2018 Canadian Soccer League season

The 2018 Canadian Soccer League season was the 21st season under the Canadian Soccer League name. The season began on May 13, 2018 and concluded on October 13, 2018 with the CSL Championship final held at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. FC Vorkuta won their first championship by defeating Scarborough SC in a penalty shootout. Vorkuta found further success in the Second Division by winning their first CSL double after defeating Halton United in the finals. Meanwhile FC Ukraine United claimed the First Division title.

Canadian Soccer League
First Division
Season2018
ChampionsFC Ukraine United (First Division regular season)
FC Vorkuta (First Division playoffs, 1st title)
Matches played72
Goals scored276 (3.83 per match)
Top goalscorerSani Dey (13)
Biggest home winFC Ukraine United 10–2 CSC Mississauga
(September 23)
Biggest away winSC Waterloo Region 0–9 FC Ukraine United
(June 30)
CSC Mississauga 0–9 Hamilton City SC
(July 27)
Longest winning run6 matches
FC Ukraine United
Longest unbeaten run10 matches
FC Ukraine United
2017
2019

The First Division saw an increase to 9 teams, while the Second Division decreased in size to 6 teams. The First Division returned to the territories of Hamilton, Mississauga, and the promotion of FC Ukraine United. While new entries to the Second Division included the return of Milton SC, and the debut of Scarborough SC's reserve squad.

Summary

The main narrative of the season was the race for the First division title between FC Ukraine United and FC Vorkuta.[1] The outcome was determined on the final match of the season with Ukraine United edging Vorkuta out with a higher goal differential by five goals. Though Vorkuta would achieve success in the postseason by claiming its first CSL Championship.[2] The organization made further advances in the Second division as its reserve squad secured the double (division title and DII Championship).[2][3] In preparation for the season Vorkuta managed to secure Ukraine United's general manager Denys Yanchuk and continued in the club's practice of foreign recruitment from the Ukrainian football market.[4][5]

After producing a perfect season in the Second division Ukraine United returned to the top division in 2018. Andrei Malychenkov resumed his coaching duties, and retained the majority of his previous roster with additional imports from the Ukraine.[6][7] From the onset of the season the club remained highly competitive, and battled with rivals Vorkuta for supremacy of the division.[8] Vorkuta held the top position for sixteen consecutive weeks until Ukraine United usurped the position for the final five weeks of the season.[9] The western Toronto team ultimately reached the second round of the playoffs after succumbing to Scarborough SC.[10]

The third position in the First division was a highly contested spot with Hamilton City, Scarborough SC, Serbian White Eagles, and SC Waterloo Region competing with one another. The White Eagles achieved a five game undefeated streak and held the spot for two weeks. Shortly their performance dwindled and fluctuated between the fourth and fifth position to conclude the season in the sixth spot. Following their mediocre 2017 season SC Waterloo named Radivoj Panić as the head coach, and assembled a roster with a mixture of league veterans with European imports from the Western Balkans. After a slow start to the season the club rebounded to a seven match undefeated streak, and secured the third position on the final match of the regular season.

Scarborough SC continued to develop as an elite club with Zoran Rajović being assigned head coach responsibilities.[11] Rajović took advantage of the influx of European imports to the league, and a player agreement to acquire talent from York Region Shooters was negotiated.[12] One notable re-signing was the return of Canadian international Adrian Cann as team captain.[13] The acquisitions produced dividends for the eastern Toronto club as they held the coveted third position for the majority of the season for a total of sixteen weeks until forfeiting it on the final week to Waterloo on an account of a greater goal difference. In the postseason the club reached the championship final for the second consecutive season.[14]

After a year hiatus from the league Hamilton City returned under new management with Saša Vuković as owner and head coach.[13] The club experienced a transitional stage with fewer imports from abroad and more reliance on talent from their previous reserve team.[13] Hamilton managed to produce an average season enough to secure a playoff berth with just four points away from the third position. The final two postseason berths were secured by Brantford Galaxy, and SC Real Mississauga. After the departure of Vukovic the Galaxy brought in Milan Prpa as head coach and the team assembled by Prpa remained primarily the same as the previous seasons with many veterans returning.[15]

The season also witnessed the return of professional soccer to the Peel Region with CSC Mississauga and SC Real Mississauga representing the city of Mississauga. Real Mississauga, an academy founded by league veteran Krum Bibishkov, received a franchise in the CSL.[11][16] They primarily competed with Brantford throughout the season and secured a playoff berth. CSC Mississauga struggled to make an impact as they remained at the bottom of the standings for the majority of the season. In the Second division Burlington SC were renamed Halton United, and were the primary competitors to FC Vorkuta B. For eleven weeks Halton retained the second position and reached the championship final.

