September 4, 2009 CSL Toronto Croatia vs St Catharines Wolves (from CSL media release)
TORONTO CROATIA DOWN ST.CATHARINES WOLVES 4-1 WHILE ASTROS IMPROVE PLAYOFF CHANCES WITH A 4-1 WIN OVER LONDON CITY.......Maletic hits hat-trick for Toronto Croatia
2009-09-04
Toronto Croatia forward Tihomir Maletic led his team with a hat-trick to a 4-1 victory over St. Catharines Wolves, while North York Astros kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-1 win over London City, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.
Almost all games have playoff implications as the CSL begins to wind down its regular season and the two games Friday night were no exception.
Toronto Croatia had already secured a playoff berth before the game with St. Catharines Wolves, but the win puts the Mississauga-based team in a favoured top four spot – the top four of eight teams to play for the CSL Championship.
Defeated St. Catharines Wolves, on the other hand, are fighting for a playoff position and the loss, coupled with the North York Astros win in London, sets up a dog fight for the eighth and final position.
London City faced elimination from the playoffs and eliminated they were, leaving nine teams vying for the eight spots.
The Toronto Croatia vs. St. Catharines Wolves game produced an excellent first half of soccer with an opening goal by St. Catharines midfielder Matthew Cain at 16 minutes. The prolific Tihomir Maletic equalized for Toronto Croatia at 46 minutes and he struck his second at the 59th minute mark for a 2-1 Toronto Croatia lead.
Maletic scored his ninth of the season for a hat-trick, a free kick at 63 minutes, and midfielder Jonathan Busamante scored a fourth Croatia goal at the 75th minute mark for a 4-1 final score.
St. Catharines Wolves lost defender Jeff Attard at 71 minutes after he was shown a second yellow card.
Toronto Croatia have a 10-1-4 WLT record for 34 points as a result of the win, while St. Catharines Wolves remain at 16 points from a 3-5-7 record.
Forward Zakariae Mahrady opened the scoring at the 14th minute mark for North York Astros and Gersi Xhuti made it 2-0 for the visitors at 69 minutes in the game at London's Cove Road.
Midfielder Cedric Mpununu scored a third goal for North York at 79 minutes and Diego Maradona scored from the penalty spot for a 4-0 Astros lead at the 87th minute mark.
London City midfielder 18 year-old Nick Belanger struck his first goal in the Canadian Soccer League in added time for a 4-1 final score in favour of the Astros.
North York Astros are lifted to a 4-10-2 record for 14 points, while London City are eliminated from the playoffs with a 1-12-2 record for 5 points.
London defender Taylor Workman was shown a red card at 74 minutes after receiving a second yellow.
Remaining games in the CSL this weekend: Saturday, Sept. 5 Esther Shiner Stadium 3 pm TFC Academy vs. Serbian White Eagles Saturday, Sept. 5 Trois-Rivieres 4 pm Trois-Rivieres Attak vs. Portugal FC Sunday, Sept. 6 Victoria Park 3 pm Brampton Lions vs. London City
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