THE UPS AND DOWNS OF 2012 IN THE CSL………A league retrospective

by

LONDON CITY SOLD
New interests, headed by Hamilton entrepreneur Andrew Crowe, took over ownership of London City Soccer Club from the Gauss family early 2012. London City was launched on St. Valentine’s Day 1973 to become a fixture in Canadian professional soccer. The club has a reputation for developing young players, a number of which were signed over the years by clubs in Europe.
Markus (Max) Gauss – now a member of the London Sports Hall of Fame – started the club which was managed for many years by son, the late Harry Gauss, and subsequently by Harry’s son, Ryan.


BUSINESS OF SOCCER A LEAGUE PRIORITY URGES CSL TEAM OWNER
Tony De Thomasis, owner of York Region Shooters, warned his fellow owners in January that the future success of Canada’s only professional soccer league rests on the ability of all owners to run teams like a business.
De Thomasis, himself a successful businessman in the financial sector, said the CSL must turn its attention to the business of soccer with financial strength being a major consideration for the league’s future development.


GERARDO LEZCANO
The Canadian Soccer League and the soccer community lost popular North York Astros coach Gerardo Lezcano to cancer at the age of 65. Gerardo Jose Lezcano was born in Argentina’s Corrientes Province and soccer soon became his favourite sport as he developed into a defender, a position he played on arrival in Canada in 1972.


YOUTH TALENT IN ABUNDANCE AT CSL SHOWCASE
The CSL held a player showcase at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga on March 2 and the event was well-attended by coaches from Canada and the United States who saw some of the brightest young prospects in Ontario.



CSL ANNOUNCES RECORD 16 TEAMS IN 2012 FIRST DIVISION
The CSL announced in April a record 16 teams in its First Division for the 2012 season with the opener set for the Invista Sports Centre in the picturesque community of Kingston, just east of Toronto. TFC Academy, the senior academy team of Toronto FC, visited Kingston FC on Saturday, May 5 and the visitors triumphed, 4-2.


IT’S FIRST DIVISION PRO SOCCER FOR NIAGARA UNITED
Niagara United announced at a press conference the formation of professional soccer for the first time in the world-renowned community.


THE CSL THIS WEEK KICKED OFF IN MAY
The CSL This Week, the popular weekly soccer show of game highlights, interviews and special features in the CSL, kicked off on Friday, May 18 for a season-long series,


JAREK WHITEMAN EARLY SEASON HAT-TRICK SINKS MISSISSAUGA EAGLES
Prolific SC Toronto forward Jarek Whiteman scored an early season hat-trick to lead his team to a 4-1 defeat of Mississauga Eagles FC at the Hershey Centre on May 18.


MONTREAL IMPACT ACADEMY TROUNCE ST. CATHARINES WOLVES 8-1
An impressive Montreal Impact Academy with several players under consideration for youth international duty,  trounced St. Catharines Wolves 8-1 on May 20, while  new-club SC Waterloo also raised eyebrows with  a 5-0 resounding victory over London City.


TORONTO CROATIA’S VUCEMILOVIC-GRGIC HITS HAT-TRICK IN 6-0 WIN
Midfielder Marin Vucemilovic Grgic led Toronro Croatia with a hat-trick in a 6-0 romp over North York Astros on June 10, while Brampton City Utd slammed Brantford Galaxy, 8-2 on the same day.


CAMARGO HAT-TRICK LANDS TFC VICTORY
TFC Academy midfielder Sergio Camargo scored all three to give his team a decisive 3-0 victory over Mississauga Eagles FC on June 22.


SCEPANOVIC AND PRZEDNOWEK HAT-TRICKS SPELL DEFEAT FOR NORTH YORK ASTROS
Three goals by forward Milos Scepanovic propelled Brampton City Utd. to a 6-0 victory over North York Astros on June 24 and on July 6 the Astros were also caught on the receiving end of an in-form Brantford forward Jacek Przednowek who struck a hat-trick for a 5-2 Brantford victory.


NEW-LOOK KINGSTON FC UPBEAT WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS
The mood was upbeat when Kingston FC held a press conference at the Invista Sports Centre on July 6 to make a number of key announcements, including a shuffle in ownership, a new coach, several new players and a new sponsor. Kingston chairman Lorne Abugov introduced Irish-born Colm Muldoon as the new head coach and promised further strengthening of the fledgling franchise as the club’s inaugural season progresses.


TFC TAKES OVER TOP SPOT IN FIRST DIVISION
TFC Academy scored a late goal to salvage a 2-2 tie in their home game against Windsor Stars on July 27 and the point was enough to put the team on top of the First Division


RICHARD WEST HITS HAT-TRICK FOR SERBIAN EAGLES
Striker Richard West led Serbian White Eagles with a first half hat-trick to a 6-1 defeat of Niagara United on August 3.


