CSL champions Toronto Croatia continued their winning way with a narrow 3-2 defeat of Kingston FC, while York Region Shooters also opened their new season account with a 1-0 victory over Astros Vasas FC, and SC Waterloo played to a 1-1 tie with Niagara United, three games in the CSL First Division Sunday night. One other game scheduled, Burlington SC vs. Serbian White Eagles, was postponed due to ground conditions at Nelson Stadium in Burlington.
Kingston FC opened the scoring with a goal from Catalin Lichioiu at the 23rd minute mark at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke and Roberto Galle tied the score 1-1 for Toronto Croatia five minutes later.
Striker Tihomir Maletic put the home side in the lead at 31 minutes when he intercepted just outside the penalty box to move in and drive a low shot from 18 yards just inside the post and Maletic increased the Croatia lead to 3-1 at 41 minutes, beating Kingston goalkeeper Jaroslav Tesar from 10 yards. It was 3-1 at the break.
Nathan Klemencic struck for the visitors to reduce the Croatia lead to 3-2 at 59 minutes and Kingston’s Jason Massie came close to equalizing when he caught the goalpost with a last minute attempt on goal in added time with Croatia goalkeeper Anton Ilic well beaten. It was 3-2 at the final whistle.
It was looking like a scoreless tie at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple until York Region Shooters scored the only goal of the game at 91 minutes by Dino Gardener from a pass by Richard West. Gardiner hit the ball into the roof of the net, beating Astros Vasas goalkeeper Antal-Andras Toth with the hard drive from just outside the box.
Following a scoreless first half, midfielder Adis Hasecic playing on the left wing for SC Waterloo, struck the opening goal from 20 yards, a drive that entered the net off the crossbar to put the home side one-up against Niagara United at Warrior Field in Waterloo.
Niagara struck back with a goal at 80 minutes from midfielder Jordi Amores who collected the rebound from a free kick to find the net and tie the game 1-1, a score that held until the final whistle.
