TORONTO CROATIA, SC TORONTO AND YORK REGION REGISTER DECISIVE WINS……Croatia first to clinch playoff berth

Toronto Croatia, SC Toronto and York Region Shooters, all bidding for the CSL league title, registered decisive wins in the three games played in the Canadian Soccer League  Friday night.

 

SC Toronto roughed up Brantford Galaxy, 6-1 at Lamport Stadium, while Toronto Croatia maintained a four-point lead at the top of the table with a 4-1 victory over TFC Academy at Downsview Park, and York Region Shooters appeared determined to stay in contention with a well earned 4-1 away win over Mississauga Eagles FC at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

 

Toronto Croatia went ahead at the 24^th minute on a goal by Tihomir Maletic and the prolific striker made it 2-0 at 39 minutes with a drive that struck the crossbar before entering the net. The goals were Maletic’s 12^th and 13^th of the season.

 

Hayden Fitzwilliams increased the Croatia lead to 3-0 at 51 minutes and at 87 minutes TFC Academy scored from the penalty spot to make it 3-1, a goal by Mario Kovacevic following an untidy challenge inside the box.

 

Marin Vucemilovic Grgic struck for Toronto Croatia two minutes later, also from the penalty spot for a 4-1 final score.

 

The win lifted Toronto Croatia’s record to 12-1-5 WLT for 41 points on the season and the current CSL champions are the first team to qualify for a playoff berth. TFC Academy are at 10-4-3 for 33 points and are in fourth position in the standings.

 

Midfielder Anthony Di Biase opened the scoring for SC Toronto in their game against Brantford Galaxy and Ranko Golijanin equalized for the visitors at the 15^th minute mark.

 

Midfielder Dominic Roberts made it 2-1 for SC Toronto at 42 minutes, the score at the break.

 

Jonathan Osorio scored twice for the Toronto side in just three minutes, the first at 62 minutes and his second and SC Toronto’s fourth at 65 minutes for a 4-1 lead, and at 76 minutes Roberts beat Brantford goalkeeper Zoran Pusica for his second goal and a 5-1 SC Toronto lead. Di Biase scored his second and SC Toronto’s sixth for a 6-1 score that held to the final whistle.

 

SC Toronto are in second position in the standings with a 11-2-4 record for 37 points, while Brantford Galaxy continue their slump and now have a 8-8-1 record for 25 points.

 

York Region Shooters were also full marks for their victory over Mississauga Eagles FC and it was defender Fitzroy Christey who opened the scoring for a 1-0 Shooters lead at 3 minutes.

 

Midfielder Matthew O’Connor made it 2-0 at 10 minutes and Chris Thomas increased the lead to 3-0 at 36 minutes.

 

Mississauga Eagles were awarded a penalty following a hand ball at 38 minutes and Jose Melo found the net for a 3-1 score, but Kadian Lecky struck the fourth goal for York Region Shooters four minutes later and the game ended 4-1 in favour of the York Region.

 

The Shooters are 9-1-8 on the season for 35 points and have moved into third position in the standings, while Mississauga Eagles FC are at 7-7-4 for 25 points.

 

The remaining games this weekend are:

 

FIRST DIVISION

 

Sat, Sep 8 Kalar 7 PM Niagara United vs London City

Sat, Sep 8 Invista Centre 7 PM Kingston FC vs Serbian White Eagles

Sun, Sep 9 Claude Robillard 2 PM Montreal Impact Academy vs Serbian White Eagles – New ground location

Sun, Sep 9 Lions Park 6 PM Brantford Galaxy vs Toronto Croatia

Sun, Sep 9 St. Joan of Arc 6:30 PM York Region Shooters vs TFC Academy

Sun, Sep 9 St. David SS 7 PM SC Waterloo vs North York Astros

 

SECOND DIVISION

 

Sat, Sep 8 Hershey Centre 4 PM Mississauga Eagles FC B vs SC Waterloo B

Sat, Sep 8 Kalar 4 PM Niagara United B vs SC Toronto B

Sat, Sep 8 Invista Centre 5 PM Kingston FC B vs Serbian White Eagles B

Sat, Sep 8 Windsor Stadium 5:30 PM Windsor Stars B vs Brantford Galaxy B – GAME CANCELLED

Sun, Sep 9 Club Roma 6 PM St. Catharines Wolves B vs Brampton City Utd B

Sun, Sep 9 St. Joan of Arc 8:30 PM York Region Shooters B vs TFC Academy II