TORONTO CROATIA OFF TO FLYING START… Montreal Impact Academy and Shooters play to scoreless tie

The current CSL champions were off to a flying start to the new season with a 4-1 home victory over Brantford Galaxy at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, and in one other game played in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday, Montreal Impact Academy and York Region Shooters battled to a scoreless tie in Montreal.

 

It was the visitors who took the lead when Brantford forward Dave Simpson crossed the ball from the right win and found the top corner of the net and out of reach of the Croatia goalkeeper Pan Koumoulas at the 10 minute mark, but nine minutes later Toronto Croatia forward Bozenko Lesina tied the game 1-1.

 

Toronto Croatia’s leading scorer in 2011, striker Tihomir Maletic, struck from the penalty spot, a penalty called by referee David Barrie at 34 minutes, to make it 2-1 and that was the score at half-time.

 

Lesina scored his second goal one minute after the interval and at 79 minutes Croatia’s Marin Grgic  made it 4-1 with a drive from 25 yards to the left of  Galaxy goalkeeper Melford James Jr.

 

It was a well-played, at times physical encounter when Montreal Impact Academy and York Region Shooters failed to find the net to play to a scoreless tie at the at the St. Jean De Vianney ground in Montreal.

 

The best scoring chances came from defender Maxime Tissot and forward Victor Ndiaye of Montreal, but Camilo Benzi in the York Region net preserved the shutout, while Jason Beaulieu looked solid in goal for the home side.

 

The Montreal Impact Academy line-up included last season’s CSL leading goalscorer and former TFC Academy striker Stefan Vukovic after signing a three-month contract

Vukovic led the CSL last year with 18 goals.

“We liked what we saw from Stefan,” said Montreal Academy head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “This contract is a nice balance for both sides, to see how he fits in here and to see if he likes it here as well. After the three months, we will revisit things then.”

 

The weekend summary of games in the CSL:

 

Friday, May 11:

 

FIRST DIVISION

Mississauga Eagles FC 5, North York Astros 1

SC Toronto 5, St. Catharines Wolves 0

Serbian White Eagles 2, London City 2

 

Saturday, May 12:

 

FIRST DIVISION

Kingston FC 1, York Region Shooters 1

Windsor Stars 1, Brampton City Utd 0

 

SECOND DIVISION

TFC Academy II 2, SC Toronto B 1

Brampton City Utd B 2, Windsor Stars B 0

York Region Shooters B 4, Kingston FC B 2

 

Sunday, May 13:

 

FIRST DIVISION

Montreal Impact Academy 0, York Region Shooters 0

Toronto Croatia 4, Brantford Galaxy 1