Continentals FC were almost outplayed in the early stages of its semi-final match with Serbian White Eagles at Esther Shiner Stadium on August 20. But that all changed when with almost 30 minutes gone in the first half Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper was ejected for a rarely called offence of handling the ball outside the box.
While having an extra man certainly brought Continentals into the game with greater confidence, which made the difference between the two teams in the eventual outcome, will the team from the northern edge of Toronto follow through with the same level of confidence against a lively Scarborough side in the final game ?
Continentals and Scarborough meet in a downtown final Saturday.
While Continentals slipped in the regular season standings, the team has an obvious strength and good depth with players such as goalscorer Mykola Temniuk who joined the renamed FC Vorkuta in 2018 following more than 50 appearances and scoring 30 goals with Ahrobiznes Volochysk in the tough Ukrainian First League, others such as forward Olaksil Boiko and midfielder Bogdan Borovskyi are showing fine form.
Scarborough has been in the championship final each of the past five seasons, winning the trophy in 2019 and 2021 and while defeated just once in this year’s league campaign that was a loss to Continentals FC on July 30. The earlier match between these two teams on June 18 ended in a scoreless tie.
But Kiril Dimirov, Scarborough GM and occasional player who is still capable of making a difference on the field of play, continues to be at the peak of optimism in forecasting his club’s presence once again in the final, and a prediction the game that will end with the east Toronto side lifting the championship trophy.
While the team averaged a respectable two goals per league game there is little doubt that having been the team to concede the least goals – eight in the regular league schedule – has been the main asset of Scarborough throughout. It may be the influence and focus of head coach Mirko Medic who was a standout defender in Europe and one of the top defenders in the Canadian Soccer League’s long history including a Defender of the Year award in 2009 while with Serbian White Eagles.
The CSL Championship Final is played at Lamport Stadium on the west side of downtown Toronto. It’s located on King Street West, just east of Dufferin St.
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – 2022
QUARTER-FINALS
Serbian White Eagles and York Region Shooters gained a bye to the semi-finals.
Continentals FC 2, Toronto Falcons 0
Scarborough SC 3, BGHC 2
SEMI-FINALS
Serbian White Eagles 0, Continentals FC 2
Scarborough SC 3, York Region Shooters 1 (after extra time)
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL
- Scarborough SC vs Continentals FC
- Saturday, August 27 at 8 pm, Lamport Stadium, Toronto