DAVID GUZMAN HAT-TRICK LIFTS BRAMPTON
Midfielder David Guzman showed the way with a hat-trick in Brampton City Utd’s crushing 7-1 defeat of Brantford Galaxy at Victoria Park in Brampton on August 5.



SC TORONTO GOES ON TOP WITH OSORIO HAT-TRICK
SC Toronto scored an impressive 5-0 away victory over London City to take over the top spot in the CSL First Division on August 27 due in part to an impressive hat-trick by Jonathan Osorio.


WINDSOR STARS DOMINATE ST. CATHARINES 7-0 WITH KEITH LOUGH HAT-TRICK
Windsor Stars, led by newcomer Keith Lough with a hat-trick, extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a 7-0 rout of Brantford Galaxy at Windsor Stadium on August 25.


TORONTO CROATIA LED THE WAY TO GAIN FIRST PLAYOFF BERTH
Toronto Croatia became the first team to secure a playoff berth with their 4-1 defeat of TFC Academy on September 7.


TWO HAT-TRICKS IN 7-3 GOALFEST AT KINGSTON
Richard West and Zoran Rajovic each scored three goals in a 7-3 Serbian White Eagles victory over Kingston FC on September 8


DRAZEN VUKOVIC SCORES THREE IN SC WATERLOO ROMP
Drazen Vukovic scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 romp over North York Astros on September 9


THE CSL’s STATES ITS POSITION ON PLAYING GAMES WHICH CLASH WITH CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAMS
The CSL responded to criticism in September that the league should avoid playing games on a night the Canadian National Team is playing. The league explained that the CSL cares about and is a strong supporter of the Canadian man’s national team and its progress in the World Cup and also about Canada’s women –  with pride in the recent Olympic achievement. The shortage of suitable enclosed stadia in certain cities makes it difficult to avoid certain nights completely, particularly at weekends where there are not enough dates to accommodate the busy almost 6-month long CSL season. Occasionally, therefore, while the league will avoid dates when an important national team is playing, a clash is sometimes unavoidable.


CSL RELEASES A STATEMENT FOLLOWING CBC REPORT OF MATCH FIXING
The Canadian Soccer League issued a statement in September 13 that it was aware of accusations that a regular season league game of September 12, 2009 between the home side Trois-Rivieres Attak and Toronto Croatia played at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec and won 4-1 by Trois-Rivieres Attak, was tampered with in favour of certain betting interests in Europe.
The CSL statement explains that match fixing in soccer is prevalent in many parts of the world and is a threat to the game The CSL stated it will continue its pledge to take the necessary steps to prevent any activity considered to be tampering with the outcome of any CSL match.


RICHARD WEST STRIKES ANOTHER HAT-TRICK
Serbian White Eagles striker Richard West scored his second hat-trick of the campaign in a 4-1 victory by Serbian White Eagles over Brantford Galaxy on September 16. West scored three on August 3.


TORONTO CROATIA ROMPS 7-0 TO GO SEVEN POINTS CLEAR
Toronto Croatia romped by a score of 7-0 over St. Catharines Wolves on September 19 to go seven points clear in the First Division standings.


TORONTO CROATIA CLINCHES FIRST DIVISION TITLE WITH 2-1 VICTORY
Toronto Croatia won the CSL First Division on September 30 with a 2-1 victory over Windsor Stars.


MONTREAL IMPACT ACADEMY HITS REMARKABLE NINE-GAME WINNING STREAK
A remarkable nine-game winning streak by Montreal Impact Academy ended their regular season with a 4-2 victory over TFC Academy on October 10.


TORONTO CROATIA WINS CSL CHAMPIONSHIP WHILE SC TORONTO RESERVES WIN SECOND DIVISION
Toronto Croatia defeated Montreal Impact Academy 1-0 to take the CSL Championship for the second year in succession and SC Toronto Reserves scored a 3-1 victory over Brampton City Utd Reserves to win the Second Division championship – both games played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on October 27.


MARIN VUCEMILOVIC-GRGIC VOTED MVP IN THE CSL
Toronto Croatia’s outstanding midfielder Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic was voted the CSL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for 2012 and was honoured with other recipients at the CSL Annual Awards night on November 25.


ARMANDO COSTA DIES
Armando Costa, the Technical Director and Head Coach of the CSL’s Brampton City Utd and one of Canada’s high profile and highly regarded coaches, lost his battle with cancer on December 7.
Armando’s life-long passion for soccer never really left him since growing up in Bombarral in central Portugal where he was born 63 years ago and where he was eventually signed by the local professional club SCE Bombarralense. He came to Canada in 1963.


 

ARMANDO COSTA LIVED THE GAME

by


Armando Costa lived the game. His life-long passion never really left him since growing up in Bombarral in central Portugal where he was born 63 years ago and where he was eventually signed by the local professional club SCE Bombarralense.


 


The popular, former player turned coach and one of the most talented technical men in Canadian soccer, the head coach and director of soccer operations for Brampton City Utd, passed away on Friday following a two-year battle with cancer.


