Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic has proven to be an exciting striker in the CSL and in typical fashion opened his 2015 season  with a hat-trick for London City in a 3-3 tie with new club Scarborough SC at the Soccer-fest opening day games at the St.Joan of Arc ground in Maple on May 9. Winner of the CSL MVP award, Vucemilovic-Grgic, 28, from Split, Croatia, entered the CSL with Toronto Croatia and was  a member of the championship-winning team of 2011 and 2012.

The CSL welcomed Toronto Atomic FC into membership early 2015, a team with a distinctly Ukrainian flavour headed by Ihor Prokipchuk who took his Toronto Selects academy organization into professional soccer. The team played its first game against Niagara United on May 9, winning by a 3-0 score and Atomic went on to defeat London City 4-2 a week later. Oleksandr Semeniuk was the First Division side’s leading goalscorer with 10 and the first season appearance of the Toronto-based team is a reminder to us of the Toronto Ukraina presence in the National Soccer League, a forerunner league of the CSL in the 50s and 60s when the Ukrainian side won the championship five times.

While SC Waterloo failed to take advantage of yet again advancing both teams to the CSL Championship Finals, this time on their home ground on October 25, they must be congratulated for getting there. Waterloo reached the finals with both teams in 2013 as one of the more recent teams in the CSL and took a dramatic leap in profile when they won both the CSL Championship and the Second Division Championship that year. They then appeared in the CSL Second Division Championship Final in 2014, losing to Kingston FC Reserves. That the team from Southwestern Ontario appeared in five of the six finals played in the last three years is a remarkable achievement. Just to top things off, SC Waterloo reserves won the Second Division standings in the season just ended.

Serbian White Eagles had the distinction of clinching the first playoff berth in the First Division with a 2-0 victory over London City on September 6 and the Serbian White Eagles reserve team took the last playoff spot in the Second Division with a 3-1 victory over Toronto Croatia reserves, a rare Thursday game in the CSL on October 1.

 

Toronto Croatia won its tenth CSL championship since entering professional soccer in 1956 to be one of the highlights of the 2015 season just ended. Here are just a few of many more highlights and items of interest from a busy and exciting 2015 season. And there’s more to follow……..

When Richard West struck five goals in a 9-1 York Region Shooters thrashing of Niagara United on September 25 no one expected the 30 year old striker to repeat the scoring spree two days later at London City. The 10 goals in three days vaulted West into winning the CSL First Division scoring title with 23 goals, two in front of Brantford Galaxy’s Zdenko Jurcevic who led the scoring race most of the season to be pipped right at the end.

When Serbian White Eagles were beaten 3-1 by York Region Shooters on August 21 it ended an 11-game unbeaten streak, but the unbeaten string all but assured the Mississauga-based club the First Division title, so convincing was their lead at the top of the standings.  Serbian Eagles’ strong play and championship form was attributed to strengthening of the side by several signings from Europe early in the year.

The Canadian Soccer League is a men’s professional league but in the background are a number of women who year after year make a strong contribution to CSL affairs and the most outstanding of these was presented the Paul Harry Gauss Award at the league’s Annual Awards Night on October 24. Cyndy De Thomasis of York Region Shooters was voted to be the recipient of the award which recognizes the individual who has best demonstrated hard work, dedication and allegiance in the interests of the CSL during 2015.

MVPs are also special people and voted the most valuable player in the First Division was Josip Keran of Toronto Croatia and in the Second Division it was Arsenije Japalak, 20, of Brantford Galaxy reserves. Keran, a 30 year old attacking defender and team captain, who was the Defender of the Year in 2014, scored a number of key goals in the past season, 10 in all.

Scoring a hat-trick always attracts attention, but when forward Vladimir Vujovic scored two hat-tricks in succession with three goals in Burlington’s 5-0 defeat of Brampton City Utd on May 31 and repeat with three goals in his team’s next game 8-1 romp over Niagara United on June 6, that brought comments.

More to come…….

 

 

 Toronto Croatia defeated SC Waterloo 1-0 to win the CSL Championship at Warrior Stadium, Waterloo Sunday.

Midfielder Oscar Cordon struck the only goal of the game at 46 minutes, a low drive from 12 yards that left little opportunity for Waterloo goalkeeper Imad Hakura to make the save. The Toronto team also found the net 12 minutes into the game, but the goal was ruled offside.

It was a well-played defensive encounter with few scoring chances throughout. The championship victory was number 10 for Toronto Croatia since entering the league in 1956 and the third during the past five years, winning in 2011 and 2012.

