June 17, 1999
ASTROS WIN IN ST. CATHARINES
On Wednesday evening at Club Roma, St. Catharines were hoping that their home opener would get the 1998 Playoff Champions back on track after only a single point from their first two games. Judging from the first half, the home fans must have felt sure that they were on their way to their first win. St. Catharines controlled the play throughout the first half and created a number of good chances. However, their only goal came direct from a free kick just outside the penalty area which Gary McGuchan curled around the wall and into the net in the 20th. minute. Although North York Astros looked dangerous on breakaways, they had few scoring opportunities.

However, the game turned around early in the second half. In the 50th. minute, a free kick from the left wing was floated across to the far post and Sam Medeiros was unchallenged as he headed in the equaliser. Less than a minute later, Astros Ivan Jurisic broke past two defenders towards the goal and although his shot was blocked by the goal-keeper, it was deflected up into the air and into the empty net. Things got worse for St. Catharines in the 60th. minute as Astros captain Alessandro Nardi found himself clear in front of the goal and lobbed the ball over the keeper to put Astros ahead by a 3 - 1 score. In the 64th. minute, St. Catharines were reduced to 10 men as Lucio Ianiero received his second caution of the game and this effectively killed any chance of a St. Catharines recovery. Osman Jimenez made it 4 - 1 for the Astros in the 67th. minute and Frank Zumpano made the final score 4 - 2 with a consolation goal for St. Catharines in the 89th. minute.

In Wednesday's other game, at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium, Toronto Croatia played host to London City. Both teams had made a promising start to the 1999 season after a disappointing 1998 season and were both looking to continue their improvement. In a defensive struggle, it was London City who took the three points with the only goal of the game coming from Tonino Commisso in the 32nd. minute of the first half.

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