It’s not for nothing that Bosko Borjan took a trip to Central America recently. The Hamilton, Ontario, resident took the long treck to El Salvador as part of his life-long association with football, as he prefers to call it. It’s very much more than his main sport of interest, it’s a big part of his daily life.

Borjan’s very existence for as long as he can remember has been attached to the world’s game. in the beginning as a young player in Croatia in the 1970s through to being involved in Canada with European partners in 2010 to bring professional soccer to Brantford, a venture that attracted the support of the late Walter Gretzky in the birthplace of hockey’s ‘the great one’ Wayne Gretzky.

Success came quickly when the new Brantford Galaxy won the Canadian Soccer League championship in 2010, and this was followed by a decade of witnessing son Milan Borjan  develop as a goalkeeper to eventually become the number one ‘keeper for Red Star Belgrade, one of Europe’s top teams. Milan then became a standout ‘keeper with Canada’s national World Cup squad.

The younger Borjan played a stellar part during the recent World Cup qualifying games to be named Canada’s male player of the month in February 2022. Bosko’s February 2 whirlwind trip to El Salvador’s Cuscatlan Stadium – Central America’s largest, provided yet another first-hand account of Milan’s convincing presence as Canada’s goalkeeper. He has been a leader on and off the field of play. Canada won 2-0 in El Salvador, to bring closer to reality a World Cup finals appearance in Qatar during November this year. It’s an achievement Canadian fans have been waiting since 1986.

The senior Borjan returned home to Hamilton from El Salvador while Milan returned to Serbia to resume club action with Red Star Belgrade, winning three games during February. All three were won without the Croatian-born goalkeeper conceding a goal while lifting Red Star in contention for the SuperLiga title.

With Milan being involved in the Serbia Cup and SuperLiga titles giving Bosko something to think about, the senior Borjan will also expected to be making another bid for the Canadian Soccer League title with Brantford Galaxy, or a team formed during the pandemic to represent both Brantford and neighboring Hamilton. The upcoming  CSL season is expected to kickoff late May.

Stan Adamson

PICTURE: Wabila Wallace (right) of Atletico Sporting Toronto was one of the standout players in the ProSound Cup competition. While the league’s leading goal scorer at season end, Wallace was also consistently dangerous around goal to play an important part in his team’s overall performance to finish third in the standings.  

It was not surprising that FC Vorkuta and Scarborough SC opened the 2021 Canadian Soccer League season on August 28 with victories to continue where the defending champions Vorkuta, and runner-up Scarborough, left off at the end of the 2020 campaign.

It was the beginning of another abbreviated season in the CSL with matches confined to the single venue Centennial Stadium located on the edge of Toronto’s west end, an arrangement that would accommodate the three-month long schedule for eight teams competing for the 26-game ProSound Cup  competition and ending the season with the CSL Championship playoffs while meeting the local and provincial requirements of the ongoing pandemic.

Four teams, Atletico Sporting Toronto, EURU Academy, St. Catharines Hrvat and Toronto Tigers were invited to join with CSL member teams BGHC 1, Scarborough SC, Serbian White Eagles and FC Vorkuta in the ProSound Cup competition. The BGHC 1 side would represent CSL members Brantford Galaxy and Hamilton City, geographically almost adjacent to each other in southern Ontario. The single team arrangement was approved by the CSL to accommodate the many circumstances resulting from the pandemic’s disruptions in the Canadian soccer community.

The CSL followed the departed Pino Jazbec with the addition of the highly regarded Peter Kovacs to create new and meaningful competition at a time soccer organizations throughout Canada were struggling during the early times of the pandemic, not unlike business activities at all levels of society. Kovacs, who ventured into soccer management and marketing after being a player in Canada’s National Soccer League has a number of successes to his credit over the years, the most notable being the highly successful Puma League based in Toronto.

Primetime Marketing, an organization headed by former professional player and  former CSL director Phil Ionadi, was also engaged by the CSL to carry out promotional and other work in the current season while also laying groundwork for an improved, future  Canadian Soccer League.

ProSound Hearing Services were added as a CSL sponsor and the regular league competition would be played for the ProSound Cup.

KICKOFF

The opening day of the ProSound Cup schedule on August 28 matched the unknown Toronto Tigers against Scarborough SC, a team which just two years earlier won the CSL Championship after being the finalist in 2017 and 2018.  Scarborough appeared even more intimidating with an impressive new head coach in Mirko Medic who had developed a strong reputation as a top defender with Serbian White Eagles following a standout career in Europe. But Toronto Tigers were also confidence-driven, the origins of which came from Brazilian football by team owner Leandro Madeira and manager Raphael Silva.

There were two additional games scheduled for the opening day, which resulted in Scarborough registering its superiority with a 6-1 victory over Toronto Tigers and FC Vorkuta defeating the southern Ontario BGHC team 2-0. The third match –  between Serbian White Eagles and Atletico Sporting Toronto, was washed out by torrential rain.

Silva commented following his team’s 6-1 defeat: “While disappointed by the score, we are not discouraged, it’s the opening game and there is much further to go in our attempt to win the cup.”

