you now reside in southern Ontario and love the game of soccer, you may want to keep an eye on the most recent addition to the Canadian Soccer League.

Future Stars FC, also known as the Spanish Future Stars FC, will be worth the trip to Centennial Stadium at Toronto’s west-end where the CSL will kickoff its 2024 regular season around mid-May, playing through to September and followed by the CSL Championship Final late October.

While Future Stars FC is presently in the building stage after gaining approval following the various steps of its membership application to enter Canada’s oldest soccer league founded in 1925, it is clear that the team will be competitive and attractive with a driving force centred in Colombia but determined eventually to be a strong part of Canada’s growing soccer community.

The diversity of Canadian soccer was appealing to the organization’s president Oscar Caribali who resides in Cali, Colombia and vice president Juan Mina who emigrated to Canada from Cali in 2005 and lives minutes from Centennial Stadium. Caribali is presently selecting players in Colombia and Brazil and other parts of South America, while also assisting the selected players gain a visa and approval for temporary residence in Canada. Wellington Zuca De Sousa ls the club’s head coach and with Mina will be scouting local players. Super Stars FC will establish a soccer academy for younger players.

Cali is the largest city in southwest Colombia with a population of more than two million and where soccer (fútbol) is the only sport at the professional level and the passion for the game is high. Other sports, such as basketball, volleyball are in a secondary position at the amateur level. Future Stars will explore the viability of exhibition matches between a team from South America and its CSL side. A team from Sao Paulo, Brazil — the Anarqui Futebol & Amigos — toured North America in 2018 and played the CSL Veteran All Stars at Maple in York Region. The CSL Veteran All Stars took a 3-0 lead at half-time and went on to a 6-2 victory.

“ For our president Oscar Caribali and the entire organization I would like to say how pleased we are to be a team in the Canadian Soccer League. It is our vision to be very competitive and be a helpful proud member of Canada’s soccer community”, said Mina

STEPPING UP TO THE PRO LEVEL

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Danny Dichio made more than 300 appearances for several top flight clubs in England and Italy before moving to Canada to sign for Toronto FC. He took part in the opening debut match, scoring for the history book with Toronto’s first MLS goal against Chicago Fire on May 12, 2007.

Dichio ended his playing career in 2009, remaining with Toronto FC as a coach of the second squad and in 2021 he left Canada to take up coaching with Sacremento of the US-based United Soccer Leagues He was was then appointed to his first head coaching job with Detroit City, also of the USL. Lack of good coaching positions in Canada has been said to be a major reason for the goal scorer going south of the border. A form of brain drain.

To be more competitive on the world stage, Canada needs a stronger professional soccer structure. Countries high on the FIFA list of ratings all have a strong professional soccer base which ensures a robust player development environment to accommodate an abundance of technical positions including coaches. Also, it has been well established that not all of Canada’s soccer player talent wants to go out of the country in pursuit of a professional career.

The launch of the Canadian Premier League in 2017 was a step in the right direction. But it’s not enough and can be a long uneasy journey to maturity which includes sufficient coverage in the media, eventually leading to an increased fan base and a greater attraction for players and coaches.

The Canadian Soccer League, now a regional league in southern Ontario, encourages seasoned senior amateur clubs to step up and consider a place at the semi-pro level. The CSL accommodates many outstanding import players approved for temporary residence in Canada while playing. Such an accommodation raises the standard for greater attraction on the field of play and accelerates the further development of local players of the CSL teams..

The CSL, formed in 1925, has been the starting point for many high level players such as Atiba Hutchinson who ended his playing career in the 2022 World Cup after representing Canada more than 100 times and a sparkling career mostly in Europe. Today, Jonathan Osorio with Toronto FC is one of the most recent from a long list of former CSL players to shine at a higher level. Osario now has more than 70 caps for Canada.

Senior amateur teams in southern Ontario interested in taking a step up to semi-pro level for the 2024 season can obtain more information by sending an email to info@canadiansoccerleague.ca.

Stan Adamson

THE ANNING SPORT EXCELLENCE FROM TWO CONTINENTS

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The elder Les Anning was a sought-after sport celebrity for advertising.

