Serbian White Eagles tonight recorded a third consecutive victory in a hard, and at the moments interesting match, against York Region Shooters 1-0 (1-0). It’s nice to see the Canadian Football League standings tonight , although they played only four games, amongst 16 teams, Eagles are in second place tied with eternal rivals Toronto Croatia.
Venue: Centennial
Weather: Rain, cold
Booked: Gomez, Molder, Maric
Scorers: 1-0 Vukoje (1)
Serbian White Eagles: Đurković, Molder, Milicic (46.Bailey), Vlach, Dimitrov (46.Novais), West (77.Marić), Orlando, Lukovic (71.Vukoje), Crozier, Rajović (68.Viciknez), Vukoje (68.Marić)
Coach: Uros Stamatović
York Region Shooters: Ameitonis, Capazolo, Trujillo, Herron, De Thomasis, Gomez, Thimas, Jackman, Manderas, Hemphrey. Dummett
Coach: Americo Tontallo
Eagles have started the game strong, Milicic intercepted the pass, finds Dimitrov, who then passed to West who took a great shot from 23 meters, goalie saved it and rebounded the ball to Vukoja who followed through by a great shot under the crossbar for a 1-0, a great shot which in turn brought three major points. Our team took the lead and slowed down, played mainly in midfield, until 15th minute when the guest team took the corner followed by our team’s reactions, allowing Italians a good chance, but Herron took 5-6 meter shot over the crossbar. In 18th minute Rajović intercepted the opposing team’s play 25 meters from the goal, dribbled a player and took a 16 meter shot but it went little to wide, close miss.
In the West, and 32.minutu West and Rajović did touch and go, passed the ball to Orlando who took 7-8 meter shoot to goalie’s closer corner, but goalie saved it. Good play by Eagles was seen in 38th minute, when a Shooter’s corner kick ended in a ball that came to the center to West, who cleverly separates from two defenders, with the perfect pass finds Dimitrov who enters the penalty area and sent the ball from 8 meters to Rajović who is all alone on the other side, but at the last moment someone from the Italian defense intercepted the pass.
In 43rd minute the guests provided a real scare for our fans, after the violation and a yellow card for Mulder, ideal crossing went into the crowded penalty area, however Đurković reacted well. New fast break by Eagles in the final minute of the first part, Đurković kicked the ball to West, he send an ideal pass to Rajović, which made a run and centered it to West who took 11 meter shot, but someone from the defense deflects the ball to a corner. Rajovic took a corner kick, Orlando shot from a good position however ball went over the crossbar. In 48th minute Bailey sent perfect ball to Rajović, followed by an even better cross, Orlando jumped high, took an excellent header but it ended just wide beside the left post.
Guests whose core is made of experienced players, are particularly dangerous from set pieces. In 59th minute after a corner kick and a weak intervention by Đurković, Gomez takes great shot from 25 meters and misses the goal by inches. In 66th minute after thrown in out, opposing striker took a 8 meter shot but ball went over the crossbar. New corner and new great opportunity for guests in 78th minute. In those moments, the guests are better and put more pressure on the Eagles.
In 83rd minute Dummett took a great shot from 25 meters, Đurković barely redirects the ball into the corner, and of course after a corner kick another opportunity for the opposing team again, and again luck on our team’s side. North York pressed it hard which opened the field for counter-attack. In 90th minute Bailey crossed the ball which hit Thimas’s hand, but the referee does not award a penalty. In 92nd minute Bailey is on the scene again, great pass for the West who took a 16 meter shot and hit the right post, it seemed that Viciknez was better option since he was all alone.
Guests try anything to closer to our goal, but they couldn’t and Eagles at the end won the game.
Eagles played solid tonight, at times good, opposing team were dangerous from set pieces on which our team looked confused tonight. In cold and heavy wet field fans witnessed solid CSL game.
Z.M.