October 19, 2010 CSL--Match up for Semi Final rounds (from CSL website)
OLD AND THE NEW BATTLE FOR CSL CHAMPIONSHIP......Commissioner pledges control of playoff misconduct
2010-10-19
It's some of the old and some of the new for the semifinals of the CSL championship playoffs following a weekend of upsets that saw to teams York Region Shooters and Serbian White Eagles eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Toronto Croatia - 55 years in Canadian soccer with a history that includes the Toronto Metros Croatia connection and North American championship win of 1976, will now meet first year FC Hamilton Croatia in the semis this coming weekend, and upstart Brantford Galaxy, also in their inaugural year and reinforced by talent sent from Europe, will meet Portugal FC - the pride of the Portuguese community in west-end Toronto. They've been around for 10 years.
It will all culminate with the CSL Championship Final and Awards Day at Centennial Stadium on Halloween Sunday, October 31 and it will be anything but a frightening experience with two finalists from the only professional soccer league in Canada ready to play some of the best of Canadian club soccer.
Supporting the finale to a five-month long CSL campaign are sponsors Givova, an internationally known, rapidly expanding sporting goods supplier from Italy with sights on the Canadian soccer scene, the family-friendly Days Inn is also a partner, Rogers TV with its superb telecasts of CSL games all season long, the Toronto Sun with its amazing comprehensiveness in sports coverage, including the world game. Working with the CSL also are Pfaff Audi and SportChek - the Be Active, Feel Better people.
In the quarterfinals, Portugal FC continued their strong second half of the season form during which they were defeated just twice in 10 games. Saturday's 2-2 tie followed a 1-0 first leg win on October 12, but their series with Milltown FC was in doubt right to the end at Lamport Stadium on Saturday.
The match ended on a sour note following a tense and unruly last 10 minutes on and off the field which resulted in two players being red-carded - one after the final whistle. CSL commissioner Domenic Di Gironimo, on hand at the game, later announced the result will stand as played, but there will be a thorough and firm investigation leading to a league policy to deter similar misconduct in the future.
"The league has gotten significantly younger this year, with that comes an increased display of immature bravado, and more reason for youth management skills. Every incident provides an opportunity to grow from. The CSL is on the right path and we will not waiver from it," he said.
Toronto Croatia's defeat of York Region Shooters was the top seeded team toppled by the underdog of the eight teams that qualified. Experience had an edge in Hamilton Croatia's defeat of a gallant, younger and certainly talented TFC Academy, while new team Brantford Galaxy's smart defensive play accounted for a usually prolific Serbian White Eagles being scoreless for more than three hours of quarterfinal play.
CSL Championship - Playoffs
Quarterfinals - Second leg summary
Game October 16
Portugal FC 2, Milltown FC 2
(Portugal FC advance to semifinals on 4-1 points aggregate)
Games October 17
FC Hamilton Croatia 1, TFC Academy 0
(FC Hamilton Croatia advance to semifinals on 6-0 points aggregate)
York Region Shooters 1, Toronto Croatia 1
(Toronto Croatia advance to semifinals on 4-1 points aggregate)
Brantford Galaxy 1, Serbian White Eagles 0 (extra time)
(Brantford Galaxy advance to semifinals on 4-1 points aggregate)
Coming Up
Semifinals are:
Friday Oct. 22, Centennial Stadium, 8 pm Portugal FC vs. Brantford Galaxy
Sunday Oct. 24, Brian Timmis Stadium, 7 pm FC Hamilton Croatia vs. Toronto Croatia
Followed by
CSL Championship and Awards Day
Centennial Stadium, Etobicoke
Sunday, October 31, starting with the awards at 2.15 pm to be followed by the kickoff
Tickets
Adult - Advance Purchase $20
Adult - At the ground $25
17 and under $10
6 and under Free
Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $50 VIP Package (Preferred seating, food and beverage) $35
Call 905 564-2297 or any CSL club
or purchase online:
www.canadiansoccerleague.ca
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