 


“But he worried more about Canadian soccer and about the Canadian national team and talked about it a lot,” said nephew Alain, who followed his uncle’s soccer career in Canada closely over the years. Uncle Armando had arrived in Canada in 1968, played for First Portuguese in the National Soccer League for 15 years – the longest serving player in the league’s history. He also played top indoor soccer with the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Indoor Professional League from 1980 to 82 before turning to coaching.


 


Armed with a Class A coaching certificate, Armando Costa took First Portuguese to win the NSL Super Cup, became a High Performance coach for the Ontario Soccer Association involved in both the provincial and national programs and was on the coaching staff of the Toronto Lynx in the USL Division 1. He was commissioned to coach Saadi Ghaddafi of Libya  who played for Perugia in Italy, following which he was invited to stay in Libya to assist with the Libyan Men’s National Team and he created for that country a Libyan National Youth Team program.


 


FIFA man Dick Howard, a former professional goalkeeper in the UK, Canada and the United States was one of many who commented on the loss by saying:  “ A sad day for soccer in Canada. Armando gave so much to the game at all levels both on and off the field over the years. Fond memories for his many friends in the game who played with him or benefited from his coaching expertise. Truly one of the unsung heroes of Canadian soccer who never lost his love for the game. I will miss him. “


 


Bob Iarusci, one of Canada’s outstanding defenders, captained Canada’s national team, who played alongside Pele for New York Cosmos in the old NASL, spoke of the the passion that was Armando Costa. “He loved the game…never stopped analyzing it…studying it. He loved Canada and the Canadian soccer


landscape,  believed we could produce great players here…he was a dedicated coach who took his talents locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. I will miss his phone calls and his stories,” said Iarusci


 


In 2008 Armando Costa was appointed head coach of Brampton Lions of the Canadian Soccer League and was retained by Brampton City Utd in a change of ownership in 2010. “Armando’s presence was important to us and I’m personally a better person for having known him,” said Michael DiMatteo, part-owner of Brampton City Utd.


 


Armando is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Sandy (son-in-law Pedro) Natalie and Catarina, brother Emilio, sister Idalina, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Raquel


 


 Visitation is on Tuesday between 2pm and 9pm at Cardinal Funeral Home on Bathurst Street at Dundas in Toronto and funeral services will be Wednesday morning at 11am at the funeral home, following which he will be taken to Westminster Cemetery at Bathurst and Finch for his final resting place.


 


The Canadian Soccer League, the team owners and staff, match officials and all who benefited by Armando Costa’s presence, send their sincerest condolences to Armando’s wife Linda and the entire family.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

TORONTO CROATIA CAPTURES MAJOR HONOURS ON CSL AWARDS NIGHT…Goalscorer Vucemilovic-Grgic league MVP

by

Toronto Croatia captured the major honours at the CSL Annual Awards night at the Mississauga Convention Centre Sunday.

 

A repeat of the 2011 championship victory –  this time a 1-0 defeat of  Montreal Impact Academy on October 27 –  followed a regular season title win in the 16-team CSL First Division, while the Individual awards presented at the season-end dinner included Toronto Croatia midfielder Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic, who took the CSL Most Valuable Player Award, and Antonio Ilic, voted the Goalkeeper of the Year.

 

Vucemilovic-Grgic was prominent throughout for his outstanding two-way play and scoring 16 goals in the regular season, and Ilic was a big reason for the champions’ outstanding defensive record, conceding just 13 goals in the 22-game regular season schedule.

 

Drazen Vukovic of SC Waterloo won the leading goalscorer trophy with 20 goals in the CSL First Division. Vukovic, 30, who arrived in Canada in 2010 on a transfer from NK Solin of Croatia to play for Brantford Galaxy, was transferred to Waterloo for the 2012 season.

 

Maxim Tissot of Montreal Impact Academy was voted the best defender in the CSL’s top division by the member clubs and Jonathan Osorio, a midfielder with SC Toronto, took the  Rookie of the Year Award.

 

Quebec-born Tissot, 20, played in the CSL for Trois-Rivieres Attak before joining the Impact academy team, while Rookie winner Osorio, 20, is a standout midfielder who found the net 11 times for SC Toronto.

 

Coach of the Year in the First Division went to Stefano Vagnini of Windsor Stars, a team which ended the regular season with a late flourish to finish fourth in the standing, making the playoffs in their second year in the CSL.

 

Windsor’s Gino Berardi was voted the CSL Second Division MVP and was the top goalscorer in that division with 17 goals.

