October 26, 2008 CSL Final Trois-Rivieres Attak vs Serbian White Eagles (by Rocket Robin)

..........................

Result of the Sunday October 26, 2008 CSL game between Trois-Rivieres Attak and Serbian White Eagles played at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York at 5:45pm. This was a one game Final.

Trois-Rivieres Attak (blue socks and shorts, light and dark blue checkered shirts, white names and numbers)

.....................1 Andrew Olivieri (cpt)
25 Alex Surprenant...21 Davy Uwimana...16 Olivier Brett...23 Elkana Mayard
10 Hector Contreras...7 Ibrahim Baldeh...6 Jean Philippe Etienne...17 Pierre Rudolf Mayard
................9 Mohamed Sylla...8 Jean Louis Besse

Subs:...13 Gildas Toufilana (gk)...3 Serge Dinkota (def)...4 Michel Vitulano (def)...5 Francois Boivin (def)...12 Nicolas Lesage (fwd)..18 Guillaume Heroux (fwd)...20 Massimo Di Ioia (mid)
team officials:...head coach Marc Dos Santos...assistant coach Youseff Dahha...manager Lee Ann Paul...trainer/physio Celine Quesnel

Serbian White Eagles (all white, black numbers)

.....................25 Dan Pelc
14 Uros Stamatovic...4 Mark Jankovic...6 Mirko Medic...3 Dragorad Milicevic
19 Darryl Gomez...8 Nenad Stojcic...7 Milos Vucinic...5 Nikola Budalic (cpt)
...............10 Alex Braletic...15 Milos Scepanovic

Subs:...28 Marko Petrovic (gk)...20 Milan Janosevic (mid)...9 Sasa Viciknez (fwd)...2 Said Ali (fwd)...21 Aleksandar Radovanovic (mid)...11 Dragan Radovic (fwd)...16 Caswain Mason (mid)...(I also saw 12 Diego Maradona but he just sat on the bench).

Game officials:...referee Isaac Raymond...assistant referees David Barrie and Gianni Facchini...fourth official Domenic Scali (neon green shirts, black shorts and socks)

The game was delayed for a pregame ceremony giving out team and player awards.

1st Half:...game starts 6:10pm...TRA defend west end...cold and windy day with a strong gusty wind from the west.
1 min...SWE Braletic beats TRA Mayard to loose ball up right sideline and crosses into box where SWE Scepanovic tries to head from 12 yards but defender pop ups ball with foot that goalie catches wide left of net.
2 min...TRA Uwimana 30 yard freekick from left sideline has defender Medic pop header for clearance from box.
3 min...SWE Milicevic 40 yard freekick from left sideline has TRA defender head ball away from edge of box.
4 min...TRA goalie beats SWE Scepanovic to through ball.
8 min...SWE Scepanovic injured on clip by TRA Sylla at TRA 35 yards.
8 min...SWE Gomez 40 yard freekick from left has defender head away on edge of box.
10 min...it now starts to rain and a strong wind blows the sign boards on the track away. This is quite dangerous but fortunately no-one is standing nearby.
14 min...SWE Budalic low 30 yard roller up middle is wide right of net.
17 min...SWE player makes long throw-in from left corner flag is cleared from box.
17 min...the weather can get worse as now besides the rain is pelts of hail! It makes it difficult to face the west.
18 min..SWE Braletic runs for through pass up the middle and eludes goalie at 25 yards who was trying for header but defender clears ball from edge of box.
19 min...SWE Braletic 25 yard shot from right curls wide left of net.
19 min...TRA Suprenant blast from 45 yards over players and net.
20 min...TRA goalie catches SWE Braletic popped up header on cross from left.
22 min...SWE Scepanovic cross through box from left end line and SWE Stamatovic eventually gets possession and cross from right is deflected by sliding defender for cornerkick.
23 min...SWE Scepanovic cornerkick from right is through box and cleared.
24 min...SWE Scepanovic passes over to SWE Braletic who taps over to SWE Gomez who takes 3 yard shot high and wide left of net while pressured from sliding TRA Suprenant.
29 min...TRA Besse eludes two defenders down right and slides ball but SWE Stamatovic slides to break up TRA Mayard from getting away a 12 yard shot up the middle.
30 min...SWE Vucinic threads through ball up the middle from 60 yards but TRA goalie comes to edge of the box to grab ball in before SWE Braletic can get to it.
31 min...SWE Braletic cross from left has SWE Gomez stop ball in box but he's not able to get away 10 yard shot as defender blocks his deke attempt.
33 min...SWE goalie runs to edge of box to catch bouncing through ball.
35 min...TRA Uwimana 45 yard freekick has SWE Budalic head ball away on edge of box.
37 min...it stops raining.
39 min...SWE Vucinic low rolled cross through box but it's unplayed.
40 min...SWE Vucinic cross from 5 yards on left is chested down and cleared by defender.
42 min...SWE Scepanovic on left gets break away at 20 yards and goalie slides to block 12 yard point blank save.
45 min...TRA Uwimana cornerkick from right is into box and SWE defender gets foot to the ball at 8 yards and leaping goalie swats down from top right corner of net and TRA Mayard kicks 5 yarder over net on sliding lunge on right.
46 min...half ends 6:56pm.