In the following week, Atletico Sporting Toronto’s opening match on September 4 ended in a 3-0 victory for FC Vorkuta, BGHC defeated EURU Academy 4-2 and Scarborough picked up its second victory with a 3-0 win over Serbian White Eagles.

EARLY SEASON HAT-TRICKS

Midfielder Bogdan Borovskyi struck an early season hat-trick in Vorkuta’s 6-0 rout of Serbian White Eagles on September 11 and midfielder Gregor Zugelj was on the mark with a hat-trick in a Catharines Hrvat  4-1 victory over EURU Academy three days later- the only CSL match played on Tuesday, September 14. Vladimir Strizovic led Serbian White Eagles to a recovery following three consecutive defeats when the midfielder hit a hat-trick for a 4-1 victory over St. Catharines Hrvat on September 18.

ATLETICO IMPRESSIVE

Atletico Sporting was impressive in its 2-0 win over the long standing CSL team Serbian White Eagles on September 7, a match that both highlighted the strength of Atletico Sporting with an always dangerous in front of goal Wabila Wallace. Wallace scored both goals for Atletico for the 2-0 victory and came close to scoring more until the game was abandoned at 69 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning. The score stood as final in keeping with the CSL rule that games cut short after completing the first half in these circumstances, are ruled complete.

Atletico Sporting won its next game, a 3-0 result over EURU Academy on September 11, Wallace scoring the second goal. He then found the net twice in a 3-0 victory over St. Catharines Hrvat on September 24 to put the Cameroon-born striker on the way to being the league’s leading goalscorer, which he eventually achieved.

SERBIAN WHITE EAGLES SLOW OFF THE MARK

Meanwhile, Serbian White Eagles failed to score in its first three matches, losing 3-0, 2-0 and 6-0 before a 4-1 victory over St.Catharines Hrvat on September 18 and while BGHC had victories over EURU Academy and Atletico Sporting, the combination southwestern Ontario team was not considered strong enough to prevent domination by FC Vorkuta and SC Scarborough. The 2020 CSL Championship finalists both completed their ProSound Cup schedule undefeated and the ProSound Cup winners FC Vorkuta  conceded only one goal in the 7-game schedule.

VORKUTA WINS PROSOUND CUP – SCARBOROUGH CHAMPIONS

Vorkuta won the ProSound Cup with a 4-2 penalty kick victory over Scarborough on October 24. The result came following a cliffhanger 120 minutes  of scoreless, but great soccer to watch. The victory gave Vorkuta yet another major title win following the CSL Championship in 2018 and 2019 and regular season First Division titles in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Scarborough went on to win the CSL Championship, defeating Vorkuta, 4-1 on November 7. It was the second CSL Championship for the Toronto east end side following the 2-0 victory over Ukraine United in 2019 and the fifth time in the past five years Scarborough has played in the final.

FOOTNOTES:

Hrvat Disrupted

St.Catharines Hrvat matches were disrupted by certain players requiring self-isolation after attending a wedding that later reported several positive COVID 19 cases among the guests. There was no report of a Hrvat player testing positive.

Atletico Third

Atletico Sporting Toronto completed the season in third position in the standings, the highest of the four teams invited to take part in the 2021 competition. The team’s position was above both Serbian White Eagles and BGHC, both member teams of the Canadian Soccer League.

Wallace Leading Scorer

Wabila Wallace of Atletico Sporting Toronto, completed the season as the leading scorer in the Canadian Soccer League. Wallace, 22, learned his soccer in the Central African nation of Cameroon. Cameroon is in the Africa Nations Cup finals of 16 teams, with the opening game against Burkina on Sunday, January 9, 2022.

One Goal Starushchenko

Goalkeeper Anatoli Starushchenko, a product of high level soccer in Ukraine who signed for FC Vorkuta in 2019, must be given most of the credit for remarkably conceding just one goal during the seven-game regular season which led to his team winning the ProSound Cup. There were six shut-outs in Vorkuta’s regular season schedule with the one goal conceded during the second half of a 1-1 draw with Scarborough on September 25. That match was one of the season’s most spectacular with many yellow cards while both teams showed a determination to remain unbeaten. The match, considered one of the season’s most difficult to officiate, was superbly handled by referee Ramee Arbaji.

Soccer Can Be Cruel

John Trye, the Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper is also from the African continent and is a national team player for Sierra Leone in Central Africa which is also in the last 16 of the Africa Nations Cup. Trye was probably the unluckiest player of the CSL season when near the end of a hotly contested CSL Championship semi-final on October 17 his team led FC Vorkuta 1-0 during the late stages of added time, just one more referee’s whistle away from a championship final game the following week. During what appeared to be Vorkuta’s last chance to draw even, the 6’ 4” Trye leaped for a high ball above the Serbian White Eagles six-yard line to then come crashing down awkwardly and heavily. With an obvious injury, Trye was assisted off the field and replaced by substitute goalkeeper Nikola Postic. On resuming play, Vorkuta then gained a free kick on the edge of the box, the ball was tapped to Vorkuta midfielder Sergii Ivliev who moved in close to push the ball over the line for an equalizer. With almost no time remaining and an expected 30 minutes extra time upcoming, Vorkuta midfielder Pavlo Chornomaz took a pass from the restart to make a quick snap shot from 35 yards, dropping the ball into the back of the net for a Vorkuta 2-1 winning goal.