First Division

Changes from 2017

Club membership increased in the First Division from eight members to nine.[17] Changes included the return of FC Ukraine United from the Second Division with further new additions from two Mississauga franchises CSC Mississauga, and Real Mississauga SC. The division also saw the return of Hamilton City SC from its one year hiatus under new club management.[15] The York Region Shooters failed to feature an active squad for the season as owner Tony De Thomasis became involved with Unionville Milliken SC in League1 Ontario.[18]

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
Brantford GalaxyBrantford, OntarioHeritage Field TurfMilan Prpa[19]
CSC MississaugaMississauga, OntarioIceland Soccer FieldSilvester Trograncic[20]
FC Ukraine UnitedToronto, Ontario (Etobicoke)Centennial Park StadiumAndrei Malychenkov[21]
FC VorkutaVaughan, Ontario (Woodbridge)Ontario Soccer CentreSamad Kadirov[2]
Hamilton City SCHamilton, Ontario (Stoney Creek)Heritage Field TurfSaša Vuković[13]
SC Real MississaugaMississauga, OntarioParamount Fine Foods CentreKrum Bibishkov[22]
Scarborough SCToronto, Ontario (Scarborough)Birchmount StadiumZoran Rajović[23]
Serbian White EaglesToronto, Ontario (Etobicoke)Centennial Park StadiumMilan Mijailović[24]
SC Waterloo RegionWaterloo, Ontario (Eastbridge)RIM ParkRadivoj Panić[25]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Ukraine United (C) 16 12 2 2 60 16 +44 38 Playoffs
2 FC Vorkuta (O) 16 12 2 2 55 16 +39 38
3 SC Waterloo Region 16 9 2 5 34 33 +1 29
4 Scarborough SC 16 8 5 3 34 20 +14 29
5 Hamilton City SC 16 8 1 7 41 38 +3 25
6 Serbian White Eagles 16 5 4 7 20 20 0 19
7 SC Real Mississauga 16 3 2 11 14 42 28 11
8 Brantford Galaxy 16 3 2 11 9 37 28 11
9 CSC Mississauga 16 1 2 13 9 37 28 5
Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/2018-csl-first-division-standings/
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner.

Positions by Round

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021
Brantford Galaxy334845666777888878778
CSC Mississauga445788888999999999999
FC Ukraine United222222222222222211111
FC Vorkuta111111111111111122222
Hamilton City SC599677554554444566655
SC Real Mississauga657999999686677787887
Scarborough SC783453333333333333334
SC Waterloo Region868566777868766654443
Serbian White Eagles976334445445555445566
Updated to match(es) played on September 27, 2018. Source:

Goals

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Sani Dey[26] Hamilton City SC 13
2 Pavlo Lukyanets FC Ukraine United 12
3 Sergiy Ivliev FC Vorkuta 11
4 Aleksandar Stojiljković Scarborough SC 10
5 Kavin Bryan Scarborough SC 9
6 Taras Hromyak FC Ukraine United 8
Nazar Milishchuk FC Ukraine United
Serhiy Ursulenko FC Vorkuta
7 Hammud Ali Atif Scarborough SC 7
Roman Datsiuk FC Ukraine United
Yevhen Falkovskyi FC Ukraine United
Ihor Malysh FC Ukraine United
Yaroslav Solonynko FC Vorkuta

Updated: September 26, 2018
Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/2018-first-division-stats/

Hat-tricks

Player Club Against Result Date
Aleksandar Stojiljković Scarborough SC Hamilton City SC 5–1 (H) 27 May 2018
Sergiy Ivliev FC Vorkuta SC Waterloo Region 6–1 (H) 9 June 2018
Yevhen Falkovskyi FC Ukraine United SC Waterloo Region 0–9 (A) 30 June 2018
Pavlo Lukyanets FC Ukraine United SC Waterloo Region 0–9 (A) 30 June 2018
Sani Dey Hamilton City SC CSC Mississauga 0–9 (A) 27 July 2018
Timotej Zakrajsek Hamilton City SC CSC Mississauga 0–9 (A) 27 July 2018
Sani Dey Hamilton City SC Serbian White Eagles 3–4 (A) 3 August 2018
Kavin Bryan Scarborough SC Hamilton City SC 4–4 (A) 18 August 2018
Taras Hromyak FC Ukraine United SC Real Mississauga 8–1 (H) 18 August 2018
Sergiy Ivliev FC Vorkuta Hamilton City SC 1–5 (A) 16 September 2018
Vadym Gostiev FC Vorkuta Brantford Galaxy 5–0 (H) 20 September 2018
Pavlo Lukyanets FC Ukraine United CSC Mississauga 10–2 (H) 23 September 2018