When Les Anning gives the match ball a thumping kick from the 4th Official touchline area it arrives with some accuracy on a direct kick spot or corner kick location on the other side of the pitch. Anning’s replacement ball for the one that’s lost deep in the end zone of a Canadian Soccer League match sends a message ‘let’s not keep them waiting’.

But that impressive accurate kick and the body language of the CSL operations manager reflects a unique set of experiences in sport that goes back several decades and takes place on two continents involving both soccer and ice hockey.

It all begins with Les Anning Sr. the father of the CSL’s Les Anning, who was a top flight hockey ace in the UK with more than 600 games for London-based Wembley Lions and others in the 1940s and 1950s. Remarkably, one of the records set in the history of Britain’s ice hockey is Anning’s long run of games played without missing a single match through injury. The elder Les Anning was renowned in Britain as the fastest skater and most consistent scorer of his era. During the years following his arrival from Canada in 1946 he was the talk of the town and sought-after sport celebrity for advertising while playing in the Wembley community located in the north-west of the British capital, a location famous also for nearby Wembley Stadium, home of the England national soccer team.

While in the UK Anning also played for Wembley Monarchs and later for Earl’s Court Rangers in London, Brighton Tigers on the south coast and Ayr Raiders in Scotland. There were many goal scoring feats with All Star appearances and an induction into the British ice hockey Hall of Fame.

Anning Sr. ended his UK and European hockey career in Sweden, returning to Canada in the 1960s.

The CSL’s Les Anning (Jr.) was born and raised in a hockey environment at Rimouski, Quebec, located on the banks of the St.Lawrence. But as time went by, soccer became his game of choice and when the family moved to the UK in his late teens, his skills were obvious enough to be offered high level trials which included London club Tottenham Hotspur.

On returning to Canada and with the friendship of the former Tottenham and Scottish international goalkeeper Bill Brown involved in the Canadian game, Anning was offered an opportunity with the Toronto Falcons, in the 1960s the most recent top pro team based in Toronto and playing out of Varsity Stadium as a member of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and the newly formed North American Soccer League (NASL). In the early 2000s Anning was assistant coach with the Toronto Lynx of the US-based A-League while also its equipment manager.

Les Anning Jr. joined the CSL in 2021, was appointed Operations Manager in 2022 and for many years has also been an active referee officiating throughout Southern Ontario.

Sports excellence is obviously deeply ingrained in his personality and in his blood, whatever the game may be.

Today, the CSL and Canadian soccer are the beneficiaries.

SCARBOROUGH WINS LEAGUE TITLE TO CLOSE CSL SEASON

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Scarborough - four CSL titles in five years.

A hat-trick by Scarborough substitute striker Gonzalo Matias led his team to a 6-4 victory to capture the regular season Canadian Soccer League title in the opening match of three at the Paramount Stadium Saturday September 16. The intense, highly attractive clash with Serbian White Eagles was followed by an 8-0 drubbing of a struggling Hamilton City side by Toronto Falcons and in another high-scoring encounter due mostly to the prolific Ivliev Sergii scoring four goals, Dynamo Toronto thrashed Ooty Black Pearl 7-1 in the late game.

Defender Marko Johansen’s header opened the scoring for Scarborough at the 7th minute mark and the Toronto east side team went up 2-0 two minutes later when Jordan Web collected a left wing cross to find the net from close in. Forward Devroy Decardova Grey scored the other goal for Scarborough. Matias scored his winning hat-trick after entering the field as a substitute at 60 minutes.

Two goals by Marko Stajic, and singles by Adrian Cann and Vladimir Strizovic allowed Serbian White Eagles to keep pace until the last few minutes, but the Scarborough side held a lead most of the game and near the end increased to a two goal margin at the final whistle.

Scarborough won the regular season league title in 2020 and has been prominent in the playoffs by reaching the last six CSL Championship finals, winning the CSL Championship in 2019 and 2021. Serbian White Eagles won the CSL Championship in 2016 and were regular season league title winners in 2015 and 2022.