Summary Half:…biggest star was the weather with a hard rain starting at the 10 minute mark and the sign boards blowing away in the high winds from the west. Then hail started about 7 minutes later. White Eagles had trouble moving the ball in the gusts. At 37 minutes it stopped raining.

2nd Half:...starts 7:14pm...there's no rain but still a breeze from the west.
45 min...SWE Milicevic injured at center line.
47 min...SWE Scepanovic cross from left cornerflag has nearest defender clear.
49 min...SWE Gomez cornerkick from left is over players in box. SWE Braletic recovers near right cornerflag and recrosses from right that has SWE Medic pop up header from 7 yards that flies well wide left for goal kick.
50 min...SWE Scepanovic 25 yard freekick from right is low and blocked by defender.
52 min...SWE Gomez cross from 20 yards on right has goalie leap and palm ball through box to left.
53 min...SWE Stojcic touches ball to right and SWE Gomez chips 40 yarder over bar.
54 min...SWE Milicevic 50 yard freekick from left sideline has SWE Scepanovic flick header in crowd of players from 20 yards that's caught by goalie.
57 min...SWE Stamatovic cross from 15 yards after ball passed back after receiving throw-in on right and ball drifts behind net.
61 min…White Eagles Alex Braletic GOAL…SWE Vucinic chips ball from 60 yards that has TRA defender Olivier Brett head back pass from 35 yards and Braletic beats charging TRA goalie Andrew Olivieri to be able to poke ball by goalie at 25 yards and elude his check attempt. Braletic shoots low from left from 10 yards eluding a sliding Brett.
63 min...TRA sub...Lesage replaces Contreras.
65 min...SWE Milicevic 55 yard freekick from left has goalie catch on goalline.
66 min...SWE Vucinic cross from 20 yards near left end line has goalie catch.
69 min...SWE YELLOW card...Milicevic for elbowing on TRA Sylla running up right side line at SWE 40 yards.
70 min…Attak Nicolas Lesage GOAL…Lesage blasted shot from 18 yards on the left after he received cross from the right and his shot is just inside the post of the top left of net with goalie Dan Pelc guarding center of net. TRA Uwimana had started play with 45 yard freekick from right sideline that was knocked around in the SWE box.
71 min...SWE sub...Viciknez replaces Gomez.
73 min...TRA sub...Heroux replaces Besse.
75 min...SWE Medic heads pass from 15 yards back safely to goalie.
75 min...TRA goalie catches 35 yard bouncer up middle.
77 min...TRA goalie to edge of box to beat SWE Braletic to through ball on right.
79 min...SWE Vucinic turns and fires 25 yarder from left is fired well wide right from 25 yards. SWE Budalic had crossed from 25 yards near left sideline and TRA defender had headed away partial clearance.
80 min...TRA Mayard pushes ball from 20 yards too far forward and goalie slides out for save.
82 min...TRA Heroux on left off balance hooks kick from 20 yards well wide left.
82 min...TRA sub...Di Ioia replaces Mayard.
83 min...SWE Viciknez 40 yard freekick from right is bent on target and goalie catches on left post.
84 min...SWE Viciknez on low cross from left end line is over diving goalie has SWE Vucinic miss sliding kick from 3 yards.
84 min...TRA Baldeh gets short pass back to him and his 18 yards blast is blocked by defender at 8 yards. SWE Jankovic is injured on collision on this play.
87 min...TRA goalie charges out to clear through ball before charging SWE Viciknez can get to it at TRA 25 yard line.
88 min...SWE Budalic 20 yard low shot that diving goalie blocks and pushes wide right for cornerkick.
88 min...SWE Viciknez sends header from 6 yards just high and wide left when he receives cross from right through box.
89 min...TRA Suprenant centers short cross from left and TRA Di Ioia blasts point blank shot from 22 yards that comes off of charging SWE Milicevic's hand and referee gives freekick call.
90 min...TRA Di Ioia 22 yard freekick up middle is blocked by SWE Viciknez.
90 min...TRA Sylla 15 yard blast from left is palmed by goalie wide right as charging TRA player just 1 yard away from connecting but play ruled offside anyway.
92 min...SWE Viciknez cornerkick from left has play flagged for crossing end line before it bent back into play.
93 min...half ends 8:02pm.

