Serbian White Eagles have recorded their first victory in this year’s Canadian Football League where 16 teams are competing for championship. Eagles won against mediocre North York Astros team 2-0 (0-0), fully deserved, and unexpectedly difficult, since guest team didn’t even came close to our net. It is unbelievable how many opportunities our players have missed; however they were the favorites of fortune this evening. In soccer there is an unwritten rule that if you don’t score on your opportunities the reprimand will come in form of other team scoring on you. North York Astros had a single and the greatest opportunity of the match close to the end of the game, fortunately they didn’t capitalize, and were simply overplayed with our team at the end of the game. Eagles have played a dominated first half, fell a sleep through the first part of the second half and fiercely played during final moments of the game. This period was marked by young Luka Maric who had great game, even though he spent only 10 minutes on the field.
Venue: Centennial Weather: Ideal
Booked: Fayehun, Ugochukwu
Scorers: 1-0 Rajović (81) Dimitrov 2-0 (88-p)
Serbian White Eagles: Đurković, Molder, Vlaski, Dimitrov, West, Bailey (54.Viciknez) Klisara (62.Vukoje), Lukovic, Crozier, Novais, Rajović (85.Marić)
Coach: Uros Stamatović
North York Astros: Perego, Alcantra, Craig, Tischer, Zwan, Cordon, Ramsey, Ugoghukwu, Mendez, Fayehun (65.Valentine), Notaro
From the very start of the Eagles took control of the game, fast and precise passes easily skipped condensed opponent’s defense. Dimitrov was noticeable on the right side; the West made a real commotion at the front, middle was dominated by Veljko Lukovic. In 5th minute Klisara takes a nice sideways kick from 14 meters but little wide. Dimitrov in 8th minute displayed unbelievable speed on the right wing, but the ball was faster than him and ended up out. Rajović and West in the 10th minute connected, the ball went to the right wing to Dimitrov at 7-8 meters, and the goalkeeper intercepted the cross. In 13.minutu Rajović made a nice run on the left side, even better was his cross the Bailey who’s shot went wide. New run by Dimitrov 17.minutu, crosses and almost an auto gol. In the next minute Rajović hesitated in a good position, passed the ball to Dimitrov, who’s shot went over the crossbar. A great opportunity was missed by West in 24th minute, who received a perfect ball on the first post, turned and shot from 7 meters, a good save by goalie. West puts himself in good position by guarding the ball in 31st minute and passesthe ball to Rajović, good kick, good save by the goalkeeper who deflected it to corner. In the next minute there was an ideal cross by Dimitrova to the second post, where West was ready and alone takes the shot and misses the goal from 5 meters. West is spotted in 33.minutu, again protecting ball with his body and shoots, but still goalkeeper saves it. Excellent corner kick in 36th minute by Dimitrov, West heads it from up close and misses. Rajović was shown to have excellent left foot kick, in 45th minute from short corner kicked the ball to the opposite side of net and missed by little. It should be noted that in the first half visiting team did not make a single shot towards our goal, and two times barely came close to our penalty area.
In the second part of the North York Astros changed tactics, playing very aggressively and set the zone 40-50 meters from goal, which made confusion in our team and produced hard to come by opportunities. 50th minute brought a corner kick into a large crowd in the penalty area but Lukovic’s shot was blocked from ideal position. In 58th minute Vlaski idealy finds Kirilov on the right side who centers the ball, West couldn’t control, Lukovic runs into a rebound takes the shot and sends it over the bar. Time passes, no goals, and draws a little uncertainty, opposing team has a good chance in 68th minute when they were in a situation of two on one, fortunately, at the decisive moment Vlaski read the play and intercepted the pass. After foul on Vukoje in 70th minute Viciknez takes a free kick from 25 meters and misses the upper right corner by a hair. This was followed by fewgood kicks and corners by Viciknez. All alone completely free at the far post Vlaski slipped in 73rd minute. And then a scary moment for home team with the other team’s chance of the game in 79th minute. Zwan was suddenly thrown into open space, our defenders fell asleep, goalie Djurkovic was hesitant, Zwan decides to chip the ball over goalie, he did well and then Đurković with a tiger like reaction saves certain goal, but also catches the ball in the air and keeps it. In 80th minute Viciknez takes a great corner kick, the ball gets deflected by goalkeeper to lonely Mulder; his shot was blocked on the line by the defender.
Following this as a result of the right wing run ball comes to Rajovic on the middle of the field 20 meters from the goal who without any hesitation takes the volley shot with the outside of his foot to the goalie’s bottom left corner and scores for 1:0 finally! His debut for Serbian White Eagles Rajović could crowned it with another goal just two minutes later, but at the decisive moment when he had only the goalkeeper in front of him; his kick/pass by goalie was little bit too strong and went out. Next opportunity came in 85th minute when Vukoje from the right wing finds Rajovic but goalie made a save.
Then loudly applauded Rajović exits and Luka Maric enters the game. It was only seven minutes needed for Luka to show his splendid talent and skill. In 88th minute, his first contact with the ball, he penetrated the box on the left side with lightning speed, easily faking a defender in front of him, who had no other options then to take him down for a clear penalty. Dimitrov takes a penalty and even though goalie guessed the side right the shot was too strong and precise to be saved and the score is 2:0! In 92nd minute Maric changes sides, and in similar matter takes another run at the defender fakes him, this time defender decides not to take him down; Luka takes a shot from 7-8 meters and nearly misses the far side. We had a feeling that if match lasted another ten minutes we would score five more goals, but two would be sufficient for the first three points.
Z.M.