October 12, 2010 CSL--details of Tuesday games (from CSL website)
CROATIA, PORTUGAL JUMP INTO OPENING LEAD.... Galaxy hold Serbian Eagles scoreless as CSL playoffs get underway
2010-10-12
Toronto Croatia scored a mild upset 2-0 victory over league-leading York Region Shooters, Portugal FC played well enough to defeat Milltown FC 1-0 and in an exciting encounter Brantford Galaxy and Serbian White Eagles played to a scoreless tie.
There were three quarterfinals played Tuesday night in pursuit of the CSL championship, with the fourth game of the first leg home and away series to be played Wednesday when TFC Academy host FC Hamilton Croatia at Centennial Stadium.
It's a total points, two-game quarterfinal series and if tied on points it's total goals that decide the team to advance to the semifinal. If tied on goals at the end of regulation time in the second game, it's 2 x 15 minutes of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary.
York Region Shooters were favoured to win their opener after finishing the regular season on top of the First Division, but the team from north of Toronto ran into stiff opposition in the first half and the game was scoreless at the break.
Croatia took the lead at 64 minutes when midfielder Ivan Zgela picked up a rebound to blast a shot from 18 yards just inside the left post, a drive that Shooters' goalkeeper Carmelo Benzi partially stopped, just failing to make the save.
York Region fought to get back on even terms but the home side made it 2-0 at 88 minutes when prolific forward Tihomir Maletic cut in from the wing to drive the ball from 12 yards, low inside the left post, a score that held to the final whistle.
York Region Shooters will host Toronto Croatia in the second leg of the quarterfinals on Sunday, a 6 pm kickoff at Maple.
Reports out of Lions Park in Brantford described the game as well worth watching as Brantford Galaxy and Serbian White Eagles fought throughout for a 0-0 score to the end of fast-paced exciting encounter.
Brantford forward Miodrag Andvelkovic was one of several to come close to scoring in the well-played first half, but Eagles' goalkeeper Milos Kocic was outstanding, keeping the score 0-0 to the break and on several occasions in the second half.
The two teams will meet in the second leg of the two-game series at Esther Shiner Stadium on Sunday, an 8 pm kickoff.
In the game played at the Bishop Reding ground in Milton, a goal by Portugal FC midfielder Carlos Nogueira at 26 minutes gave the Toronto side an edge going into the second leg of the quarterfinal with Milltown FC on Saturday.
It was a close contest throughout in a game that could have gone either way, but the Portugal side closed ranks throughout the match to maintain the 1-0 margin to the final whistle.
Milltown travel to Lamport Stadium for the 2nd. Leg, that's this coming Saturday at 6 pm.
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