 

 

 

The complete awards list:

                    

      CSL Champions: Toronto Croatia

      Runners-up: Montreal Impact Academy

 

              CSL First Division Awards

 

      First Division Champions

      Toronto Croatia

 

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic       Toronto Croatia

 

Top Goalscorer

Drazen Vukovic                       SC Waterloo

 

         Goalkeeper of the Year

Antonio Ilic                               Toronto Croatia

  

       Defender of the Year

Maxim Tissot                            Montreal Impact Academy

 

        Rookie of the Year

Jonathan Osorio                     SC Toronto

                       

        Coach of the Year

Stefano Vagnini                      Windsor Stars

 

  

                                CSL Second Division Awards

 

                Second Division Champions

TFC Academy II

 

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

                        Gino Berardi                                 Windsor Stars B

 

                        Top Goalscorer

                   Gino Berardi                                Windsor Stars B

                       

                        Goalkeeper of the Year

                      Mark Rogal                                       TFC Academy II

                       

                   Defender of the Year

                        Malcolm Mings                             Niagara United B

 

Rookie of the Year

                        Mark Wadid                                   TFC Academy II

                                               

                       

 

Coach of the Year

                        James McGillivray                         Niagara United

                       

 

Other awards

 

Harry Paul Gauss Award

Ryan Gauss

 

Presented to the individual who has best demonstrated during the year exemplary allegiance, commitment and support to the league and its member clubs.

 

Referee of the Year

David Barrie

 

Fair Play and Respect Award

TFC Academy

 

The Fair Play and Respect Award is awarded to the club which, in the opinion of the CSL Discipline Committee, has demonstrated good discipline on the field of play and has exhibited a high level of respect for the game officials in the regular playing season

 

  

Media Award

Robin Glover    

 

For his continuing interest and loyalty in reporting CSL news and game reports for the CNSL, CPSL and the CSL since 1995.

 

 

Broadcaster Award

Enio Perruzza

 

For game announcement number 3,000 on October 5, 2012, following a period of 26 years behind the microphone with the CNSL, CPSL and the CSL and other major soccer games played in the Canadian soccer community.

 

EXTENDED STAY FOR CSL PLAYERS AT EMPOLI CAMP IN ITALY…… Silviu Petrescu MLS Ref of Year

by

Justin Soscia is a taller than avarage16 year old centre back who feels very comfortable playing for York Region Shooters reserves in the CSL Second Division where the pace is a bit quick and things can get a little physical.


 


But the rigours of Second Division CSL soccer is precisely why he played there during the CSL season just ended, and why he is now in Italy in a high level academy environment connected to Empoli FC, a Serie B team formed in the Tuscany region of Italy more than 90 years ago. Justin Soscia one of eight CSL players invited from a larger group to stay on for further coaching and to train with coaches from the Empoli team.


 


York Region Shooters have a relationship with a company called Italian Soccer Management (ISM) which partners with Empoli FC for camps and scouting of players and Soscia was spotted by Luis Pomares of Empoli during a recent visit to Canada.


 


“I’ve always encouraged Justin to play at a level higher than his age and it’s paying off,” said Tony Soscia, Justin’s father. The elder Soscia was explaining his son’s successful past season in the CSL and the opportunity to continue with the ISM program in Italy.


 


Other CSL players now in Italy for an extended stay into December are Blerie Lame, Maurizio Ragone, Jesse Rogers, Michel Downey and Marcello Tantalo of York Region and O’Neil Spencer, Nathan Harlow and Nicholas Okot from SC Waterloo.


 


Anita Kovacevic of the Shooters organization and manager of the contingent of players that made the trip from southern Ontario, emphasizes that a feature of the ISM/Empoli program is the continuation of a young player’s education while he is in training and being scouted. “ Players from the ages 14 to 18 are able to complete their high school diploma and, most importantly, gain Italian status which allows them to sign professionally,” she explained.


 


IN OTHER NEWS………….


 


The CSL congratulates referee  Silviu Petrescu for being named the MLS 2012 Referee of the Year. The Kitchener native has officiated regularly in the Canadian Soccer League for several years and in recent times has been considered one of Canada’s top match officials. Petrescu, 44, a FIFA referee since 2002, is the first Canadian match official to receive the award.


 


Montreal Impact Academy midfielder Zakaria Messoudi, who played in the CSL Championship Final on October 27, has been included in Canada’s U-20 roster for the 11-day camp in the USA and Costa Rica. The academy’s Maxime Crepeau, who did not play in the final, is also in the U-20 national team selection.


 


The Impact also have a number of academy players in national youth team projects including the selection of midfielders Yacine Ait Slimane, (he played in the CSL final), and Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare. Both are included in the Canadian youth camp now underway in California.


 


 

UPCOMING CSL AWARDS NIGHT FOR THE WINNERS……..CSL releases list of individuals nominated

by

The playing season is over, but not the shouting.

 

The shouting, cheering, applauding will take place at the outstandingly elegant Mississauga Convention Centre on Sunday evening, November 25. That’s when the annual CSL Awards Banquet takes place, to honour and pay tribute to the winners – clubs, teams, players, coaches and the best of the referees, will all receive their awards.

 

We do know that Toronto Croatia successfully defended their previous year CSL Championship win, leaving a gallant, gutsy, younger Montreal Impact Academy as the runners-up following a 1-0 squeaker in the final on October 27. These same teams finished 1, 2 in the regular season First Division final standings.

