August 9, 2004 CPSL weekend games (from CPSL website)
NEWS
BORDER STARS TAKE WESTERN CONFERENCE LEAD FOLLOWING 1-1 TIE WITH HAMILTON THUNDER
Hamilton Thunder and Windsor Border Stars fought to a 1-1 tie and the point was enough to put the border team on top of the Western Conference standings with a slim one point margin in the only game played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League Monday.
Over the weekend, Vaughan Shooters and Metro Lions played to a 1-1 tie at The Soccer Centre in Vaughan on Sunday night and on Saturday, Toronto Supra midfielder Jose Moreira scored a goal in each half at Windsor Stadium to give his side an important 2-1 victory over Border Stars, and top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
But the limelight over the weekend belongs to Paul Munster, a 22 year-old Northern Ireland-born forward with London City who was described by several fans as being sensational in scoring all four goals for his side in City’s 4-3 victory over St. Catharines Wolves at Cove Road, London on Friday night.
Munster went on a three-goal scoring spree in a 10-minute period just before half-time and struck the winner with the score at 3-3 just two minutes from time.
Ian Bennett opened the scoring for Hamilton with a quick reflex shot to find the net at the 17th minute mark, his fifth goal of the season at Brian Timmis Stadium on Monday, but just seven minutes later Aaron Byrd scored the equalizer, his sixth of the campaign for the visitors, and the 1-1 half-time score held up to the end.
Border Stars take a one point lead at the top of the Western Conference standings with a 6-3-3 WLT record for 21 points, one point in front of London City, while Hamilton Thunder improve to 4-3-4 for 16 points, tied with Brampton Hitmen.
On Sunday night, following a hard-fought, scoreless but entertaining game through to the mid-way point of the second half, Joey Todaro put Shooters in front, his fifth goal of the season. He beat Lions' goalkeeper Courtney Campbell with a strike inside the 18 yard line, but just four minutes later Caswain Mason tied the game for Metro Lions.
The tie held up to the final whistle and the point put Metro Lions back on top of the Eastern Conference with a 7-1-4 WLT record for 25 points, tied with Toronto Supra, with Vaughan Shooters in third position with a 5-3-4 record for 19 points.
On Saturday night, Supra were playing with a purpose and a determination to overcome their first league defeat of the season, a 4-2 loss to Hamilton Thunder on Wednesday.
Supra opened the scoring after 26 minutes when Moreira put the ball past Border Stars' goalkeeper Alan Placek, but Aaron Byrd equalized for Border Stars at 44 minutes, his fifth of the season, for a 1-1 half-time score.
Moreira scored his second and the winner at 66 minutes while his side was shorthanded with Supra defender Rui Sousa ordered off on receiving his second yellow card early in the second half. There were five other yellow cards handed out in the 2-1 win for the Toronto team.
Supra have a 7-1-4 WLT record for 25 points.
Anthony Stranges of St. Catharines opened the scoring in the first minute of play at Cove Road in the game against London, almost immediately after City goalkeeper Haidar Al-Shaibani saved a penalty awarded to the Garden City side.
Munster hit a natural hat-trick at 34, 43 and 45 minutes for a 3-1 lead at half-time, but St. Catharines tied the game in the second half on goals by Tony Carbonara and Frank Zumpano at 60 minutes and 72 minutes, respectively. Munster struck the winning goal at 89 minutes for a 4-3 final score.
Munster, who registered his 12th through 15th goals in the goalscoring title race, is now seven in front of Michael DiLuca now with Hamilton Thunder.
London City are now with a 6-3-2 WLT record for 20 points, one behind Border Stars.
St. Catharines are at 2-6-4 for 10 points.
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