Vorkuta Documentary

A documentary story of FC Vorkuta, was aired nationally on the beIN SPORTS channel on Friday, June 11, 2021. The story includes details about FC owner Igor Demitchev, who was raised in Vorkuta then emigrated to Canada where he continued to enjoy his passion for football. With fellow immigrant Samad Kadirov, they launched FC Vorkuta in 2008 in memory of and a tribute to those in Russia who suffered in brutal conditions in forced labour camps in that community just north of the Arctic Circle over a period of more than 20 years between 1930 and 1955.The team’s  launch was highly successful in the amateur leagues in the Toronto area and in 2017 the club was accepted as an expansion team in the Canadian Soccer League to be even more successful while attracting the attention of many in the Canadian soccer community.

Agent Denys Yanchuk

Denys Yanchuk, a vice president and coach with FC Vorkuta, was accepted during the 2021 season as an agent by UEFA, the governing body for football in Europe.

Stan Adamson

 

 

 

 

 

The Canadian Soccer League expresses its sincere best wishes to soccer fans everywhere. In particular, those who took part in the highly successful 2021 CSL season despite the many challenges and other necessary restrictions as a result of the pandemic.

We are proud of our teams playing such a high level of attractive, exciting soccer. We thank the game officials, the match day officials and ground staff, and the media, our generous and supportive sponsor ProSound Hearing Services. We thank also, the many loyal fans and those who came to see the CSL for the first time.

We congratulate the winners – the ProSound Cup going to FC Vorkuta and the CSL Championship to Scarborough SC. All details and more will be included in a website retrospective of the entire season in the coming days.

In the meantime, Happy Holidays.

PICTURE: Scarborough SC celebrate following the CSL Championship trophy presentation at Centennial Stadium in Toronto Sunday afternoon……………

Scarborough SC are the 2021 champions of the Canadian Soccer League following a decisive 4-1 victory over FC Vorkuta in an entertaining encounter in near summer-like conditions at Centennial Stadium, Toronto Sunday.

While the outcome was not entirely a surprise given the year by year determination for improvement, a hallmark of Scarborough SC for some time now, the ease with which the east Toronto side slid into a 3-0 lead at the break and defeated FC Vorkuta by a 4-1 score at the final whistle, was a margin well deserved on the run of play, but was unexpected.

Scarborough are the CSL champions once again, a victory and celebration for the second time since entering the Canadian Soccer League in 2015. That inaugural year the team finished a low tenth in the standings, but started a year by year climb to be a championship finalist for five successive years 2017 – 2021. The championship came in 2019 and again, now in 2021.

Scarborough striker Milos Scepanovic opened the scoring, catching the lower right corner of the net from 18 yards after five minutes of play and Moussa Limane beat Vorkuta goalkeeper Anatoli Starushchenko from close-in to make it 2-0 at the 27th minute mark.
Limane added his second goal for Scarborough, low and inside the right post for a 3-0 lead at 32 minutes, the score at the break.

Vorkuta were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Vadym Gostiev was shown the red card by referee Craig Williams at the 50th minute following an untidy challenge.

Liubomyr Halchuck scored from the penalty spot for Vorkuta following a foul inside the box to reduce the Scarborough lead to 3-1 at 79 minutes, and Milos Scepanovic struck his second goal for Scarborough, driving a free kick from outside the box and over the wall at the 85th minute for a 4-1 score that held to the final whistle.

An elated Mirko Medic in his first season as head coach for Scarborough, praised his team for the victory. “It was a great game and we were great. We played well and this time took our chances as they came along, especially in the first half. I think we deserved to win, “ he said following the match.

FC Vorkuta owner Igor Demitchev, while disappointed with the result was quick to congratulate Scarborough.  “Scarborough has worked hard over the years and that has paid off and I congratulate them,” he said.

Sunday’s CSL Championship Final ended the 2021 season.

SCARBOROUGH SC: Vladimir Dragicevic (Goalkeeper), Camaal Reid (Midfielder), Gonzalo Matias Cabrera Celis (Forward), Edgar Oswaldo Osorio Rios (Defender), Marco Johansen (Defender), Milos Scepanovic (Forward). Misel Klisara (Defender),Neven Radakovic (Forward), Moussa Limane (Midfielder),Odein Simpson (Defender), Vladimir Zelenbaba (Midfielder).
Substitutes: Aubrey Lowe (Goalkeeper) 83 minutes, Aleksander Stojiljkovic (Forward), Kiril Dimitrov (Forward) 84 minutes, Daniel McIntosh (Defender) 79 minutes, Lukas Risto (Defender) 62 minutes, Marvin Morgan (Forward) 73 minutes, Taha Ilyass (Forward) 66 minutes, Stefan Nikolic (Midfielder) 90 minutes, Zoran Knezevic (Midfielder)
Head Coach: Mirko Medic, Assistant Coach and Club Official: Kiril Dimitrov.

