Mississauga News: Olympians, Croatia Secure
Playoff Berths
THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
Croatia, Olympians secure CPSL playoff
berths
JOEL BROWN
Sep 20, 2002
Both of Mississauga's
Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) teams have clinched a spot in next
month's league championship tournament, thanks to the Mississauga Olympians' 4-0
victory over the St. Catharines Roma on Wednesday.
Played in St.
Catharines, the loss ends Roma's season with 24 points (6-7-6), edging them out
of the four-team battle for the Western Conference's three playoff positions and
squashing all hopes of defending their championship title from last year.
The Toronto Croatia lead the conference with 28 points and have an 8-4-4
record with three games remaining. The Olympians, with 26 points (7-5-5, two
games left), and the Hamilton Thunder, with 25 points (7-5-4, three games left)
are right behind.
Forward Hayden Fitzwilliams led the Olympians' attack
Wednesday with a hat trick while forward Daman Basak scored the final goal.
Goalkeeper Johnander Rossatto recorded the shutout.
Last Friday, the
Croatia destroyed London City's slim chances of gaining a playoff spot with a
2-0 win at Memorial Park. Forward Josip Juric, the team's big midseason pickup
from Croatia, scored both goals and played his best game with the team.
The first came at the 23rd minute-mark when Croatia midfielder Mario
Kulus skipped a corner kick to Juric for an easy tap-in past goalkeeper Actin
Ruci.
The second came in the 59th minute, when City defender Jermaine
Shakes misguidedly attempted to clear the ball, with a header deep in his own
zone. The ball went skyward, allowing Croatia forward Mladen Dikic to take
possession of the ball. He made a cross-pass to Juric in front of the net for
the goal.
Juric scored two more goals in Sunday's 6-1 road win over the
North York Astros. Midfielder Hugo Alstitud also scored two goals while Velimir
Crljen and Dikic each added one goal.
The team has improved its play
under interim head coach Drago Santic, with two wins in league action and a tie
during the League Cup tournament.
"When he comes into the change room he
makes us believe we're the best team, no matter who we play against," Dikic
said, who played when Santic coached the Croatia to a Puma League championship
six years ago.
In turn, Santic has been impressed by his now inspired
squad. "They're doing well, they're finally playing professional," he said.
"I've told them to play like a family and not fight. We need to play together to
be successful and we're doing that."
Last Wednesday, the Croatia tied
the Olympians 1-1 in the first of the two-game League Cup quarterfinals at
Memorial Park. Croatia midfielder Nik Andrijevic saved his team in the final
moments of the game when he scored off a penalty kick. Olympian midfielder Shawn
Faria had opened the scoring early in the first half.
The two teams will
play again on Sunday at Memorial Park (1 p.m.) with the winner advancing to the
League Cup championship tournament in London next weekend. As for regular season
games, the Croatia visit the Toronto Supra today (8:30 p.m.) while the Olympians
visit the Vaughan Sun Devils on Oct. 4 (8 p.m.).
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