 

We know also, that SC Toronto Reserves captured the Second Division Championship on the same day, a 3-1 victory over Brampton City Utd. TFC Academy II had earlier won the regular season Second Division league title.

 

Drazen Vukovic, a midfielder with SC Waterloo won the First Division goalscoring title with 20 goals, while Gino Berardi, a forward with Windsor Stars, topped the Second Division scoring with 17 goals.

 

But the majority of the CSL’s best, both club and individual, will not be known until presentation night.

 

The following were nominated by the CSL member clubs, the winners to be announced at the banquet on November 25:

 

 

                     CSL First Division – Nominations

 

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Drazen Vukovic                       SC Waterloo

Tihomir Maletic                       Toronto Croatia

Wandrille Lefevre                    Montreal Impact Academy

Matt Waddington                     Niagara United

Anthony Santilli                        Windsor Stars

Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic          Toronto Croatia

Jonathan Osorio                      SC Toronto

Claudio Perri                           St. Catharines Wolves

 

Goalkeeper of the Year

Antonio Ilic                              Toronto Croatia

Anthony Santilli                        Windsor Stars

Milos Djurkovic                        Serbian White Eagles

Sandy Matika                          Toronto Croatia

John Deluca                            Niagara United

Jason Beaulieu                        Montreal Impact Academy

Scott Cliff                                SC Toronto

           

Defender of the Year

Nikola Paunic                          TFC Academy

Maxim Tissot                          Montreal Impact Academy

Josip Keran                            Toronto Croatia

Matt Waddington                     Niagara United

Gerard Ladiyou                       SC Toronto

Zvonko Bakula                         London City

Michael Chiandussi                  Windsor Stars

Zoran Kukic                             SC Waterloo

Geoffrey Attard                       St. Catharines Wolves

 

           

Rookie of the Year

Sergio Camargo                     TFC Academy

Yacine Alt Slimane                  Montreal Impact Academy

Mohammed Mohammed          Niagara United

Abu Kamara                           St. Catharines Roma Wolves

Nikola Paunic                         TFC Academy

Jonathan Osorio                     SC Toronto

Michael Chandussi                  Windsor Stars

Kai Morton                             Montreal Impact Academy

Petar Mignon                          Toronto Croatia

Mark Dano                             St. Catharines Roma Wolves                        

                                  

Coach of the Year

Velimir Crljen                          Toronto Croatia

Danny Dichio                          TFC Academy

Stefano Vagnini                      Windsor Stars

Lazo Dzepina                          SC Waterloo

Philippe Eullaffroy                   Montreal Impact Academy

James McGillivray                   Niagara United

           

 

                                           CSL Second Division – Nominations

 

                       

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

                    Evroy Junior Ellis                     SC Toronto B

                    Ben N’Goran                           Niagara United B

                    Christian Cavajac                    St. Catharines Roma Wolves B

                    Gino Berardi                           Windsor Stars B

                    John Bahdi                              Niagara United B

                    Mark Wadid                            TFC Academy II                              

                       

                   Goalkeeper of the Year

Brad Gemmell                          Niagara United B

                    Adam Majer                             York Region Shooters B

                    Mark Rogal                              TFC Academy II

                    Justin Pickford                          St. Catharines Roma Wolves  B

                    Praveen Ahilan                          SC Toronto B

                    Dajo Olagbegi                           Windsor Stars B         

                       

                    Defender of the Year

Alain Sargeant                         TFC Academy II

                    Chris Suta       .                        Windsor Stars B

                    Malcolm Mings                         Niagara United B

                    Justin Soscia                            York Region Shooters B

                    Aaron Grant                             St. Catharines Roma Wolves B       

                       

                    Rookie of the Year

Jordan Hamilton                      TFC Academy II

                    Joel Kahula                             Windsor Stars B

                    Matt Lopoyda                          Niagara United B

                    Justin Soscia                           York Region Shooters B

                    Mark Wadid                            TFC Academy II

                    Fidan Nika                               St. Catharines Roma Wolves B

                    Dylan Sacramento                   TFC Academy II              

                                   

                                              

                    Coach of the Year

                    Anthony Capotosto                  TFC Academy II

                    James McGillivray                   Niagara United

                    Ryan Mendonca                      Windsor Stars B

                    Chris Kijak                              St. Catharines Roma Wolves B

                    Stefano Vagnini                       Windsor Stars B

 

Tickets are still available – call 905 564-2297

                       

 

 

 

TORONTO CROATIA WINS CSL CHAMPIONSHIP….. SC Toronto Second Division Champions

by

Toronto Croatia won the CSL championship with a 1-0 victory over Capital City FC of Ottawa Saturday.

 

Midfielder Hayden Fitzwilliams scored the only goal of the match at 18 minutes, a  header from 15 yards off a free kick with pace from the right wing by Tihomir Maletic that left Clint Irwin in the Capital City goal with no chance on the save.

