VAUGHAN, Ontario—Monday, July 9, 2001

CPSL Weekend Wrap-up
"WE WERE MAGNIFICENT"-URSINI
CPSL Selects tie tough Moroccan under-23s
An elated CPSL president Vince Ursini was full of praise on his return from Ottawa yesterday following Saturday's physical encounter between the CPSL Selects and a Moroccan side that reflected that country's continuing determination to be a player on soccer's world stage. The game with Morocca under-23s ended in a 1-1 tie.

"But that is a huge victory for the CPSL when you consider that Morocco made it to the last two World Cup Finals and they draw their players from this team," explained Ursini.

Ursini was referring to Morocco's presence at USA'94 and France'98 as one of the top nations from an ever improving African continent with several countries there determined to be considered with the best in the world.

"The game was a good one and I was really proud of the way our players stood up to what was very skillful and very physical opposition", said Ursini. "And I must congratulate Tony (La Ferrara) for the way he brought the players together at short notice and did such an outstanding job. He—and they, were magnificent."

The CPSL Selects and Morocco fought through a scoreless first half and 8 minutes into the second half the North African team took the lead on a goal by Omar Share.

Eight minutes later, Willy Giammarra scored from the penalty spot after John Matas was brought down inside the area. Giammarra and Matas both play for Toronto Olympians.

IT'S TIGHT AT THE TOP
Only four points separate five teams at the top of the CPSL standings following weekend games that saw St. Catharines Roma Wolves go down twice, 2-1 at Ottawa Wizards and 3-2 at Montreal Dynamites, but still hold the top position following their 2-0 win over London City last Wednesday. Toronto Olympians failed to pick-up ground, going down 2-0 to Glen Shields Sun Devils and the defending league champions sit in second position tied on 15 points with Durham Flames. The Flames picked up three points with a 4-2 win over York Region Shooters. The Shooters and Brampton Hitmen are still winless in league play, but new team Hitmen came close twice, a 2-2 tie at London City on Friday night and a 1-1 deadlock with Toronto Croatia yesterday. In one other league game played over the weekend, Toronto Supra edged North York Astros, 2-1, at Brockton Stadium.

VAUGHAN, Ontario—Monday, July 9—

OZ Optics League Cup Update
OZ OPTICS CUP WIDE OPEN
No teams eliminated in early stages
10 of the 12 teams in the CPSL have now seen action in the popular OZ Optics League Cup competition, but no one has yet been counted out.

Durham Flames came close to elimination in Group A, but the 2-2 tie against Montreal Dynamites at the Civic Stadium on Saturday night was enough to keep the Oshawa-based side in contention. Although the Flames took the lead on a goal by Matt Gennero at the 9 minute mark of that game, they were trailing 2-1 in the second half until Pat Sullivan made it 2-2 with the tying goal after 55 minutes. Karl Stephen and Bruno Nue struck for Montreal.

Toronto Croatia got off the a good start in Group C, winning a 1-0 squeaker over Toronto Supra at Memorial Park in Mississauga on Friday night. Ante Musa scored the all important marker for Croatia. 

Glen Shields Sun Devils in Group B and London City in Group C have yet to play in the competition. London City will get underway with an away game against Toronto Supra at Brockton Stadium this coming Sunday, July 15 and Glen Shields will make their start with a home game against St. Catharines Roma Wolves at Dufferin–Clark the following Sunday, July 22. The next OZ Optics League Cup qualifying game is played this Wednesday, July 11 when Toronto Olympians host North York Astros at Birchmount Stadium, an 8 p.m. kickoff.

Three group winners have automatic entry to the semi-finals. Ottawa Wizards, as the host team for the tournament, will receive a wild card opportunity to play a decider for entry to the semi-finals if they fail to win Group A. This decider will be played against the group winner with the lowest number of points.

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