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'
September 29, 2018 SC Waterloo Region 2–1 (a.e.t.) Serbian White Eagles RIM Park, Waterloo, Ontario
19:30 Miodrag Kovacevic  19'
Zelenbaba  115' (pen.)		 Report Pešić  90'
September 30, 2018 FC Ukraine United 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(8–7 p)		 Brantford Galaxy Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
16:00 Report
September 30, 2018 FC Vorkuta 2–1 SC Real Mississauga Ontario Soccer Centre, Vaughan, Ontario
19:00 Melnyk
Solonynko 		Report Bibishkov

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
October 7, 2018 FC Ukraine United 1–2 Scarborough SC Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
14:00 Malysh  89' Report Bryan  68'
Stojiljkovic  91'

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
  1. Vereitin, Daniil (October 15, 2018). "Украинские клубы зажигают в канадской любительской лиге" [Ukrainian clubs rock the Canadian amateur league]. UA.Tribuna.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  2. Adamson, Stan (October 14, 2018). "Vorkuta, Vorkuta, Vorkuta Spells Three CSL Titles". Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. "Денис Янчук: «Спортивні цілі у «Воркути» найвищі» — Чернівці Спорт" [Denis Yanchuk: "Sports Goals in"Vorkuta "Are the Highest"]. chernivtsisport.com (in Ukrainian). December 21, 2018. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  4. User, Super (January 16, 2018). "Генеральний менеджер FC Vorkuta Денис Янчук: «Наступного сезону ми будемо ще сильнішими» — Чернівці Спорт" [FC Vorkuta General Manager Denis Yanchuk: "Next Season We Will be Even Stronger"]. chernivtsisport.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  5. Nagornaya, Julia (2018-06-16). "Самад Кадыров: ФК "Воркута" - это одна из самых сильных команд канадского чемпионата" [Samad Kadyrov: FC Vorkuta is one of the strongest teams in the Canadian championship]. Национальный Банк Новостей (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  6. Adamson, Stan (May 14, 2018). "FC Vorkuta Defeats Ukraine United in CSL Season Opener". Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  7. "Футболісти з Рівненщини виграли регулярний Чемпіонат Канади (ФОТО) | ВСЕ - Про спорт" [Footballers from Rivne region win the regular Canadian Championship]. web.archive.org (in Ukrainian). 2018-10-29. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  8. ""ФК Воркута", "Украина юнайтед" и югославское дерби - немного о канадской футбольной экзотике" [FC Vorkuta, Ukraine United and the Yugoslav derby - a little about Canadian football exoticism]. Sports.ru (in Russian). June 29, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  9. Adamson, Stan (September 24, 2018). "FC Ukraine United Rout CSC Mississauga to Clinch First Division Title". Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  10. Stanchev, Stancho (October 11, 2018). "Играещият мениджър от Брежани К. Димитров изведе отбора си на втори финал в Канада" [The playing manager from Brezani K. Dimitrov took his team to the second final in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  11. Stanchev, Stancho (June 18, 2018). "Футболен мениджър от Брежани се прицели в титлата в Канадската първа лига". Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  12. Stanchev, Stancho (July 12, 2018). ""Скарбъро" на брежанеца К. Димитров нанесе съкрушителен удар на лидера в Канада в преследване на историческа титла" ["Scarborough" of Brezhnev K. Dimitrov struck a crushing blow to the leader in Canada in pursuit of a historic title]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  13. Adamson, Stan (May 17, 2018). "Attractive Games in CSL Set For Victoria Day Weekend". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  14. Stanchev, Stancho (October 18, 2018). "Прокобата на дузпите отново провали К. Димитров в Канада" [The execution of the penalties again failed K. Dimitrov in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  15. Adamson, Stan (April 23, 2018). "May 12 Kickoff for Canada's CSL". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  16. "Футболистът Крум Бибишков разнообрази ежедневието си в Канада" [Footballer Krum Bibishkov diversified his daily life in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). August 9, 2018. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  17. Kostourkov, Dimitar. "Canadian Soccer League 2018 Season". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  18. staff, League1 Ontario (2018-04-16). "Unionville Milliken Men To Spotlight Pro Model, Community Roots, In Debut Season". League1 Ontario. Retrieved 2018-12-24.
  19. "Brantford Galaxy SC". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  20. "ГОЛ БОЈИЋА ЗА ТРИ БОДА" [Bojiċ's Goal for Three Points]. serbianwhiteeagles.ca (in Serbian). June 1, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  21. "It's Division Winners FC Vorkuta and FC Ukraine United in the Opener". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  22. "Real Mississauga SC". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  23. "ТРЕСЛЕ СЕ ПРЕЧКЕ, МРЕЖЕ МИРОВАЛЕ" [The Bars Shake, The Nets Are Standing]. serbianwhiteeagles.ca (in Serbian). June 8, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  24. Topalovic, M. (September 23, 2017). "Vesti online / Sport / Fudbal / Srpski klub iz Toronta na pragu novog trijumfa: Orlovi lete ka tituli" [Serbian club from Toronto on the verge of a new triumph: Eagles are flying towards the title]. www.vesti-online.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  25. "SC Waterloo". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  26. Baako, Gottlieb. "Sani Dey wins goal king in Canada |". www.ahomkafm.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  27. "Canadian Soccer League 2018 Preview". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  28. Adamson, Stan. "For Promising Players It Can Begin in the Second Division". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  29. "Brantford Galaxy SC B". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  30. "milton sc". www.miltonsc.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  31. "Scarborough SC B". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  32. "Serbian White Eagles B". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  33. "Kristijan Kezic – FC Vorkuta". fcvorkuta.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  34. "New Additions to the Kia TFC Academy". Toronto FC.
  35. "Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)". Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  36. "Canada Soccer". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  37. "Adriano Marques 2017 Men's Soccer Roster". Sterling College Athletics. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  38. "Christian Truyen - 2015 Men's Soccer Roster - McMaster University". marauders.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  39. Adamson, Stan. "Stojiljkovic Firepower Wins Player of the Week Award". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  40. Adamson, Stan. "High Flying Vorkuta Plays Match With Waterloo". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  41. "Canadian Soccer League – Canada's Only Professional Soccer League". 2018-08-03. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  42. "Canadian Soccer League – Canada's Professional Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.