1st Half Silver Goal Overtime (15 minutes)...starts 8:06pm...TRA defends the west end.
91 min...SWE Budalic gets short pass from SWE Viciknez and 22 yard blast appears to deflect off defender's hand. Rebound has SWE Vucinic 25 yard shot from left is partially blocked by defender at 15 yards. SWE Braletic slides to kick 10 yarder well wide left of net.
92 min...TRA Uwimana 65 yard high freekick from right that defenders let bounce to goalie.
95 min…White Eagles Sasa Viciknez GOAL…Viciknez 25 yard freekick from slightly right of net bends into right corner of net deflecting off the underside of the bar and bouncing over the goal line.
98 min...TRA Lesage rush to long through ball on left and cross from left 15 yards near end line is behind net.
99 min...SWE Budalic rolls ball from right and SWE Braletic 15 yard blast has diving goalie stop on right post.
99 min...TRA Uwimana 50 yard freekick from right is over heads of players near edge of box and bounces well wide left of net.
100 min...SWE goalie catches cornerkick from left side.
101 min...SWE sub...Janosevic replaces Braletic.
102 min...SWE Stamatovic gets kick in to clear through ball up middle at 30 yards and prevents TRA break-in. Ball hits left cornerflag and deflects for cornerkick.
102 min...TRA player cornerkick from left has defender head away from box.
103 min…Attak Jean-Phillipe Etienne GOAL…TRA Nicolas Lesage run on left to through ball and his low cross stopped by defender but deflected and Etienne's low 15 yard shot is into the left corner of net from up the middle.
104 min...TRA YELLOW card...Baldeh draws card in center circle after restart.
104 min...SWE player on kick off blasts 55 yard shot from center circle that bounces to goalie.
105 min...TRA defender slides in TRA box to block low cross from left and clearance deflects off another defender's hand in box but no call given. No SWE player was nearby.
105 min…Attak RED card…Ibrahim Baldeh draws his second Yellow card from referee Isaac Raymond within two minutes when his sliding tackle at the Attak 35 yard line injures SWE Milos Scepanovic.
106 min...SWE Viciknez 35 yard freekick up middle has flying goalie block on left post.
106 min...half ends 8:22pm.