A depleted Hamilton City, playing without several players selected for the starting line-up but held up in traffic en route, struggled against an improving Toronto Falcons most of the 90 minutes when the goals came with frequency and with ease. A drive from 15 yards by Artem Nazarenko opened the scoring for Toronto Falcons just five minutes into the game and the midfielder struck a second five minutes later.  Singles came from Kyrylo Antonenko and Yazoslav Nidzelskyi, while  Nemo Shelia and forward Sviatoslav  Dziadykevych each also scored twice.Toronto Falcons ended the season with an 8-3-1WLT for 25 points in third position in the table, while Hamilton City ended in fifth position with a 5-6-1 record for 16 points.

With four goals by Sergii, two by forward Mykola Temniuk and one by Mykyta Pishchulin, Dynamo Toronto dominated the late game 7-1 to lift the winning side into a clear fourth position in the standings. Dario found the net past Dynamo goalkeeper Mosbah Ezzalden for the loan Ooty Black Pearl goal scored at 14 minutes of the first half. Sergii ended the season the 2023 leading goal scorer with a total of 13 and his team registered 6-5-1 for 19 points.

The three games concludes the 2023 season following an announcement that the CSL Championship playoffs will not be played due to financial and venue considerations  and that the league will in the coming weeks begin its interviews with organizations considering membership application as expansion teams for 2024.

SCARBOROUGH WIN MEANS LEAGUE TITLE OPPORTUNITY

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Serbian White Eagles and Scarborough meet for league title in regular season finale

A first half scoring spree of four goals in six minutes at the Mattamy Sports Park Saturday, September 9, lifted Scarborough to an 8-1 trouncing of Ooty Black Pearl and moved the east Toronto side into a league title opportunity when it meets league-leading Serbian White Eagles in the regular season finale September 16. In two other games on Saturday, Toronto Falcons defeated Weston United 2-0 and Hamilton City scored a 2-1 victory over Dynamo Toronto.

Edmond Amadeo opened the scoring for Scarborough at 17 minutes, the goal coming from a rebound after Black Pearl goalkeeper Paramveer Singh made the save. Gonzalo Matias made it 2-0, scoring off the crossbar at 20 minutes, Petar Dordevic headed in for Scarborough at 21 minutes, scoring again with a drive outside the box at 23 minutes. Jair Cruz made it 5-0 at 39th minute mark and Matias found the net with his second goal at 42 minutes for a 6-0 score at the break.. Midfielder Dario Brezak scored for Ooty Black Pearl at 80 minutes for a 6-1 score and Scarborough truck twice in the late stages on goals by Devroy Decardova Grey and Jaime Grandona at 81 and 86 minutes respectively.

With just one game remaining for teams in the final week of the regular season (Weston United is an exception having played its last regular season match on September 9) Scarborough will meet Serbian White Eagles on September 16, a match that will decide the league title. Serbian White Eagles has a 9-2-0 WLT record for 27 points, while Scarborough has an 8-2-1 record for 25 points, which means win or draw will mean a repeat of the 2022 season’s league title victory for Serbian White Eagles.

Scarborough must win to add to its regular season league title victory of 2020 during a period when Kiril Dimitrov’s squad has also been prominent in the playoffs by reaching the last six championship finals, winning the CSL Championship in 2019 and 2021. Serbian White Eagles won the CSL Championship in 2016 and were regular season league title winners in 2015 and 2022.

Midfielder Nemo Shelia opened the scoring for Toronto Falcons in the opening game of three on Saturday, to be followed 10 minutes later by a strike from Andrii Sukhetskyi and the score held through a scoreless second half for a 2-0 result at the final whistle. Toronto Falcons has a 7-3-1 record for 22 points and retains third position in the table, while Weston United has completed its regular season with a 1-9-2 record for five points in sixth position.

Hamilton City midfielder Aleksander Bozovic scored 17 minutes into the game with Dynamo Toronto and forward Moussa Limane added a second with a drive from the edge of the box. The score held until the last minute when Dynamo Toronto midfielder Ivliev Sergii cut the lead to 2-1 at 90 minutes, a score in favour of Hamilton City at the final whistle. Hamilton City and Dynamo Toronto are tied on points for fourth position in the standings, both having a 5-5-1 record for 16 points.