FC VORKUTA: Anatoli Starushchenko (Goalkeeper), Illia Pitenko (Defender), Bogdan Borovskyi (Defender), Iaroslav Solonynko (Midfielder) , Jesus Eduardo Compean Gonzalez (Midfielder), Liubomyr Halchuk (Defender), Oleksandr Alieksieiev (Defender), Sergii Ivliev (Midfielder) Serhii Ursulenko (Midfielder), Mykola Temniuk (Forward), Valerii Yarmosh (Midfielder) .
Substitutes: Andrei Clurchin (Goalkeeper), Hlib Kiselov (Defender), Leonid Husak (Defender), Ivan Esteban Prieto Ramirez (Midfielder) 70 minutes, Mykyta Tkachev (71 minutes), (Defender), Serhii Melnyk (Midfielder) 55 minutes, Vadym Gostiev (Midfielder) 45 minutes, Viktor Raskov (Midfielder).
Head Coach and Club Official: Andrei Malychenko,

Match Officials: REFEREE: Craig Williams ASSISTANT REFEREES: Faris Efendic and Timur Qayoumi 4th OFFICIAL: Niroban Jayaakumar

Venue: Centennial Stadium, Toronto

2021 SEASON SUMMARY
League Title: Winner: FC Vorkuta  Runner-up: Scarborough SC
ProSound Cup: Winner: FC Vorkuta  Runner-up: Scarborough SC
CSL Championship: Winner: Scarborough SC   Runner-up: FC Vorkuta

CANADIAN SOCCER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2001 – 2021
2001 – St. Catharines Wolves
2002 – Ottawa Wizards
2003 – Brampton Hitmen
2004 – Toronto Croatia
2005 – Oakville Blue Devils
2006 – Italia Shooters
2007 – Toronto Croatia
2008 – Serbian White Eagles
2009 – Trois-Rivieres Attak
2010 –Brantford Galaxy
2011 – Toronto Croatia
2012 – Toronto Croatia
2013 – SC Waterloo
2014 – York Region Shooters
2015 – Toronto Croatia
2016 – Serbian White Eagles
2017 – York Region Shooters
2018 – FC Vorkuta
2019 – Scarborough SC
2020 — FC Vorkuta
2021 –Scarborough SC

 

Stan Adamson

The most obvious observation that can be made about the two finalists, FC Vorkuta and Scarborough SC in Sunday’s CSL Championship, is that both teams bring an abundance of talent and experience from other parts of the world.

Players from both teams, and this applies also to other teams in the 2021 Canadian Soccer League, have created an environment where games are well worth watching, at times highly entertaining and even an expectation and guarantee that when certain teams come together, the match will be spectacular.

Such is the case this coming Sunday when the two teams that have played a dominant role in the CSL in recent years and secured most of the honors, clash in the big event yet again. But is the FC Vorkuta edge now evaporating ?  Scarborough’s season by season improvement includes a CSL Championship Final appearance five years in succession to demonstrate what a perfect match now exists on the field of play when these two sides come together.

To look at some of the talent in Sunday’s match, particularly mentioning those not usually in the spotlight but are impressive, nevertheless, Scarborough’s Cameel Reid, a midfielder, made 100 appearances for Sporting Central Academy, the top level of Jamaican soccer National Premier League and was selected by the Jamaican national team. Kavin Bryan, also played at the highest level in Jamaica and made seven appearances for the national team including World Cup qualifiers. Vladimir Zelenbaba, an attacking midfielder,  has played in the Serbian First League, the Ukrainian Premier League, a stint in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Just an example of players who have excelled abroad or at home, and have played an important part in bringing the Toronto west-end team to its very best.

Coaching can make or break a team and Scarborough has generally been strong from the touchline with Zoran Rajovic playing an important role on and off the field during those recent successful seasons when progress was being made before his transfer to Serbian White Eagles. It’s interesting to note that Rajovic struck a hat-trick in a losing cause for Serbian White Eagles in the 7-5 semi-final loss on October 30, a win that put Scarborough into Sunday’s final. Kiril Dimitrov’s strong year by year drive and enthusiasm both on and off the field since declaring in 2014 pro soccer returning to Scarborough, also needs emphasis. As an aside, he too played well in the semi-final with a goal and important assist before coach Mirko Medic substituted and Dimitrov walked off at 75 minutes. Reluctantly, of course.

Scarborough head coach Medic has been a top defender in the CSL since 2006 following a successful professional career in Serbia and his presence has added a new dimension to Scarborough’s performance.

But FC Vorkuta has big guns too, with players like Bohdan Borovskyi, a standout midfielder from Ukraine, Serhii Melnyk, a prolific scorer from the Ukrainian Premier League, played in the top league in Belarus, taking part in a UEFA Europa League match for FK Zhodino, and also played in Muldova. Defender Jesus Eduardo Compean Gonzalez from Mexico is impressive, and so is midfielder Sergii Ivliev from high level soccer in Ukraine with two seasons in Poland. Just a few from a roster that has raised eyebrows in the Canadian soccer community for its unfaltering string of successes since entering the CSL in 2017.