2nd Half Silver Goal Overtime (15 minutes)...starts 8:25pm...It starts to rain again for about 5 minutes.
106 min...TRA Heroux cross from left has defender head away from box.
107 min...TRA sub...Vitulano replaces Sylla.
108 min...SWE Stojcic 45 yard lob caught by goalie wide left of net.
110 min...TRA Heroux long throw-in from left has ball cleared and rebound lob also cleared.
111 min...TRA Lesage recovers ball when SWE Jankovic slips and his 25 yard blast is over net wide left.
112 min...SWE Viciknez 30 yard blast from left is well over net.
113 min...SWE Viciknez cornerkick from left has nearest defender head ball away and Viciknez gets recross over players in box and over end line wide right.
114 min...SWE Janosevic chests ball over TRA end line when short throw-in finds him left of TRA box.
115 min...TRA Lesage tap back from 20 yards for TRA Di Ioia low blast wide left from 25 yards.
116 min...SWE Scepanovic charges to ball on TRA left end line and slides to cross roller into box but goalie easily stops.
116 min...TRA YELLOW card...Heroux for injury of SWE Vucinic on sliding tackle at SWE 45 yards.
117 min...SWE sub...Ali replaces injured Vucinic before play resumes.
118 min...SWE Milocevic crosses ball from 40 yards while on run down left sideline and goalie bats ball away. SWE Viciknez has 20 yard shot blocked by defender. SWE Budalic blasts rebound that deflects off defender and bounces wide right of net.
118 min...SWE player's cornerkick from right has closest defender head away from box. SWE Stojcic kicks in high ball from 45 yards on right and SWE Ali pops header wide left from 20 yards.
120 min...SWE Stojcic 65 yard bounces from right has goalie catch ahead of SWE Budalic.
120 min...SWE Jankovic cramps up in own end.
122 min...half ends 8:42pm.

Do these goals look familiar?
61 minutes…[think of TFC scoring on Red Bulls a few weeks ago on their road game].
95 minutes…[think of Dwayne DeRosario’s Penalty kick during the MLS All Star game this year].

Penalty Kicks (best of 5 chances):

1st SWE Milos Scepanovic low shot to left and flying goalie blocks near post.
1st TRA Massimo Di Ioia low shot to right and diving goalie blocks.

2nd SWE Mirko Medic shot is low and wide left with goalie diving to right.
2nd TRA Alex Suprenant shot to middle of goal and goalie dives to right but puts his hand up and blocks the shot.

3rd SWE Sasa Viciknez GOAL…low shot to right. Diving goalie gets hand on it but ball spins into right side of net.
3rd TRA Andrew Olivieri (the TRA goalie) GOAL…blasts shot just under bar in center of net as goalie crumpled downward.

4th SWE Nenad Stojcic low shot that goalie blocks in center/right side of net.
4th TRA Jean-Phillipe Etienne shot is low and to left and diving goalie blocks.

5th SWE Dragorad Milicevic GOAL…shot is high and into left side of net as goalie dives right.
5th TRA Davy Uwimana shot is high and hits football bar which is about two feet higher than the soccer crossbar.

Final Score:….Trois-Rivieres Attak………2……..Serbian White Eagles…….2………
Serbian White Eagles win 2-1 on Penalty kicks.

Attendance was about 1200 people. Almost all the fans were cheering for the White Eagles. A journalist covering the Attak said their fans are young and it’s exam day tomorrow so the 6:00am bus to Toronto didn’t materialize.

Fantastic plays by both goalies (Dan Pelc for White Eagles and Andrew Olivieri for Attak) especially on the Penalty kicks.

This was the third year in a row that White Eagles have made the finals but the first time they’ve won. League commissioner Cary Kaplan presenting the championship trophy after the game said Serbia last won back in the 1970s. (Must have been the NSL days before I followed the league).

I’ll make a separate post of the pre-game Awards Ceremony (there is no separate Dinner this year) and an answer of league expansion plans.

I watched this game with a lot on my mind. Last year the final was a two game affair because the league wanted to keep White Eagles supporters away from Toronto Croatia fans. The game was for all purposes over in the first game with Croatia winning 4-0 but I couldn’t make the second game as the hospital said my mother would not likely live through the night. This year not only is it near that anniversary but my father is in the same hospital, same floor and on intravenous as well. He is now exactly the same age as she was last year. I’ll know tomorrow the long term outlook for him but I wasn’t thinking straight.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

Attak starters

White Eagles starters

Alex Braletic prepares for kickoff.

In game action