SERBIAN WHITE EAGLES ON TOP IN GOAL-FEST DAY

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High scoring Serbian White Eagles (red) on top following 9-2 win.


PHOTO: Renny Harlan – Serbian White Eagles midfielder Nikola Timotijovic struck four times to lift his side to a 9-2 romp over Weston United, Toronto Falcons also had an easy 8-0 rout of Ooty Black Pearl and in a hotly contested opening game of three, Scarborough held on to a 2-1 early second half lead to win its seventh of the season defeating Dynamo Toronto, three games with an abundance of goals at the Paramount ground on Saturday, August 26.

Shaqueil Bradford opened the scoring for Scarborough at the 27th minute mark, helped by a deflection that found the net past Dynamo goalkeeper Ihor Vitiv and Scarborough took a 2-0 lead at 43 minutes with a goal by midfielder Jordan Web. Dynamo’s Mykola Temniuk cut the lead to 2-1 at the 47th minute and the outcome was in doubt until the final whistle, a 2-1 result in favour of Scarborough. Three late substitutes played an important role in maintaining the lead including a strong effort by Jaimie Grondola who was a member of the Chile under-20 national team that took third place in the 2007 World Cup played here in Canada.

Victory gave the east Toronto side a 7-2-1 record for 22 points in second place in the standings, while Dynamo Toronto slipped to fourth position with a 5-4-1 record for 16 points.

The Serbian White Eagles opening goal in the second game by Vladimir Strizovic came early just after kickoff and followed by Marko Stajic making it 2-0 at 17 minutes. Timotijovic entered the picture with his first goal at 32 minutes, his second goal at 60 minutes, the hat-trick at 70 minutes and goal number 4 was struck at the 80th minute mark.

Strizovic scored his second goal at the 22nd minute, Nikola Durkovic found the net past Weston United goalkeeper Marcel da Silva just before the break and midfielder Stefan Pejic found the net at the 35th minute mark to complete the Serbian White Eagles scoring. Weston United defender Edson Rivera scored his side’s first goal at 19 minutes and Pedro Ruso scored the team’s second goal at 39 minutes.

The 9-2 victory marks the sixth time of the 11 matches played this season that Serbian White Eagles has scored 4 or more goals, a marked turn of events from the goal-shy reputation for which the team was known during previous two campaigns. The 9-2 victory keeps Serbian White Eagles five points in front of Scarborough in the standings and the leading team now has a 9-2-0 WLT record. Weston United has a 1-8-2 record for 5 points and sixth in the table.

Midfielder Nemo Shelia struck a hat-trick to lead Toronto Falcons to its 8-0 trouncing of Ooty Black Pearl in the night cap match which was never in doubt following a 5-0 lead at the interval. Sviatoslav Dziadykevych opened the scoring at eight minutes and Shelia made it 2-0 two minutes later. Nazar Slobodian increased the lead to 3-0 at 15 minutes, Dziadykevych made it 4-0 at 36 minutes and Shelia struck his second goal at 45 minutes.

Shelia completed the hat-trick four minutes into the second half, and two late goals at 78 and 80 minutes were scored by Valentyn Makoviichuk, an 8-0 score at the final whistle.

Toronto Falcons improve to a 6-3-1 record for 19 points and moving into third position in the table, while Ooty Black Pearl have a 0-8-2 record for two points and seventh position in the standings.

The regular season will resume at the Mattamy Sports Park on Saturday, September 9 with a Weston vs Toronto Falcons 2pm opener of three matches, Dynamo Toronto vs Hamilton City is a 4 pm kickoff and Ooty Black Pearl vs Scarborough at 6.

SERBIAN WHITE EAGLES FIVE POINTS CLEAR…..Falcons, Hamilton win

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Toronto Falcons (yellow) hard fought 1-0 win over Scarborough

Serbian White Eagles increased its lead at the top of the standings with a 4-0 victory over Dynamo Toronto, Hamilton City outplayed Weston United 5-2 and Toronto Falcons scored a narrow 1-0 win over Scarborough, three games in the Canadian Soccer League, August 19 triple header at the Mattamy Sports Park Saturday.

