September 1, 2007 CSL Open Canada Cup Semi-Final Trois-Rivieres Attak vs Italia Shooters (from CSL media release)
TROIS-RIVIERES TRIUMPH IN HARD-FOUGHT SEMIFINAL
Saturday - September 1, 2007
BC's Clan vs. Attak final
LONDON, Ontario – Saturday, September 1 – Columbus Clan of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League’s Premier Division and the Trois-Rivieres Attak of the Canadian Soccer League will meet in the Open Canada Cup Final on Monday following the two semifinals played at the Cove Road ground here tonight
A last minute strike by Columbus Clan midfielder Jonathan Poli gave his team a 4-3 victory over Windsor Border Stars in the first semifinal, while Trois-Rivieres held on to a 2-1 halftime lead to defeat Italia Shooters of the CSL in hard-fought physical encounter in the second.
The Clan, current British Columbia senior champions, were full marks for the win after dominating the opening 10 minutes but missing three clear chances before Poli opened the scoring at the 11th minute mark.
Windsor tied the game 1-1 at 12 minutes on a goal by forward Woreth Sampson and the Ontario team took a 2-1 lead when midfielder Radek Papiez found the net three minutes later.
Columbus tied the score 2-2 at the 20th minute when Tiarnan King scored from the penalty spot awarded by referee Steve De Piero.
Following a 2-2 tie at the interval, Radek Papiez scored his second for Windsor at 56 minutes for a 3-2 lead, but Columbus Clan again tied the game, a 3-3 score when forward Steve De Blasio put the ball past Border Stars’ goalkeeper Anthony Santilli.
With the score at 3-3 and the game heading into overtime, Poli came up with the winner at the 93rd minute for a 4-3 result to put the British Columbia side into the final.
Chris Turner put Italia Shooters in the lead from a penalty kick at 16 minutes of the second semifinal, after referee Justin Tasev pointed to the spot on a Trois-Rivieres foul just inside the box.
The Attak tied the score 1-1 when Mohammed Nafe struck at the 42nd. minute mark and the Quebec-based team went ahead 2-1 at 45 minutes on a well-taken goal by midfielder Boubacar Coulibaly.
The second half was quick and physical and at the 73rd minute Italia’s Andre Stewart was shown the red card for violent conduct.
Italia pressed for an equalizer, but Trois-Rivieres held on for the 2-1 win.
Italia’s Jason De Thomasis was shown the red card following the final whistle.
Columbus Clan and Trois-Rivieres Attak will kickoff at Cove Road 4 p.m.on Labour Day Monday.
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