“It was defensive for sure, but we wanted this one, maybe more than our opposition and that’s what made the difference,” said Velimir Crljen, coach of Toronto Croatia following the game.

Toronto Croatia finished second in the standings in the regular season, SC Waterloo end in fourth spot of 12 teams in the CSL First Division.

Toronto Croatia:

Josip Keran, Sven Arapovic, Andres Fresenga, Tomislav Zadro, Halburto Harris, Hayden Fitizwilliams, Shawn Brown, Jure Glavina, David Alva, Ainsley Deer, Pero Menalo, Darren Chambers, Ivan Cutura, Christian Maraldo, Anes Handanovic, Oscar Cordon, Amir Hosic, Faris Efendic. Head Coach: Vladimir Crljen, Assistant Coach: Milodrag Akamazdic, Assistant Coach: Tom Granic, Manager: Ivan Kulis.

SC Waterloo:

Imad Hakura, Thomas Sackor,  Nemanja Simeunovic,  Zachary Ellis-Hayden,Vladimir Zelenbaba, Terrell Christian, Mirza Colic, Mohammad-Ali Heydarpour, Ranko Golijanin, Ramon Bailey, Adis Hasecic, Aleksander Stojiljkovic, Slobodan Milanovic. Ryan Paumier, Branko Gavric, Dzenan Karic, Mladen Zeljkovic, Edward Syllie. Head Coach: Lazo Dzepina, Manager: Vojislav Brisevac.

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – SUMMARY

Quarterfinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, London City 0

SC Waterloo 2, Toronto Atomic FC 0

York Region Shooters 4, Burlington SC 2

Toronto Croatia 4, Milton SC 0

 Semifinals

SC Waterloo 3, Serbian White Eagles 2

Toronto Croatia 3, York Region Shooters 2

Final

Toronto Croatia 1,  SC Waterloo 0

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

In the first game of a double header, Milton SC reserves scored a 3-1 extra time victory over SC Waterloo reserves for the CSL Second Division Championship.

Forward Edward Syllie opened the scoring for Waterloo reserves at the 47^th minute for 1-0 score at the break.

Danny Jirta tied the score1-1 at 88 minutes for Milton, a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation time.

Adnan Smajic put Milton into a 2-1 lead at 91 minutes and Lucky Maghori increased the lead to 3-1 at 16 minutes of extra time, and the score remained 3-1 to the final whistle.

CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – SUMMARY

Quarterfinals

Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0

SC Waterloo B 5, Serbian White Eagles B 0

Milton SC B 6, Toronto Atomic FC B 0

York Region Shooters B 4, Niagara United B 4 EXTRA TIME

Niagara United B won on penalty kicks.

 Semifinals

SC Waterloo B 5, Niagara United B 1

Milton SC B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 0

 Final

 Milton SC B 3, SC Waterloo  B 1

 

 

Josip Keran, a veteran standout attacking defender with Toronto Croatia, was voted the MVP of the Canadian Soccer League at a well-attended annual awards night held at Kitchener Saturday, a prelude to the CSL Championship Day being held at nearby Waterloo on Sunday afternoon.

Keran, 30, was considered to have played a big defensive role in the Toronto team’s second place finish in the CSL First Division and a the team is a finalist in the championship game against SC Waterloo being played at Warrior Field, Waterloo, a 4 pm kickoff on Sunday. Keran also found the net 10 times for Toronto Croatia in regular season games.

Most goals in the CSL First Division were scored by Richard West, a striker with York Region Shooters who struck 23 in the regular season – 10 goals in two games near the end of the season – while Nikola Stanojevic of Burlington SC was voted the league’s defender of the year.

The annual Rookie of the year award went to Ihor Melnyk of expansion club Toronto Atomic FC.

Andrew Stringer of Burlington SC picked up the best goalkeeper in the CSL First Division and Vasil Ischak of Atomic was voted the best coach in the league’s top division.

MVP of the CSL Second Division is Brantford Galaxy reserve team’s Arsenije Japalak and Nikola Miokovic of Burlington SC reserves was the top scorer in division two with 15 goals in the 2015 campaign.

The defender of the year award in the CSL Second Division was awarded to Namanjar Sudar of Brantford Galaxy reserves, rookie of the year is Kingma Zach, also of Brantford Galaxy reserves, Ihor Vitiv, of Toronto Atomic reserves, is the top goalkeeper in Division Two and Amir Osmanlic of Milton reserves was voted the best coach in division two.

Goran Babic was voted the referee of the year in the Canadian Soccer League, Cyndy De Thomasis of York Region Shooters was elected as the recipient of the year’s Harry Paul Gauss Award to reflect the top individual who contributed to the league with effort, dedication and allegiance in 2015.

