North York Mirror: Winless slump plagues Astros
by DJT

Winless slump plagues Astros

By SAM LASKARIS Special to The Mirror

The North York Astros are in a bit of a mid-season slump as their winless streak extended to three games on the weekend.

Yet the local Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) franchise picked up some points yesterday without even playing a game.

The Astros were awarded a pair of points for a tie incurred earlier in the season against Mississauga-based Toronto Croatia.

Toronto Croatia ended up losing seven points from three regular season games as they used an ineligible player in those matches.

North York, which had been awarded one point before for the tie, was given an additional two points as the outcome of that tilt has been changed to an Astros victory (CPSL squads receive three points for a win).

The team's record now stands at 4-5-3. North York sits in seventh place in the 12-team CPSL standings.

North York's general manager Bruno Ierullo didn't mind picking up some points in the boardroom.

"If they're justifiable (why not?)," he said.

Ierullo though, was not pleased with the officiating in his club's 2-0 home loss against the Ottawa Wizards Sunday.

The Astros have sent a copy of the game tape to league officials so they can view how the match was refereed.

North York played the majority of that game a man short after one of its players received a red card early on.

Though his side is in a slump, Astros coach Tony Laferrara said his charges have been playing well.

"We've been playing very, very well," he said. "We're just not getting the breaks. That's the way our whole season has gone."

The Astros next game is this Sunday at home against the Toronto Olympians. That game, which begins at 7 p.m. at Esther Shiner Stadium, is a league Cup match - part of a season long tourney with its own standings and trophy.

The Astros, who have a 0-1-1 cup record, will not be advancing to the Cup semifinals.

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