 

It was a close, even game throughout that could have gone either way. Capital City, in its inaugural season in the Canadian Soccer League, had its best opportunity to equalize with an attempt by forward Sullivan Silva at 23 minutes, a drive that went over the crossbar with Toronto Croatia goalkeeper Sandi Matika beaten. Capital City defender Andre Manders also came close at 77 minutes.

 

It was Toronto Croatia’s eighth league title since entering professional soccer in 1956 with earlier wins in 1970, 71, 72, 73, 2000, 2004 and 2007.  It was also the second trophy win this season following a Croatian World Club Championship victory on July 2 when the Toronto side defeated teams from Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Australia in the two-week competition played in Europe.

 

Toronto Croatia finished second of 14 teams in the CSL First Division regular season just ended and had the best defensive record and just three defeats in the 26-game schedule. Capital City FC were not far behind in third position, conceding just one more goal and had just four losses.

 

Velemir Crljen, in his fourth year as head coach of Toronto Croatia said his team played well to win a very good game. “My team did a good job against a quick, younger side and the score was about right and we deserved to win,” he said.

 

Crljen said he was pleased with the season, close to winning the First Division, winning in Europe and now winning the championship. “I’m very happy,” he said.

 

Shaun Harris, head coach of Capital City, while congratulating Toronto Croatia for the win said he thought his side was on top in the second half. “Two teams with the best defensive record in the league made it a game hard to get a hit on goal, but I thought we had the better of the last 45 minutes. They are a very experienced team, but we did well, just didn’t quite make it,” he said.

 

The CSL season started early May with 14 teams in each of two divisions and will announce its individual award winners November 13. Mississauga Eagles FC B, the club’s reserve team in the CSL, won the Second Division championship by defeating Brampton City Utd B on October 22.

 

MONTREAL ACADEMY AND TORONTO CROATIA A CONTRAST…….CSL Championship Final Saturday

by

It’s Montreal Impact Academy vs. Toronto Croatia at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 3 pm


 


THE TEAMS


Toronto Croatia won the CSL First Division in the season just ended and Montreal Impact Academy were the runners-up.


 


 


 








































CSL FIRST DIVISION -2012

GP

W

L

T

GF

GA

PTS


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1 Toronto Croatia


22

15

1

6

57

13

51


2 Montreal Impact Academy

22

14

3

5

52

17

47


 


HOW THEY GOT THERE !


The top eight teams in the regular season final standings entered a quarterfinal playoff, with Toronto Croatia and Montreal Impact Academy advancing to the semifinals, then the final. The results were:


 


Quarterfinals:


Serbian White Eagles 1, SC Toronto 0


Montreal Impact Academy 2, TFC Academy 0


York Region Shooters 1, Windsor Stars 0


Toronto Croatia 2, Niagara United 0


 


Semifinals:


Montreal Impact Academy 3, York Region Shooters 1           TorontoCroatia 4, Serbian White Eagles 0 


 


There could not be a greater contrast to compare Montreal Impact Academy


and Toronto Croatia, the two finalists in this year’s CSL Championship.


 


Most players in the  Montreal Academy team are under 21, in a team that’s been in the CSL for just three years and part of a fledgling Montreal Impact organization in their first year in Major League Soccer (MLS). Several of the academy players have been selected for one of Canada’s national youth teams and their abundant talent reflects what the future looks like for Canadian soccer on the world stage.


 


In Saturday’s line-up for the Quebec side are midfielder Kevin Luarca, 19, and Kai Morton, 18, who were included in the Canada U-20 camp for the four-nation Marbella Cup in Spain recently, while Anthony Jackson-Hamel, 19, forward, Hugo LaPointe-Senecal, 19, have also been called by Canada. Midfielder Wandrille Lefevre and forward Mircea Ilcu have been called to the Montreal Impact Major League Soccer (MLS) team. 


 


Montreal Impact Academy are bidding on Saturday for their first major trophy.


 


Toronto Croatia, on the other hand, has been in Canadian professional soccer for 56 years, a team of generally older players, several are seasoned in the rigours of tough semi-professional soccer that is the CSL following some years playing at a high level in Europe. The club has a storied past, including the North American Championship victory as Toronto Metros Croatia in 1976 when the team included the legendary Portuguese superstar Eusebio.


 


Looking back on history, Toronto Croatia won the National Soccer League (NSL) championship four years running (1970 through 1973) – the NSL was a forerunner league of today’s CSL. In recent times, Toronto Croatia won the CSL title in 2004, in 2007 and again in 2011. In 2007 the Mississauga-based team won the inaugural Croatian World Championship and repeated that victory in 2011 with wins against NK Croatia Zurich (Switzerland), Dinamo Ottakring from Vienna, Croatia Berlin from Germany and Canberra of Australia.