Midfielder Vitor de Jesus opened the scoring at 18 minutes for Weston United, beating Hamilton goalkeeper Aleksandar Nikolic from close range for the 1-0 lead and Dragor Zugelj equalized for Hamilton at 37 minutes, a 1-1 score at half-time.

Hamilton City went ahead 2-1 when Vladimir Dojcinovic found the net with a low drive inside the right post at 60 minutes, Luan Cortez tied the score 2-2 for Weston at 69 minutes and Zugelj scored a second goal for a 3-2 Hamilton lead at 70 minutes. Vukasin Kovacevic made it 4-2 two minutes later, just before Hamilton City was reduced to 10 men when midfielder Anton Sigul was shown the red card at the 77th minute mark following a second yellow.

Dojcinovic completed the scoring for Hamilton City with his second goal at 80 minutes, a 5-2 score at the final whistle. It was Hamilton City’s fourth win of the season, an improving 4-5-1 WLT record for 13 points and fifth in the standings, while Weston United remain in sixth position with a 1-7-2 record and five points.

It was a close, attractive encounter between Toronto Falcons and Scarborough that was in doubt through to the final whistle. Falcons’ midfielder Nemo Shelia struck the eventual winning goal close to the interval, a low drive from outside the box that found the net past Scarborough goalkeeper Vladimir Dragicevic.

While the pace picked up in the second half, Scarborough came close to tying the game which included a missed penalty kick following a Scarborough attack challenged by Falcons’ keeper Anatolii Starushchenko, which also brought out the yellow card and served to underscore that the Ukrainian goalkeeper was outstanding by the minute. Toronto Falcons and Starushchenko held on for the win following which Falcons’ official Zhane Gendunov was quick to say the important victory came “from a strong team effort in which Starushchenko was certainly outstanding.” Toronto Falcons now have a 5-3-1 record for 16 points to tie for third place with Dynamo Toronto.

Serbian White Eagles and the CSL’s leading goalscorer Marko Stajic pointed the way in the late game with a goal against Dynamo Toronto to be followed late in the match by two from midfielder Stefan Pejic at 70 and 80 minutes and a single by Vladimir Strizovic at the 85th minute mark. The decisive victory was the eighth of the season, giving last season’s league title winners a five-point margin (8-2-0) for 24 points at the top of the standings. Dynamo Toronto has a 5-3-1 record for 16 points.

Next week’s games move to the Paramount Field in Mississauga on Saturday, August 26 when Scarborough and Dynamo Toronto meet in the opening game at 2 pm, followed by Serbian White Eagles vs Weston United at 4 pm and Toronto Falcons vs Ooty Black Pearl at 6.

SCARBOROUGH AND DORDEVIC IMPRESS…..Falcons and Hamilton also win

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Toronto Falcons defeated league leaders Serbian White Eagles by a 2-1 score, Hamilton City struck four in the first half to beat Ooty Black Pearl 4-2 and Scarborough striker Petar Dordevic scored a hat-trick in his side’s 5-0 victory over Weston United, three games in the Canadian Soccer League at the Mattamy Sports Park Saturday.

Toronto Falcons opened the scoring just four minutes after the kickoff when Nazar Slobodian drove a direct free kick inside the right post and out of reach of Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Nikola Postic, a 1-0 lead at the interval and Vasyl Matviishyn made it 2-0 for the Falcons at the 60th minute mark. Five minutes later, Serbian White Eagles midfielder Nikola Durkovic drove a distant long shot that found the net past Vasyl Shpuk in the Toronto Falcons goal to reduce the score to 2-1, a score that held in favour of the Falcons at the final whistle. Toronto Falcons improved to a 4-3-1 WLT for 13 points while holding on to fourth position in the standings. Serbian White Eagles are on top with a 7-2-0 record for 21 points.