Club’s honoured were Serbian White Eagles for finishing on top of the CSL First Division, SC Waterloo B for winning the CSL Second Division in the regular season, and Burlington SC won the Fair Play and Respect Award.

 

Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo have both travelled the championship road before. And both have won.

Toronto Croatia have lifted the trophy nine times, Waterloo once.

The Toronto side entered professional soccer in 1956 – this is their 60^th year.

Waterloo entered the CSL, which is considered the entry point to the pro game in Canada, in 2011 – this is their fifth year.

Toronto Croatia ended the 2015 regular season second in the standings. Waterloo fourth.

Yet there’s no telling which team should win this weekend’s upcoming CSL Championship. It’s a tough call.

Both teams can score. Adis Hadecic struck 16 goals for Waterloo during the regular season just ended, but Toronto Croatia’s Darren Chambers, Jure Glavina and Josip Keran accounted for 33 of the 57 that found the net. Waterloo’s total output was 34.

Toronto Croatia conceded just 18 goals in the 22-game campaign. Waterloo conceded 27.

Josip Keran is a defender, but scored an amazing 10 goals in Toronto Croatia’s 22 games

Waterloo is at home – awarded the hosting of the 2015 Championship Finals.            

CSL Championship – Final

Sunday, October 25 at 4 pm

Toronto Croatia vs SC Waterloo

Warrior Field, Waterloo

 The CSL Championship is preceded by the CSL Second Division Championship at 1 pm

SC Waterloo B vs Milton SC B

 

Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo will be the finalists for the CSL Championship following a 3-2 extra time victory by the Toronto side over York Region Shooters at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke Sunday night, and the two teams to fight it out for Second Division supremacy were also decided Sunday when Waterloo reserves defeated Niagara United reserves 5-1 and the Milton reserve team advanced with a 3-0 win over the Brantford Galaxy reserve squad.

Midfielder Richard Edwards opened the scoring for York Region Shooters at the 24th minute mark for a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Toronto Croatia appeared to have the upper hand in the second half and tied the score at 81 minutes when defender Josip Keran took a cross to head into the net. It was 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

The game went into 2 x 15 minutes of overtime and the Shooters took a 2-1 lead at 106 minutes on a goal by midfielder Andrei Spatary, but the home side tied the game 2-2 just one minute later when Tomislav Zadro dove into the ball, a diving header from five yards that left York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis no chance for a save.

Toronto Croatia took a 3-2 lead at 23 minutes of overtime when a defensive pass was intercepted by Andres Fresenga who promptly found the net for the winning goal.

Toronto Croatia and SC Waterloo meet in the final at Warrior Stadium in Waterloo next Sunday, October 25, that’s a 4 pm kickoff.

Aleksander Stojiljkovic scored twice for SC Waterloo reserves at 65 and 89 minutes in the Second Division Championship semifinal against Niagara United reserves played at Rim Park in Waterloo, his first goal from the penalty spot following the opening goal of the game by Dzenan Karic at the 35 th minute mark. Mohammad Ali Heydarpour scored at 50 minutes and Edward Syllie at 68 minutes for the home side.

Derek Paterson scored for Niagara United.

In the second semifinal of the CSL Second Division series, Milton SC reserves advanced to the final with a 3-0 victory over Brantford Galaxy reserves at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton.

Delvin Mathurin opened the scoring for Milton at the 17th minute mark and Lucky Maghori made it 2-0 at 41 minutes, the score at the break.

Stephan Cameron found the net at 83 minutes to complete the scoring for a 3-0 result at the final whistle.

Keitu Smith of Milton was shown the red card following a second caution at 75 minutes and Simo Vrakela of Brantford Galaxy was also ordered off following a second yellow at the 89th minute.

Milton SC B will meet SC Waterloo B for the Second Division Championship at Warrior Stadium next Sunday, October 24 at 1 pm.

PLAYOFFS SUMMARY

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarterfinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, London City 0

SC Waterloo 2, Toronto Atomic FC 0

York Region Shooters 4, Burlington SC 2

Toronto Croatia 4, Milton SC 0

Semifinals

SC Waterloo 3, Serbian White Eagles 2

Toronto Croatia 3, York Region Shooters 2 EXTRA TIME

 CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarterfinals

Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0

SC Waterloo B 5, Serbian White Eagles B 0

Milton SC B 6, Toronto Atomic FC B 0

York Region Shooters B 4, Niagara United B 4 EXTRA TIME

Niagara United B won on penalty kicks.

