Article and photograph by Djuradj Vujcic
Bottom row: Marko Orosic, Nikola Djurkovic, Milos Mijatovic and Bojan Sisovic
The semi-final of the second annual Royal CSL Cup was held today at the newly re-named Rob Ford Stadium (formerly Centennial Park Stadium) in Etobicoke between our Serbian White Eagles and expansion side Spanish Future Stars. The match finished a whopping 12-0 at full-time for Serbian White Eagles (4-0 at half-time) with our team advancing to the final.
In the final scheduled for Sunday June 9 (6:00 PM) at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, our team will face the better of the two in the other semi-final between Scarborough SC and Unity FC.
The annual Royal CSL Cup is played in memory of Enio Perruzza who passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2021 at the age of 54. Perruzza announced over 3,000 mostly Canadian Soccer League and Ontario Cup matches over two decades. Known in the soccer community in Southern Ontario as the voice of the CSL, Perruzza was a popular fixture with the league for more than twenty years and a favourite of many in the Canadian soccer community.
Head coach Bojan Zoranovic gave the opportunity for experienced players Robert Boskovic (who formerly featured with the Toronto FC program and in the Canadian Premier League), Milos Mijatovic and Christopher Gaytan to make their debut for our club in this match while we could also notice another familiar player on the bench – Branislav Vukomanovic who previously played our club from 2014 to 2021.
Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper Obrad Bejatovic recorded a clean sheet on the night. Bejatovic (who also features for League1 Ontario side Burlington SC) previously played for our club in 2021 and was a member of Leotar Trebinje last year.
Lineups
Serbian White Eagles (4-2-3-1): Obrad Bejatovic, Ivan Cendic, Petar Planic, Marko Orosic, Nikola Timotijevic, Nikola Djurkovic, Marko Krasic, Bojan Sisovic, Milos Mijatovic, Marko Pavicevic and Vladimir Strizovic (captain).
On the bench were Stefan Negojevic (goalkeeper), Srdjan Simovic, Christopher Gaytan (replaced Marko Krasic in the 45th minute), Robert Boskovic (replaced Bojan Sisovic in the 65th minute) and Branislav Vukomanovic (replaced Vladimir Strizovic in the 65th minute) while the head coach was Bojan Zoranovic.
Goals
3rd minute – Vladimir Strizovic
10th minute – Nikola Djurkovic
17th minute – Vladimir Strizovic
22nd minute – Milos Mijatovic
47th minute – Vladimir Strizovic
55th minute – Bojan Sisovic
63rd minute – Marko Pavicevic
70th minute – Nikola Timotijevic
75th minute – Nikola Timotijevic
78th minute – Marko Pavicevic
83rd minute – Marko Pavicevic (from the penalty spot)
87th minute – Nikola Timotijevic