Anton Sigul scored on a breakaway at the 9th minute mark for a 1-0 Hamilton City lead in the second match and Ooty Black Pearl defender Bahati Michael Rusage scored from outside the box to tie the game 1-1 at 16 minutes. Hamilton City then scored three goals before the break, the first by Vladimir Dojcinovic at 28 minutes, a goal by midfielder Janko Milosevic at 30 minutes and Marko Djukic made it 4-1 at the 37th minute mark. Mario Peche Morote found the net past Hamilton goalkeeper Aleksandar Nikolic for Black Pearl’s second goal at the 80th minute mark. Hamilton City remain in fifth position in the table with a 3-5-1 record for 10 points, while Ooty Black Pearl have an 0-7-2 record for two points and seventh in the standings.

Scarborough continues to impress having conceded just two goals in the club’s eight-game regular season campaign while the prolific Dordevic hat-trick for a 5-0 rout of Weston United in the late game moved the east Toronto side within two points of top of the table Serbian White Eagles.

Dordevic opened the scoring with a low drive at 15 minutes and found the net again at the 35th minute mark for a 2-0 Scarborough lead at the break. The Serbian striker completed his hat-trick at 77 minutes, with late goals also from Gonzalo Matias at 70 minutes and Shaqueil Bradford at the 79th minute mark. Scarborough now has a 6-1-1 record for 19 points, while Weston United have a 1-6-2 record for five points and sixth in the table.

FIRST VICTORY FOR WESTON UTD – SATURDAY WINS FOR DYNAMO AND SWE

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Weston Utd celebrate first victory in Canadian Soccer League

Expansion team Weston United scored its first victory in the Canadian Soccer League with a 3-2 defeat of Ooty Black Pearl in the opening game of three at the Mattamy Sports Park Saturday. Dynamo Toronto also won a 3-2 squeaker in the second match and Serbian White Eagles triumphed with a 4-2 score over Hamilton City in the late game.

It was a physical opening game encounter with Black Pearl and Weston United attempting to come up with their first win of the season after playing seven regular season league games. There were many untidy challenges and referee Steve Senderovic had to point to the penalty spot twice. Ooty Black Pearl struck first from the spot after defender Steven Craig was tripped in the box at 14 minutes and Dario Brezak made no mistake in finding the net. Brezak scored a second goal immediately following the break and defender Luan Cortez struck for Weston United, a 2-1 Black Pearl lead in the second half. Goals by Joan at 73 minutes and midfielder Vitor de Jesus at 76 minutes won the game for Weston United.

A penalty also opened up the scoring in the second match when Dynamo striker Mykola Temniuk was fouled in the box and Ivliev Sergii scored for a1-0 Dynamo lead at the 25th minute mark. Temniuk made it 2-0 three minutes later and midfielder Pavlo Chornomaz increased the Dynamo lead to 3-0 at 38 minutes, the former Ukrainian First League player heading in a cross from the wing out of reach by Falcons’ goalkeeper Vasyl Shpuk. It was 3-0 at the break.

Toronto Falcons rallied to score two second half goals by Daniil Rodin at 71 minutes and Denys Diachenko at the 75th mark, which held for a 3-2 score in favour of DynamoToronto at the final whistle.

Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez saved an early penalty in the late game, but this was followed by Hamilton City midfielder Vukasin Kovacevic cutting in from the wing to score for a 1-0 lead at 20 minutes . Danilo Bakoc tied 1-1 for Serbian White Eagles at 38 minutes and two minutes later Srjan Simovic put the Toronto-based team into a 2-1 lead. Hamilton City tied 2-2 with a picture goal from outside the box by Branco Gavric, the goal coming at the 49th minute mark. Serbian White Eagles was more prominent as the second half progressed, which paid dividends, goals by Nikola Timolijevic at 61 minutes and forward Vladimir Strizovic at the 70th minute mark, a 4-2 score at the final whistle.

Games in the Canadian Soccer Lead will resume at the Mattamy Sports Park on Saturday, August 12 with Toronto Falcons vs. Serbian White Eagles at 2pm, Hamilton City vs Ooty Black Pearl at 4 pm and Scarborough vs Weston United at 6pm.

