September 3, 2007 CSL Open Canada Cup Final Columbus Clan vs Trois Rivieres Attak (from CSL media release)
WIN VERY SPECIAL: ATTAK COACH DOS SANTOS
Monday - September 3, 2007
Attak wins Canada Cup
LONDON – Monday, September 3 - Three second half goals by the CSL’s Trois-Rivieres Attak gave a Quebec team its first Open Canada Cup with an emphatic 3-0 defeat of Columbus Clan FC of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League’s Premier Division, the final played at Cove Road, London on Labour Day Monday.
The Attak, in its first year in the Canadian Soccer League and making a strong bid for the National Division title, had a slight edge during a scoreless first half but looked decidedly the stronger team after the interval.
Former Montreal Impact forward Nicolas Lesage opened the scoring at 53 minutes when he headed a cross from Alpha Bah on to the post, then collected his own rebound to put the ball into the net
Trois-Rivieres midfielder Danny Anderson returned from an injury to score at 74 and 81 minutes for the 3-0 score that put the game out of reach.
Except for a good effort from 25 years by the Clan’s Tiarnan King, a drive that just went wide, Trois-Rivieres looked the stronger side with more opportunities as the second half progressed.
Attak were reduced to 10 men at 83 minutes when referee Joe Fletcher showed goalkeeper Jon Paul Piques the red card for abusive language at a game official.
“This win is very special for us,” said an elated Marc Dos Santos, Trois-Rivieres head coach after the game. “We are the first Quebec team to win this trophy and that makes it very special, thanks to my players who deserved the win and they now put us in a position of winning two championships this year,” he said, referring to the team’s strong bid for the CSL Championship now taking place in regular league competition.
Trois-Rivieres defeated Jean Talon 2007, London City and Italia Shooters in earlier games to reach the final, while Columbus Clan FC defeated Athletic Club of BC 1-0 in the BC Challenge Cup final on August 12, a competition involving 24 British Columbia teams bidding to qualify for the Open Canada Cup. They then defeated the CSL’s Windsor Border Stars in the semifinal on Saturday.
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