Semifinals

SC Waterloo B 5, Niagara United B 1

Milton SC B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 0

 

 

Serbian White Eagles almost recovered from an early first half 1-0 deficit that stretched to 3-0 at 85 minutes, but two late goals by the First Division winner just failed to come to terms with a determined SC Waterloo and a 3-2 victory for the Southwestern Ontario side at the final whistle.

Defender Mladen Zeljkovic headed in the opening goal to give Waterloo the lead at the 4 th minute mark at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west end, and the goal held up for a 1-0 score at the break.

Waterloo forward Mohammad Ali Heydarpour struck a second goal to give the visitors a 2-0 lead at 71 minutes and Adis Hasecic’s drive from 18 yards entered the net after Serbian White Eagles’ goalkeeper Bojan Vranic appeared to make the save, a 3-0 score at 85 minutes.

Serbian White Eagles pressed in the remaining minutes and scored twice before running out of time in a chippy, physical encounter during what otherwise was a well-played second half. Defender Branislav Vukomanovic  beat Waterloo ‘keeper Imad Hakura  to reduce the score to 3-1 and Mirko Medic added a second goal for the home side at 96 minutes, just before the final whistle.

The victory advanced Waterloo to the CSL Championship Final at Warrior Field in Waterloo on October 25, to meet the winner of the Toronto Croatia vs York Region Shooters semifinal set for Centennial Stadium on Sunday.

 Remaining games this weekend:

 CSL Championship Playoffs

SEMIFINALS

Sunday October 18, Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs York Region Shooters

CSL Second Division Championship Playoffs

SEMIFINALS

Sunday, October 18 Rim Park, Waterloo 3 pm SC Waterloo B vs Niagara United B

Sunday, October 18 Jean Vanier Field, Milton 3.30 pm Milton SC B vs Brantford Galaxy B

PLAYOFFS SUMMARY

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarterfinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, London City 0

SC Waterloo 2, Toronto Atomic FC 0

York Region Shooters 4, Burlington SC 2

Toronto Croatia 4, Milton SC 0

Serbian White Eagles, SC Waterloo, York Region Shooters and Toronto Croatia advance to the semifinals.

Semifinals

SC Waterloo 3, Serbian White Eagles 2

 CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarterfinals

Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0

SC Waterloo B 5, Serbian White Eagles B 0

Milton SC B 6, Toronto Atomic FC B 0

York Region Shooters B 4, Niagara United B 4 EXTRA TIME

Niagara United won on penalty kicks.

Brantford Galaxy SC B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC B and  Niagara United B advance to the semifinals.

 

 

SC Waterloo, York Region Shooters and Toronto Croatia advanced in the CSL Championship with quarterfinal victories Sunday, to join Serbian White Eagles in the semifinals the weekend 16 -18, and in the CSL Second Division Championship, it will be Brantford Galaxy B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC B and Niagara United B.

Slobodan Milanovic put SC Waterloo ahead at 48 minutes against Toronto Atomic FC at Warrior Field, Waterloo, and Adis Hasecic scored the second at 90 minutes for the 2-0 final score.

There were four red cards in the game, the first being Aleksandar Stojiljkovic of Waterloo at 38 minutes for an off the ball incident, defender Michael Tischer of Atomic was ordered off at 60 minutes for a foul on Milanovic, forward Ihor Mihalevskyy of Atomic was ejected at 66 minutes on receiving a second yellow card and Ihor Melnyk of Atomic was sent off at 80 minutes for dissent.

Striker Richard West led York Region Shooters with a hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Burlington SC at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium at Maple. West opened the scoring at 10 minutes and Camilo Veloza tied the game 1-1 for Burlington eight minutes later.

West struck his second goal at 36 minutes for a 2-1 Shooters lead and Aleksander Stojanovski made it 3-1 at 40 minutes, the score at the interval.

Veloza scored a second goal for Burlington at the 50 minute mark for a 3-2 score and West completed his hat-trick for a 4-2 score at 92 minutes and the game result.

West has found the net 13 times in the last three games – two games at the end of the regular season and Sunday’s quarterfinal playoff.

Jure Glavina also scored a hat-trick in Sunday’s quarterfinals to lead Toronto Croatia to their 4-0 defeat of Milton in the game at Centennial Stadium at Etobicoke.

Glavina opened the scoring with a blistering free kick from 35 yards that beat Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica at the 10 minute mark, and Shawn Brown made it 2-0 three minutes later. It was 2-0 at half-time.