SATURDAY VICTORIES FOR SCARBOROUGH, SERBIAN EAGLES AND DYNAMO

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A 9-1 victory for Dynamo Toronto

Scarborough maintained its strong bid for the CSL league title with a 5-0 victory over Hamilton City in the opener of three games at the Mattamy Sports Park Saturday, Serbian White Eagles maintained its good form with a 4-1 defeat of Ooty Black Pearl and Dynamo Toronto trounced Weston United 9-1 in the late game.

Scarborough striker Petar Dordevic found the net to beat Hamilton goalkeeper Obrad Bejatovic to open the scoring at the 40th minute mark, a 1-0 lead at the interval. Marvin Morgan made it 2-0 at 65 minutes, followed by goals by midfielder Jordan Webb at 75 minutes, Jaime Grandona at 80 minutes and Cesar Dorantes wrapped up the scoring at the 85th minute mark, a 5-0 result at the final whistle.

Hamilton City GM/coach Sasa Vukovic was ejected from the touch line during the first half following misconduct with a match official.

Scarborough lead the standings with a 6-0-1 record for 19 points and are unbeaten in the current campaign while conceding just two goals. Hamilton City is in fifth place with a 2-4-1 record for 7 points.

Matias Leonardo Coria opened the scoring at the 5th minute mark for Ooty Black Pearl in the second game and Marco Stajic struck the equalizer at 45 minutes for Serbian White Eagles. Two goals by forward Vladimir Strizovic and a fourth goal by Nikola Timotijovic at 81 minutes completed the 4-1 victory for Serbian White Eagles. Nikola Durkovic of Serbian White Eagles was shown the red card at the 70th minute mark for Violent Conduct.

Serbian White Eagles now have a 5-2-0 record for 15 points in second position in the standings, while Ooty Black Pearl has a 0-5-2 record for 2 points in sixth position in the table.

Two goals each by prolific goal scorers Ivliev Surgii and Mykola Temniuk during the first half and into the early stages following the interval, together with a goal by midfielder Mpala Aubrey, put the game out of reach for Weston United. Late goals by Dynamo Toronto midfielder Yarmosh Valerii at 78 minutes, Mykyta Pishchulin two minutes later, defender Ivan Kucherenko at 81minutes and Kezic Kristijan just before the final whistle, were interrupted only by a single strike when Weston United’s Vitor Nascimento beat Dynamo goalkeeper Ihor Vitiv to find the net at 60 minutes, a 9-1 result for Dynamo Toronto.

Dynamo Toronto take a clear third in the standings as a result of the win, a 4-2-1 record for 13 points, while Weston United is at 0-5-2 for 2 points in 7th place.

Games resume at the Mattamy Park on Saturday, July 29 with Ooty Black Pearl vs Weston United in the opening game at 2 pm, it’s Dynamo Toronto vs Toronto Falcons at 4 pm and Serbian White Eagles vs Hamilton City at 6.

SCARBOROUGH ON TOP FOLLOWING SIZZLER

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Two more goals by CSL leading scorer Marko Stajic

Scarborough increased its lead at the top of the standings with a 3-2 defeat of Serbian White Eagles in a well-played encounter in doubt up to the final whistle, the opener of three games at the Paramount ground Saturday. In the second match, Toronto Falcons struck three in the second half to take control with a 3-1 victory over Hamilton City, and in the late game Ooty Black Pearl rallied to score twice and recover from a 3-1 deficit to tie Dynamo Toronto 3-3.

Marko Stajic opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles at the 15th minute mark and Petar Dordevic tied the game for Scarborough at 25 minutes. A penalty, Stajic’s second goal at 44 minutes, gave Serbian Eagles a 2-1 lead at the break. Two second half goals from the penalty spot, the first by Scarborough midfielder Jordan Webb which tied the game 2-2 and the second by Scarborough’s Jaimie Grandona which gave the Toronto east side team a 3-2 victory after a close call when Serbian White Eagles defender Petar Planic struck the Scarborough crossbar with a header three minutes from the end. It was an attractive encounter, a sizzler through to the final whistle.

The win gives Scarborough a 4-point lead at the top of the standings with a 5-0-1 WLT record, with Serbian White Eagles in second position and a 4-1-0 record for 12 points. Scarborough has conceded just two goals from the six games played.

