In the round derby, in the meeting of two leading teams, two undefeated and bitter rivals, the nets were still, there were no goals, and not many chances; it ended 0:0. It was a real championship game with a lot of tactical outsmarting, quality, but not pretty and exciting to watch. The final result is a realistic and fair outcome, although tonight the guests, the Eagles, were closer to victory.
Stadium: Centennial Weather: ideal Referee: A. Ruch
Yellow cards: Deer, Srzentic, Baley, Miličić
Toronto Croatia: Ilic, Keran, Arapovic, Harris, Deer, Fitizwilliams, Tomac (60.De Medina), Srzentic, Mingon (63.Pirija), Vucemilovic Grgic, Maletic
Serbian White Eagles: Đurković, Molder, Miličić, Vlaški, Bailey
( 74. Dimitrov), Orlando (78. Klisara), Novais, Negojević, West, Vukoje (68. Anastasov), Rajović
It started very cautiously on both sides, mostly played in the middle of the field for a good twenty minutes. The first real chance was only seen in the 30th minute for Toronto Croatia. After a shortened corner, our team kicked the ball outside the penalty area, it reached Mingon, who cannonballed a shot from more than 20 meters and Đurković saved. In the 34th minute, the Eagles receive a free kick from 26 meters. Rajović makes an excellent shot and it goes just over the goal. After a corner in the 36th minute, Vukoje shoots from a favorable situation, but the goalkeeper saves. In the 40th minute, Maletic takes an excellent free kick from 30 meters diagonally, the ball passes several players of Toronto Croatia who luckily do not manage to catch it in front of an empty goal. In the last minute, West passes two players on the counterattack and in an absent moment fails to work well with the perfectly positioned Rajović.
In the continuation, the same picture was seen as at the beginning of the game, not a single chance was seen for a good twenty minutes. And then in the 65th minute, Bailey sends an excellent ball for Rajović, who enters the opponent’s penalty area, comes to five or six meters, shoots with his right foot, outside the ball and unfortunately the ball hits the post. Too bad it was the chance of the game. The home side were dangerous in stoppages, and it was the same in the 70th minute after a free kick by Maletic, but Đurković defends well and kicks the ball into the corner. West had the last but great chance to bring us victory in the 91st minute. Skillfully freed himself from two guards, shot excellently from 20 meters and narrowly over the goal. Too bad, the Eagles were very close to winning.
The Eagles played well and smartly, they played against the strongest opponent so far, they were closer to victory, but it is important that they are still undefeated, important because of the confidence, chemistry and atmosphere in the team in the continuation of the championship.
Z.M.