Coaching is shared between head coach Andrei Malychenkov, a former First Division player in Russia going back to times of the USSR and a professional athlete in that country, and Viktor Raskov, a forward with an extensive background in Ukraine. He also played in Poland and Lithuania.

FC Vorkuta are the current CSL defending champions from the 2020 season and are now  attempting to secure a third title in this closing match of 2021, having won the league title on October 9 and the ProSound Cup on October 17.

There will be an admission charge of $10 for Sunday’s CSL Championship Final and fans are reminded that as an outdoor activity, all Canadian Soccer League games at Centennial Stadium are not affected by the Ontario government regulation to implement the proof of vaccination requirements that went into effect on September 22. There will be no request for proof of vaccination or identity for entry.

Provincial health protocol is still in effect and spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. While seated in the stadium, the face mask can be removed.  Physical distancing is required.

 

Stan Adamson

 

PICTURE: The outstanding Zoran Rajovic struck three in a losing cause for Serbian White Eagles……………….

Scarborough SC will again meet FC Vorkuta in a continuing tussle for championship honours following a 7-5 semi-final victory over Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium Saturday.

The win advances the east Toronto side to meet FC Vorkuta in the CSL Championship Final set for Sunday. November 7 at Centennial Stadium in Toronto, a 3 pm kickoff.

A 7-5 victory for Scarborough was the highest score of a pandemic -abbreviated 2021 Canadian Soccer League season that kicked off on August 28 with a league schedule of eight teams, followed by the ProSound Cup competition leading to the CSL Championship. FC Vorkuta won both CSL regular season honours by finishing top of the standings and went on to defeat Scarborough in the ProSound Cup Final on October 24.

Triple honours by also winning the 2021 CSL Championship is Vorkuta’s aim, while Scarborough, a side that becomes more impressive with each passing season, is committed to breaking the Vorkuta cycle of successes. FC Vorkuta is the current defending champion, having won the title in 2020.

Saturday’s victory by Scarborough over Serbian White Eagles was an end to end entertaining match, a ding-dong high scoring affair with 12 goals, together with each team scoring an additional offside goal.

HOW THE GOALS WERE SCORED

Serbian White Eagles’ midfielder Marko Stajic opened the scoring from the left wing with a drive inside the right post to beat Scarborough goalkeeper Vladimir Dragicevic. The 1-0 lead  lasted just three minutes when Kiril Dimitrov struck Scarborough’s equalizer at the 24^th minute mark, taking a pass from a goalkeeper miscue then a free kick to make it 1-1.

Scarborough went into a 2-1 lead at 31 minutes when midfielder Moussa Limane found the net from 8 yards and Vladimir Strizovic equalized from the edge of the box for Serbian White Eagles, a 2-2 score at the 33^rd minute.

Scarborough took a 3-2 lead at 36 minutes when Limane scored his second goal, taking a pass from Dimitrov on the right wing to find the net past Serbian White Eagles’ goalkeeper Obrad Bejatovic, a 3-2 score at the break.  White Eagles drew level 3-3 from a well-taken free kick from outside the box by Zoran Rajovic who caught the top right corner at the 60^th minute mark for the first goal of a hat-trick by the prolific forward,

Scarborough again took the lead on a goal by Taha Ilyass at 71 minutes who caught the net just inside the left post for a 4-3 score and yet again Serbian White Eagles drew level when Rajovic struck his second at 79 minutes to make it 4-4, the score at the end of 90 minutes and leading to 30 minutes of extra time.

Scarborough took a 5-4 lead at 11 minutes of extra time when defender Lukas Risto scored in a goalmouth scramble, followed by a 6-4 lead on a strike by Taha Ilyass eight minutes later, a ball that caught the left post ending up in the right corner of the net.

Each team scored again when Illyass struck from close range following a passing play while closing in on the White Eagles’ goal, a 7-4 score, and Rajovic completed his hat-trick on a losing note for Serbian White Eagles,  a 7-5 final score in favour of Scarborough.

Stan Adamson

PICTURE: FC Vorkuta won the ProSound  Cup on October 23, which followed an undefeated run to capture the league title. Vorkuta will now meet the winner of the upcoming semi-final between Scarborough SC and Serbian White Eagles in a bid for the CSL Championship………………………………………………

A CSL Championship semi-final is scheduled for this coming Saturday, October 30, the first of two games remaining in the Canadian Soccer League 2021 season.

Scarborough SC will meet Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium Saturday, a 3 pm kickoff and the winner will meet the current CSL champions, FC Vorkuta, for the 2021 championship set for Sunday, November 7, also a 3 pm kickoff.

The CSL Championship on November 7 ends the 2021 season of league competition, the ProSound Cup Final, and the CSL Championship.

The first two titles (the league competition and the ProSound Cup) were won by FC Vorkuta.