Toronto Falcons came close to scoring several times in the early stages of the match with Hamilton City, with Sviatoslav Dziadykevych most prominent up front. A goal by defender Adam Fiks gave Falcons the lead at 59 minutes, beating Hamilton goalkeeper Aleksandar Nikolic with a ground drive at 46th minute mark. Nazar Slobodian made it 2-0 at 59 minutes and Dziadykevych increased the lead to 3-0 at 74 minutes. Hamilton midfielder Vukasin Kovacevic reduced the lead to 3-1 at the 85th minute mark and the score held to the final whistle. Toronto Falcons are in fourth position in the standings with a 3-2-1 record for 10 points, while Hamilton City is in fifth position with a 2-3-1 record for 7 points.

Forward Jean Mark Kamdem opened the scoring for Ooty Black Pearl in the third match of the day, and Dynamo Toronto forward Ivliev Sergii scored the first of two goals at 42 minutes for a 1-1 tie at the interval. Serhii Ursulenko made it 2-1 for Dynamo at 77minutes and Sergii scored his second for a 3-1 lead one minute later. Ooty Black Pearl rallied deep in the second half to score two goals, the first by Oyedele Luqman at 80 minutes and Abukar Hassan three minutes later for a 3-3 draw at the final whistle. Luqman was shown a red card at the end of the game for a second dissent misconduct.

Dynamo Toronto retain its third position in the standings with a 3-2-1 record for 10 points in the table, while Ooty Black Pearl is in sixth position with a 0-4-2 record.

Games return to the Mattamy ground on Saturday, July 22 with the following schedule:

2PM Scarborough vs Hamilton City 1
4PM OOTY Black Pearl vs Serbian White Eagles
6PM Weston United FC vs FC Dynamo Toronto

SCARBOROUGH ON TOP WITH 5-0 ROUT AND DISCIPLINE DECISION

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Sergii Ivliev hat-trick - photo Djuradj Vujcic

A second half hat-trick which included a penalty kick by Dynamo Toronto midfielder Sergii Ivliev lifted his team to a 3-0 victory over Hamilton City in the second game of three played at the Paramount ground in Mississauga Saturday. In the opening game, Toronto Falcons defeated Weston United 3-0 and a more decisive shut-out win gave Scarborough a 5-0 victory over Ooty Black Pearl FC.

Ivliev found the net beating Hamilton City goalkeeper Januz Sellaj at 67 minutes to break a scoreless midway in the second half, followed by a second goal three minutes later and the hat-trick strike at 84 minutes. The win moved Dynamo Toronto into third position in the standings with a 3-2-0 (WLT) record for nine points, while Hamilton City dropped to fifth (2-2-1) for seven points).

Toronto Falcons gained its second win of the season in the opening game of the afternoon against Weston United with an opening goal at 10 minutes by Nazar Slobodian. It was 2-0 just before the break when Sviatoslav Dziadykevych found the net and a third strike by Vasyl Matviishyn who tapped in at close range for a 3-0 result at the final whistle.

The Falcons (2-2-1 for seven points) nudge up the table to fourth position while expansion team Weston United (0-4-2 for two points) search for the first win in sixth position in the standings.

Scarborough failed to capitalize during a scoreless first half in the finale, but came alive to score five following the interval, including two goals by midfielder Camaal Reid at 55 and 65 minutes. Goals followed by Jaimie Grandona at 66 minutes, Esterban Cardenas at 72 minutes and Gonzalo Matias at 75 minutes.

Scarborough (4-0-1) leads the standings with 13 points following a decision by the CSL Discipline Committee that the abandoned game of June 24 between Dynamo Toronto and Scarborough has been awarded to Scarborough by a 2-0 score. Ooty Black Pearl FC (0-4-1) are winless in seventh position in the standings.

Scarborough returns to the Paramount ground on Saturday, July 15 to meet Serbian White Eagles when the two top teams in the standings clash in what will be an interesting opening game at 2 pm. The second game is Toronto Falcons vs Hamilton City at 4 pm and Ooty Black Pearl FC meet Dynamo Toronto in the late game at 6.

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