Serbian White Eagles opened the season with a convincing 3-0 win over Astros Vasas FC at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, the only game in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.
Serbian Eagles had a slight edge in play in the early going and took the lead after 21 minutes following a good passing play entering the Astros Vasas penalty box following a free kick. Midfielder Kiril Dimitrov moved the ball to Ivan Stankovic who touched it to Djorjije Strunjas to slot the ball just inside the left post. It was 1-0 at the break.
Ten minutes into the second half Astros Vasas had their first real attempt at scoring when Koroly Csak drove the ball from 16 yards just over the top right corner of the net out of reach of Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic.
The home side increased their lead at 74 minutes when Stankovic found the top left corner of the net from 15 yards past Astros Vasas goalkeeper Antal-Andras Toth, the goal coming off a right wing cross by Dimitrov.
Serbian White Eagles took a 3-0 lead at the 82nd minute mark on a goal by Dimitrov when he collected a rebound off the crossbar from a shot by Stankovic just inside the box. The score held to the final whistle.
Serbian Eagles’ coach Uros Stamatovic was pleased with his team’s performance for the opening game: “We are developing a number of young players and I’m satisfied with their performance with the win tonight – they did a lot of things right and they know when they play that well they will enjoy the experience,” he said.
Serbian Eagles are looking to improve last season’s sixth place in the 16-team CSL First Division and will be at home on May 24 to St. Catharines Roma Wolves, a 9 pm kickoff at Centennial Stadium.
It was the second defeat for Astros Vasas FC in the new season following a 1-0 loss to York Region Shooters on May 12. “But it will take a few games,” said Laszlo Deak, assistant GM and president of the Toronto Vasas, a branch of the Budapest-based organization, who was instrumental in the merger with North York Astros to form Astros Vasas FC to kickoff the 2013 CSL season.
Astros Vasas FC will play their home opener against Kingston FC at Esther Shiner Stadium on May 26, that’s a 4.30 pm start.