Summary to date:

CSL League title winner: FC Vorkuta. Runner-up: Scarborough SC

ProSound Cup winner: FC Vorkuta. Runner-up: Scarborough SC

CSL Championship Semi-final: Scarborough SC vs Serbian White Eagles – Saturday, October 30  3 pm

CSL Championship Final: Scarborough SC  or Serbian White Eagles  vs FC Vorkuta – Sunday, Nov. 7  3pm

There will be an admission charge of $10 for Saturday’s semi-final and fans are reminded that as an outdoor activity, all Canadian Soccer League games at Centennial Stadium are not affected by the Ontario government regulation to implement the proof of vaccination requirements that went into effect on September 22. There will be no request for proof of vaccination or identity for entry.

Provincial health protocol is still in effect and spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. While seated in the stadium, the face mask can be removed.  Physical distancing is required.

Stan Adamson

 

 

PICTURE: Vorkuta captain Liubomyr Halchuk and a jubilant FC Vorkuta have been presented the ProSound Cup by Filippo Cosentino of Pro Sound Hearing Services following a 4-2 penalty kick victory over Scarborough SC at Centennial Stadium Sunday. PHOTO: Michael Heuthe, Ocean Fog Productions……………………

It didn’t need goals to be a match worth watching.  It was 120 minutes of Scarborough vs  FC Vorkuta without a goal being scored, a thrilling event that belies the theory that to be attractive soccer the fans must see goals being scored and the more the better.

Goals were scored eventually, as penalty kicks, following the 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra time in an otherwise scoreless, well-played match, with good pace throughout. The ProSound Cup Final at Centennial Stadium Sunday was won by FC Vorkuta , a 4-2 penalty kick decider to add to the regular season league title won at the end of an abbreviated pandemic-restricted regular season two-month campaign.

There were a number of close calls during the 120 minutes. More from Scarborough than from Vorkuta which gave the Toronto east end team a slight edge throughout.

In the early stages, Scarborough midfielder Vladimir Zelenbaba drove the ball over the bar from 35 yards after just nine minutes, while late in the match forward Taha Ilyass struck the woodwork at 19 minutes of overtime. Scarborough had several  opportunities in-between, but goalkeeper Anatoli Starushchenko, considered by some to be Vorkuta’s best player this night, was a big reason one or two Scarborough efforts failed to find the net.

After 120 minutes, Scarborough failed on the first and fourth penalty kicks, with Marco Johansen and Camaal Reid finding the net on numbers two and three. Vorkuta scorers from the spot were Liubomyr Halchuk, Sergii Ivliev, Iaroslav Solonynko and Vadym Gostiev.

The finalists have been competing fiercely with each other for top honours during  the past three seasons following a period when Vorkuta held a near dominance since entering the CSL in 2017. Vorkuta has won three regular season league titles (2017, 2019 and 2021), two CSL Championship titles (2018 and 2020) and now the ProSound Cup. Vorkuta also took Second Division honours with its reserve team in 2018 and 2019.  Scarborough captured the CSL Championship in 2019, the First Division title in 2020 and were CSL Championship finalists three times, 2017, 2018, 2020.

With three titles up for grabs this brief season, Vorkuta has taken two. The third title, the 2021 CSL Championship, is next.

Vorkuta coach Victor Raskov was elated following Sunday’s victory. “This was a very difficult game for us, difficult to win but we played well and I think deserved to win,” he said. A disappointed  Scarborough head coach Mirko Medic was more philosophical, saying “That’s the way the game goes sometimes, we played well enough to win, but there were missed chances to score, but I think we played a good game,” he said.

FC VORKUTA: Anatoli Starushchenko (Goalkeeper),  Illia Pitenko (Defender),  Bogdan Borovskyi (Defender),  Jesus Eduardo Compean Gonzalez (Midfielder), Liubomyr Halchuk (Defender), Oleksandr Alieksieiev (Defender), Pavlo Chornomaz (Midfielder), Sergii Ivliev (Midfielder)Serhii Melnyk (Midfielder),  Serhii Ursulenko (Midfielder),  Vadym Gostiev (Midfielder).

Substitutes: Andrei Clurchin (Goalkeeper), Cannes Choy (Midfielder), Hlib Kiselov (Defender), Iaroslav Solonynko (Midfielder) 61 minutes, Leonid Husak (Defender), Pavlo Shulhan (Defender), Valerii Yarmosh (Midfielder) 70 minutes..

Head Coach and Club Official:  Andrei Malychenko, Assistant Coach: Viktor Raskov

SCARBOROUGH SC: Aubrey Lowe (Goalkeeper), Camaal Reid (Midfielder), Gonzalo Matias Cabrera Celis (Forward), Jordan Webb (Midfielder), Marco Johansen (Defender), Milos Scepanovic (Forward). Misel Klisara (Defender), Odein Simpson (Defender), Sven Arapovic (Defender), Taha Ilyass (Forward), Vladimir Zelenbaba (Midfielder).