Glavina increased the Toronto Croatia lead to 3-0 at 58 minutes and completed his hat-trick for a 4-0 lead at 70 minutes, the score at the final whistle.

In the CSL Second Division Championship quarterfinals, Milton SC reserves eliminated Toronto Atomic FC reserves 6-0 and Niagara United B defeated York Region Shooters B 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 4-4 tie at the end of regular time and extra time.

PLAYOFFS SUMMARY

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarterfinals

Serbian White Eagles 1, London City 0

SC Waterloo 2, Toronto Atomic FC 0

York Region Shooters 4, Burlington SC 2

Toronto Croatia 4, Milton SC 0

Serbian White Eagles, SC Waterloo, York Region Shooters and Toronto Croatia advance to the semifinals.

 CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarterfinals

Brantford Galaxy B 1, Burlington SC B 0

SC Waterloo B 5, Serbian White Eagles B 0

Milton SC B 6, Toronto Atomic FC B 0

York Region Shooters 4, Niagara United B 4 EXTRA TIME – Niagara United won 4-3 on penalty kicks

Brantford Galaxy B, SC Waterloo B, Milton SC B and Niagara United B advance to the semifinals.

 

Serbian White Eagles scored a narrow 1-0 victory over London City in the opening game of the CSL Championship quarterfinals Saturday night to advance to the CSL Championship semifinals being played next weekend, leading to the final on October 25.

It was a closely contested playoff encounter at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, scoreless at the break and into the second half until Serbian White Eagles midfielder Branislav Vukomanovic took a free kick with pace from 26 yards that left London City goalkeeper Vladimir Markotic helpless and unmoved when it caught the top right corner of the net.

The goal came at 69 minutes, just five minutes after Djorjije Strunjas missed a clear cut opportunity to put Serbian Eagles into the lead earlier. London City also missed an opportunity to score when forward Aldin Kukic shot just wide at 88 minutes with only Serbian White Eagles’ goalkeeper Bojan Vranic to beat and the game ended 1-0.

There was one Second Division championship playoff game Saturday night when SC Waterloo reserves took control of the game against Serbian White Eagles reserves to win 5-0 at Warrior Stadium in Waterloo.

Five scorers accounted for the goals which came from Nikola Miokovic, Mo Ali Heydarpour, Edward Syllie, Kevin Benavides and Johnson Luyiga.

There was one game in the Second Division championship playoffs Friday, when Brantford Galaxy reserves advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 result over Burlington SC reserves.

For the remaining playoff schedule this Thanksgiving Weekend, there are three games in the CSL Championship quarterfinals and two games in the Second Division quarterfinals Sunday:

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS

Sunday October 11  St Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs Burlington SC

Sunday October 11 Centennial Stadium 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs Milton SC

Sunday October 11 Warrior Field 4 pm SC Waterloo vs Toronto Atomic FC

SECOND DIVISION QUARTERFINALS

Sunday October 11 St Jean Vanier Field 3 pm Milton SC B vs Toronto Atomic FC B

Sunday October 11  St Joan of Arc 8 pm York Region Shooters B vs Niagara United B

 

 

A late goal was enough to give the Brantford Galaxy reserve team a 1-0 victory over Burlington SC reserves in the opening quarterfinal game of the Second Division playoffs played at Nelson Stadium in Burlington Friday night.

Simo Vrakela headed into the net from a corner kick past the outstretched hands of Burlington goalkeeper Andrew Singer at 88 minutes in a game with few scoring opportunities in the playoff opener.

Burlington midfielder Erwin Uzunovic had the best opportunity to find the net for the home side just a few minutes after the kick off and the game appeared heading for extra time until Vrakela broke the deadlock.

The Second Division Championship quarterfinal games continue into the weekend and there is a full slate of CSL Championship quarterfinals played Saturday and Sunday, leading to the semifinals the weekend October 16 – 18 and the championship finals at Warrior Field on October 25.

The remaining Thanksgiving weekend games are:

SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP – Quarterfinals

Saturday October 10 Warrior Field 4 pm SC Waterloo B vs Serbian White Eagles B

Sunday October 11 St Jean Vanier Field 3 pm Milton SC B vs Toronto Atomic FC B

Sunday October 11  St Joan of Arc 8 pm York Region Shooters B vs Niagara United B

CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – Quarterfinals

Saturday October 10  Centennial Stadium 7 pm Serbian White Eagles vs London City

Sunday October 11  St Joan of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs Burlington SC

Sunday October 11 Centennial Stadium 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs Milton SC

Sunday October 11 Warrior Field 4 pm SC Waterloo vs Toronto Atomic FC