 


Toronto Croatia won the CSL First Division for the season just ended, they lost just one game, while conceding a remarkably low 13 goals in the 22-game campaign. Montreal Impact Academy, which finished second in the First Division standings, have won their last 11 matches, nine at the end of their regular season and two in the playoffs.


 


Toronto Croatia captain Tonci Pirija, 32, who formerly played for Hajduk Split, NK Solin and NK Medimurje Cakovec in Croatia, also played professionally in Slovenia and Kazakhstan. He is playing his last game on Saturday for the current CSL champions.


Defender Josip Bonacin, 28, has played in three European countries, midfielder Dino Buljan, 21, defender Josip Keran, forward Bozenko Lesina, 32, Tihomir Maletic, 32, a prolific striker with 13 goals in the regular season, midfielder Josip Raso, 22, Andelo Srzentic, 22, and Marin Vucemilovic-Grgic, 25, the team’s leading goalscorer with 16 in the regular season, have all played at a high level in Europe. 


 


Rosters for the two finalists are in your attachments. The CSL Championship on Saturday is preceded by the CSL Second Division Championship between SC Toronto Reserves and Brampton City Utd Reserves to kickoff at 12.30 pm.


 


The CSL Championship between Montreal Impact Academy and Toronto Croatia is shown live by Rogers TV in Ontario Viewers should check their local listing.


 


The Canadian soccer League would like to thank its sponsors for their generous support of this CSL Championship Day, with special mention to partners Days Inn, Rogers TV, Locust Canada (the official ball of the CSL), Toronto Sun, Olympic Trophies, Givova and Sportchek.


 


Admission to Centennial Stadium is $25 for adults, $10 seniors and students. Family admission (2 adults, 2 youth) is $50.                                                                                           


 


 

MONTREAL ACADEMY, TORONTO CROATIA IN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL……SC Toronto Reserves and Brampton City Utd Reserves in Second Division final

by

Montreal Impact Academy defeated York Region Shooters 3-1 and Toronto Croatia downed their old rivals Serbian White Eagles 4-0 in the semifinals of the CSL Championship Sunday.

The Montreal Academy side enjoyed their 11th successive victory at the St Jean de Vianney sport centre in Quebec and they will meet the current CSL champions Toronto Croatia following their victory at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke.

Toronto Croatia took a 1-0 lead over Serbian White Eagles when defender Josip Keran found the net at the 19th minute mark and it was 1-0 at the break.

Tihomir Maletic struck twice in the early stages of the second half as the home side began to control the game, the prolific forward beat Serbian Eagles goalkeeper Milos Djurkovic at 51 and 54 minutes for a 3-0 lead.

Toronto Croatia went further ahead at 86 minutes on a goal by midfielder Andelo Srzentic who found the net from a rebound off the post and the 4-0 score held to the final whistle.

The Quebec side took 1-0 lead at the St Jean de Vianney sport centre at the 26th minute mark, a penalty kick called by referee Christopher Grabasse following a heavy challenge in the box and  Wandrille Lefevre drove the ball to right of York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis.

Forward Kadian Lecky tied the game 1-1 for York Region Shooters at the 35th minute mark and it was 1-1 at the interval.

Almost immediately after the re-start, Lefevre moved the ball to Anthony Jackson-Hamel on a breakaway to score the home side’s second goal, a 2-1 lead that held until 94 minutes when Yacine Alt Slimane sealed the victory with a third Montreal goal, it was 3-1 at the final whistle.

The two sides will meet at Centennial Stadium on Saturday, October 27, a 3 pm kickoff and the game will be preceded by the Second Division Championship Final for CSL reserve teams at 12.30 pm.

SC Toronto B and Brampton City Utd B will meet in the Second Division Championship following a 2-0 victory by Brampton over York Region Shooters B at the Avondale ground in Brampton Sunday night.

Following a scoreless first half with Brampton coming close to scoring on several occasions, the home side did take the lead at the 69th minute mark on a goal by forward Michael Tcherenkov who drove the ball into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.

Midfielder Yusif Walied struck three minutes later to give Brampton a 2-0 lead and the score held to the end of the game to move Brampton to the final.

In the first semifinal played at Downsview Park on Saturday night, Evan Brandon John opened the scoring for SC Toronto, heading home a corner kick out of reach of Mississauga Eagles goalkeeper Mitchell Cavaco, a 1-0 lead at the break.

Mississauga midfielder Laudelino Joe De Sousa then struck twice, at 53 and 58 minutes to put his side 2-1 up and last year’s reserve champions were heading for the Second Division final again this season until Brandon John scored his second goal for the Toronto side, a 2-2 tie at 90 minutes and the score at regulation time.

The teams battled a scoreless15 minutes each way for a 2-2 tie at 120 minutes to take the game into penalty kicks, won 4-3 by SC Toronto reserves.