Substitutes: Aleksander Zwierzynski (Forward) , Edgar Aswaldo Osorio Rios (Defender) 117 minutes, Hasan Abdul (Midfielder), Kiril Dimitrov (Forward), Lukas Risto (Defender), Marvin Morgan (Forward) 57 minutes,  Moussa Limane (Midfielder), Neven Radakovic (Forward) 57 minutes, Stefan Nikolic (Midfielder) 109 minutes, Vladimir Dragicevic (Goalkeeper), Zoran Knezevic (Midfielder) 65 minutes.

Head Coach: Mirko Medic, Assistant Coach: Vladimir Dragicevic, Club Official: Kiril Dimitrov.

Match Officials: REFEREE: Timur Qayoumi; ASSISTANT REFEREES: Faris Efendic, Edward Brown; 4^th OFFICIAL: Niroban Jayaakumar

Venue: Centennial Stadium, Toronto    

 

Stan Adamson

It will take more than the crystal ball to forecast the winner of the ProSound Cup final between FC Vorkuta and Scarborough SC set for Centennial Stadium this coming Sunday.

No amount of play by play analysis, match statistical data, expert opinions or  surveys will give even a hint of how the match will develop and only the very brave will forecast a result.

Both teams ended the regular season undefeated. It was a 1-1 draw when the teams met on September 25.

History might give FC Vorkuta an edge, after the team with a name from a community close to the arctic circle in northern Russia started playing for almost a decade in the comfortable confines of Toronto amateur soccer before in 2017 taking a bold step into the tough professional Canadian Soccer League.

The move, taken by Russian immigrants Samad Kadirov and Toronto lawyer Igor Demitchev, met with unprecedented success. An opening game in the team’s inaugural 2017 season produced a winning 7-0 result, leading a to a season-end First Division title, followed by a CSL Championship victory the following year to cause a distinct buzz in the soccer community. The titles have kept coming and the Vorkuta buzz continues.

Scarborough SC has taken an earlier and different path to success in the CSL since former Waterloo Region player Kiril Dimitrov became the driving force to return professional soccer to the east Toronto community. Dimitrov did that in 2014 after starting his professional career in his native Bulgaria, came to Canada to sign for the CSL’s Serbian White Eagles in 2009 and was transferred to SC Waterloo in 2014. Then came the launch of Scarborough in the CSL.

Scarborough kicked off its new venture in 2015, to make gradual step by step progress  which included championship finals in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and  winning the CSL Championship in 2019. A First Division league title also came in 2020.

As with FC Vorkuta, these achievements by Scarborough in such a short time span have been remarkable entries in the historic records of a league that stretches back 86 years.

Perhaps coaching, those crucial tactical and player decisions during the match, will decide the winner of the inaugural ProSound trophy. Both clubs have been blessed with good coaching skills and much credit must go to Samad Kadirov, who has now departed from the organization after steering the team through many victories from the touch line.

Denys Yanchuk’s strong role in the FC Vorkuta success story and Sunday’s match should not be underestimated. Victor Raskov may be charged with giving the team direction in the final.

Head coach Ricardo Munguia Perez was prominent early for Scarborough SC, but the successful seasons had Kiril Dimitrov, Krum Bibishkov and Zoran Rajovic all involved in the technical and coaching side of the organization until Mirko Medic assumed the head coach role this season. Medic is recognized for his strong play on defence mostly for Serbian White Eagles in the CSL and was voted CSL Defender of the Year in 2009 and in 2016 was appointed manager. His presence with Scarborough on Sunday is considered a strong factor for the east Toronto side.

It  should be spectacular is the only safe forecast.

Stan Adamson

   

The ProSound Cup Final will be played at Centennial Stadium on Sunday, October 24, a 7 pm kickoff. There will be an admission charge of $10.

 Fans are reminded that as an outdoor activity, all Canadian Soccer League games at Centennial Stadium are not affected by the Ontario government regulation to implement the proof of vaccination requirements that went into effect on September 22. There will be no request for proof of vaccination or identity for entry.

   Spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. While seated in the stadium, the face mask can be removed.  Physical distancing is required.

 

 

 

There was plenty of drama in both post season playoff semi-finals for the ProSound Cup played at Centennial Stadium Sunday.

It turned out to be a cliffhanger of precipitous proportions for FC Vorkuta, a match for which they would be forgiven if accused of a catch-up exhaustion  before handing over the ProSound Cup semi-final decision to a determined Serbian White Eagles leading 1-0 on a goal by midfielder Marko Stajic at the 66^th minute mark.  Serbian White Eagles held the advantage for most of the second half and at the late stages when it appeared just a matter of the sound of referee Ramee Arbaji’s final whistle to eliminate Vorkuta and put White Eagles into the cup final the following Sunday.

But with little time left,  it all changed quickly when White Eagles’ goalkeeper John Trye, reaching for a dangerous high ball came crashing down on the six-yard line. The Sierra Leone international   6’ 4” keeper was taken off the field with almost no time remaining to be replaced by substitute goalkeeper Nikola Postic. Seconds later Postic faced a free kick on the edge of the box that led to a pass for Vorkuta midfielder Sergii Ivliev to push the ball inside the post, and the match was tied 1-1.

