Mirror-Guardian: Lineup Changes Keep Astros in CPSL Playoff Hunt
Lineup changes keep Astros in CPSL playoff hunt
Soccer
SAM LASKARIS More from this author
Aug. 6, 2003
For some it might be viewed as just another mid-season contest.
But members of the North York Astros believe their Canadian Professional Soccer League road game tonight (Wednesday) against Toronto Croatia is a rather meaningful one.
"One win and we're back into it," Astros general manager Bruno Ierullo said of the CSPL's Western Conference playoff race.
The Astros are currently in fifth place in the seven-team Western Conference with 11 points, courtesy of their 3-5-2 record. CSPL squads earn three points for each victory and one point for a tie.
North York is also just four points behind the Brampton Hitmen and Hamilton Thunder, a pair of franchises that have identical 4-1-3 records and are tied atop the Western standings with 15 points.
The Astros have already faced the 2-7-0 Toronto Croatia side once this season. The Mississauga-based squad defeated the host North York club 2-0 on July 7 at Esther Shiner Stadium.
"We're going for revenge now," Ierullo said.
North York has made some significant changes to its lineup since it last faced Toronto Croatia.
"They're going to see a different North York Astros team," Ierullo said.
The changes include bringing on board a pair of Brazilian-born forwards, Francisco Dos Santos and Marciano Emialiano, in recent weeks. Emialiano though will be forced to sit out tonight's game due to a suspension.
The Astros though are expected to feature talented Argentine striker Guillermo Compton Hall.
He's only played briefly in a pair of contests this season for the Astros since he has been recovering from a groin injury sustained this past winter.
"Wednesday night is going to be a test for him," Ierullo said. "With this type of injury you can't train much. So he's not at the fitness level we'd like him to be at."
Compton Hall was one of the Astros top performers after he joined the lineup last September.
Ierullo is hoping his team's fortunes improve down the stretch. Just the top two Western Conference finishers advance to the league playoffs.
Besides Brampton and Hamilton, the Astros also have upcoming games against the two other teams, St. Catharines Wolves and London City, they are chasing in the divisional standings.
"If we can put a string of two or three victories in a row, we could jump to the top of the division," Ierullo added.
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