Weekend summary:

CSL Championship – Semifinals

Montreal Impact Academy 3, York Region Shooters 1
T
oronto Croatia 4, Serbian White Eagles 0

CSL Second Division Championship – Semifinals

Brampton City Utd B 2, York Region Shooters B 0

Played Saturday, October 20: SC Toronto B 2, Mississauga Eagles FC B 2 (after extra time) (SC Toronto won 4-3 on penalty kicks)

Upcoming Games:

CSL Championship – Final

Saturday, Oct 27 Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 3 pm Montreal Impact Academy vs Toronto Croatia

CSL Second Division Championship – Final

Saturday, Oct. 27 Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 12.30 pm SC Toronto B vs Brampton City Utd B

 

 

 

MONTREAL IMPACT ACADEMY DEFEAT YORK REGION TO ADVANCE TO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

by

Montreal Impact Academy defeated York Region Shooters by a 3-1 score at the St Jean de Vianney sport centre in Quebec Sunday afternoon to advance to the CSL Championship Final.


 


The Quebec side took the lead at 26 minutes on a penalty kick called by referee Christopher Grabasse following a heavy challenge in the box and Wandrille Lefevre drove the ball to right of York Region goalkeeper Emanuelle Ameltonis.


 


Forward Kadian Lecky tied the game 1-1 for York Region Shooters at the 35th minute mark and it was 1-1 at the interval.


 


Almost immediately after the re-start, Lefevre moved the ball to Anthony Jackson-Hamel on a breakaway to score the home side’s second goal, a 2-1 lead that held until 94 minutes when Yacine Alt Slimane sealed the victory with a third Montreal goal, it was 3-1 at the final whistle.


 


It was Montreal Impact Academy’s 11th victory in succession for a place in the CSL Championship Final and they will meet Toronto Croatia or Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on Saturday, October 27.  These two teams play in the other semifinal Sunday night.


 


Remaining games:


 


CSL Championship – Semifinals


Sunday, Oct 21 Centennial Stadium 8 pm Toronto Croatia vs. Serbian White Eagles


 


CSL Second Division Championship – Semifinal


Sunday, Oct 21 Avondale Stadium 6 pm Brampton City Utd B vs. York Region Shooters B


 


CSL Championship – Final


Saturday, Oct 27 Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 3 pm Montreal Impact Academy  vs Toronto Croatia or Serbian White Eagles


 


CSL Second Division Championship – Final


 Saturday, Oct. 27 Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 12.30 pm SC Toronto B vs Brampton City Utd B or York Region Shooters B


 

SC TORONTO RESERVES IN SECOND DIVISION FINAL …..defeat Mississauga Eagles in penalty kicks decider

by


It took a last minute equalizer at the end of regulation time plus 30 minutes of extra time followed by


 


penalty kicks for SC Toronto B to defeat Mississauga Eagles B in the first semifinal of the


 


CSL Second Division Championship playoffs at Downsview Park in Toronto Saturday night.


 


 


Evan Brandon John opened the scoring for SC Toronto, heading home a corner kick out of reach of Mississauga goalkeeper


 


Mitchell Cavaco for a 1-0 lead at the break.


 


 


Mississauga midfielder Laudelino Joe De Sousa then struck twice, at 53 and 58 minutes to put his side 2-1 up and last year’s


 


reserve champions were heading for the Second Division final again this season until Brandon John scored his second goal


 


for the Toronto side, a 2-2 tie at 90 minutes and the score at regulation time.


 


 


The teams battled a scoreless15 minutes each way for a 2-2 tie at 120 minutes to take the game into penalty kicks, won 4-3


 


by SC Toronto reserves.


 


 


SC Toronto B advances to the Second Division Championship Final to meet the winner of Brampton City Utd or York Region


 


Shooters in the second semifinal Sunday night.


 


 


There has been a change of venue for the First Division semifinal between Montreal Impact Academy and York Region


 


Shooters Sunday afternoon. The game will now be played at the St Jean de Vianney Sport Centre in Montreal following heavy


 


rains that have affected the playing surface at the Claude Robillard Stadium.


 


Remaining games:


 


CSL Championship – Semifinals


 


Sunday, Oct 21 St Jean de Vianney 2 pm Montreal Impact Academy vs. York Region Shooters


 


Sunday, Oct 21 Centennial Stadium 8 pm Toronto Croatia vs. Serbian White Eagles


 


CSL Second Division Championship – Semifinal


 


Sunday, Oct 21 Avondale Stadium 6 pm Brampton City Utd B vs. York Region Shooters B


 


CSL Championship – Final


 


Saturday, Oct 27 Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 3 pm Montreal Impact Academy or York Region Shooters vs Toronto


 


Croatia or Serbian White Eagles


 


CSL Second Division Championship – Final


 


Saturday, Oct. 27 Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke 12.30 pm SC Toronto B vs Brampton City Utd B or York Region Shooters B


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Location

75 International Blvd.
Suite #203, Toronto ON
M9W 6L9

Contact

info@canadiansoccerleague.ca

416.675.6256

Copyright ©2025 | Canadian Soccer League | canadiansoccerleague.ca | All rights reserved | RossWebPro.com