With just seconds to the whistle signaling 30 minutes of extra time, a partial clearance in the White Eagles’ defense then gave Vorkuta midfielder Pavlo Chornomaz the opportunity for a snap shot from 35 yards which turned into a picture 2-1 winning goal and a final whistle while the ball lay in the back of the net.

The second semi-final at Centennial Stadium also turned into a thriller with every chance the visiting Atletico Sporting Toronto had shown enough in a turbulent 1-1 draw on October 2 to take Sunday’s playoff with Scarborough one step further and notch a victory.

The match was attractive and furious at times while Atletico held Scarborough to a scoreless tie throughout the 90 minutes and into 30-minutes of overtime. While Scarborough had an edge with greater possession, the outcome could have gone either way until Scarborough midfielder Camaal Reid headed into the net out of reach of Atletico ‘keeper Rene Figueroa for a 1-0 lead five minutes into overtime.

Both sides had chances to score moving further into overtime, but Scarborough sealed the win to advance to the final with a strike by forward Taha Ilyass. That left just two minutes remaining  and a 2-0 victory and place in the final for the Toronto east side team.

The ProSound Cup Final will be reminiscent of the CSL Championship Final between FC Vorkuta and Scarborough SC played October 17, 2020 which ended with  a 2-1 championship victory by FC Vorkuta.

The upcoming ProSound Cup Final will be played at Centennial Stadium on Sunday, October 24, a 6.30 pm kickoff. There will be an admission charge of $10.

Fans are reminded that as an outdoor activity, all Canadian Soccer League games at Centennial Stadium are not affected by the Ontario government regulation to implement the proof of vaccination requirements that went into effect on September 22. There will be no request for proof of vaccination or identity for entry.

Spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. While seated in the stadium, the face mask can be removed.  Physical distancing is required.

 

Stan Adamson

 

 

With the Canadian Soccer League completing its regular season on October 9, the league enters into the post-season playoffs in two stages with the beginning of the ProSound Cup playoffs on Sunday, October 17, to be followed by the playoffs for the CSL Championship late October. The CSL championship final will be scheduled for early November.

The inaugural ProSound Cup will kickoff with four eligible teams going directly to the semifinal stage on Sunday. They are FC Vorkuta vs Serbian White Eagles at 4 pm to be followed by Scarborough SC vs Atletico Sporting Toronto at 6.15 pm. Both matches at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, Ontario.

The CSL Championship is open to the permanent members of the CSL with FC Vorkuta the current defending champions  following a 2-1 victory over Scarborough SC at Racco Park on October 17, 2020.

Of the current CSL teams, FC Vorkuta has won twice during the past decade (2018 and 2020), Scarborough once (2019) and Serbian White Eagles once (2016).

As an outdoor activity, all Canadian Soccer League games at Centennial Stadium are not affected by the Ontario government regulation to implement the proof of vaccination requirements that went into effect on September 22. There will be no request for proof of vaccination or identity for entry.

Spectators are allowed into Centennial Stadium for the Sunday, October 17 semi-final  double header, with a day pass available at the entrance for $10.

Spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. While seated in the stadium, the face mask can be removed.  Physical distancing is required.

 

Stan Adamson

 

 

 

 

 

A victory by FC Vorkuta over EURU Academy at Centennial Stadium Saturday, October 9, will clinch the league title for Vorkuta in regular season matches leading to the playoffs in pursuit of the ProSound Cup.

A revised 4 pm kickoff time for the FC Vorkuta vs. EURU Academy has been announced following a postponement of the Scarborough SC vs St. Catharines Hrvat match originally scheduled for a 2 pm kickoff and followed in the original schedule by Atletico Sporting Toronto vs Toronto Tigers at 4 pm and EURU Academy vs FC Vorkuta at 6 pm. The revised schedule for Saturday is now a double-header:

2 pm Atletico Sporting Toronto vs Toronto Tigers

4 pm EURU Academy vs FC Vorkuta

The Scarborough SC vs St. Catharines Hrvat game was postponed due to a COVID-19 exposure of a number of St. Catharines Hrvat players at an event not associated with the team’s games in the Canadian Soccer League. The players have followed all official health protocol measures including quarantine which ends on Sunday, October 10. The Scarborough SC vs St,Catharines Hrvat match has been placed in default in favour of Scarborough SC.

There will be one game to be played to complete the regular season following Saturday’s double header, the remaining BGHC1 vs St. Catharines Hrvat clash is tentatively set for Tuesday, October  12 and the playoff schedule will be announced during the week.

As an outdoor activity, all Canadian Soccer League games at Centennial Stadium are not affected by the Ontario government regulation to implement the proof of vaccination requirements that went into effect on September 22. There will be no request for proof of vaccination or identity for entry. A limited number of spectators are allowed into Centennial Stadium for the Saturday, October 9 end of regular season double header, with a full day pass available at the entrance for $10.

Spectators are required to wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin, unless they are entitled to an exemption. While seated in the stadium, the face mask can be removed.  Physical distancing is required.

Stan Adamson