Quarterfinals

September 29, 2018 Scarborough SC 4–1 Hamilton City SC Birchmount Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
17:00 Angel Angelov  33'
Atif Hammud Ali  42'
Knežević  60'
Radaković  70'
Report Peter Aleksic  46'

Semifinals

October 6, 2018 FC Vorkuta 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
SC Waterloo Region Ontario Soccer Centre, Vaughan, Ontario
19:00 Gostiev  45'
Ursulenko  117'
Report Miodrag Kovacevic  42'
Sven Arapovic

CSL Championship

October 13, 2018 FC Vorkuta 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)
Scarborough SC Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
15:00 Halchuk  29' Report Odain Omaro Simpson  77' Referee: Marcos Jaramillo

Second Division

Canadian Soccer League
Second Division
Season2018
ChampionsFC Vorkuta B (Second Division regular season)
FC Vorkuta B (Second Division playoffs, 1st title)
Matches played45
Goals scored242 (5.38 per match)
Top goalscorerKristijan Kezic (12)
Biggest home winHalton United 13–0 Serbian White Eagles B
(June 16)
Biggest away winSerbian White Eagles B 1–12 FC Vorkuta B
(May 25)
2017
2019

Changes from 2017

The Second Division decreased in size to six member as FC Ukraine United were promoted to the First Division, and Royal Toronto FC became inactive for the season. SC Waterloo B, London City were disbanded, and Milton SC returned to the Second Division.[27][28] Another new entry was through Scarborough SC as they began operating a reserve team for the first time. Other changes included the renaming of Burlington SC to Halton United.

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
Brantford Galaxy BBrantford, OntarioSteve Brown Sports ComplexTomo Dancetovic[29]
FC Vorkuta BVaughan, OntarioSt. Robert S.S. Field
Halton UnitedBurlington, OntarioNorton Park
Milton SCMilton, OntarioMilton Sports CentreSuad Tihak[30]
Scarborough SC BToronto, OntarioOntario Soccer CentreEddy Coronel[31]
Serbian White Eagles BToronto, OntarioCentennial Park StadiumGoran Bakoc[32]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FC Vorkuta B (C, O) 15 12 1 2 71 20 +51 37 Playoffs
2 Halton United 15 10 0 5 48 20 +28 30
3 Scarborough SC B 15 8 0 7 48 40 +8 24
4 Milton SC 15 7 0 8 37 50 13 21
5 Brantford Galaxy B 15 5 1 9 25 32 7 16
6 Serbian White Eagles B 15 2 0 13 13 80 67 6
Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/2018-second-division-standings/
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner.

Positions by Round

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617
Brantford Galaxy B34554444333344455
Halton United73433322222222222
FC Vorkuta B11111111111111111
Milton SC55345556655555534
Scarborough SC B22222233444433343
Serbian White Eagles B86666665566666666
Updated to match(es) played on September 25, 2018. Source:

Top Goal Scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Kristijan Kezic[33] FC Vorkuta B 12
2 Marko Mitrušić Milton SC 10
3 Valery Yarmosh FC Vorkuta B 8
4 Matthaus Garcia[34] SC Scarborough B 6
Geoff Martinez Halton United
Dmytro Polyuhanych FC Vorkuta B
Drilon Salihu[35] Halton United
5 Ryan Khedoo[36] Scarborough SC B 5
Adriano Marques[37] Halton United
Serhiy Melnyk FC Vorkuta B
Christian Truyen[38] Halton United
Vladimir Vujovic Milton SC

Updated: September 26, 2018
Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/2018-second-division-stats/

Semifinals

October 6, 2018 FC Vorkuta B 3–1 Brantford Galaxy B St. Roberts S.S Field, Vaughan, Ontario
15:00 Kristijan Kezic  8',  45'
Antonenko  90'
Report Donart Beqiri  17'
October 9, 2018 Halton United 3–1 Scarborough SC B Norton Park, Burlington, Ontario
21:00 Christian Truyen  11',  63'
Karl Manzi  47'
Report Edgar Oswaldo  31'

Second Division Championship

October 13, 2018 FC Vorkuta B 3–2 Halton United Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
13:00 Kristijan Kezic  14',  71'
Melnyk  15'
Report Christian Truyen  13'
Robert Melo  35'

Awards

Weekly awards

Week CSL Player of the Week Reference
Player Club
Week 1 Alesandar Stojiljkovic Scarborough SC [39]
Week 2 Sergei Ivliev FC Vorkuta [40]
Week 3 Timotej Zakrajsek Hamilton City SC [41]
Week CSL Team of the Week Reference
Club Division
Week 1 FC Ukraine United First Division [42]
Week 2 FC Vorkuta First Division [40]
Week 3 SC Real Mississauga First Division [41]

References

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