Toronto Croatia were honoured at the league’s annual awards on Sunday. CSL commissioner Cary Kaplan (left) presents the championship trophy to Toronto Croatia president Joe Pavicic and secretary Pino Jazbec.
Monday - November 5, 2007
TORONTO CROATIA TAKES TOP HONOURS AT CSL AWARDS
Toronto Croatia, which celebrated 50 years in Canadian soccer in 2006, won the CSL title after losing just one game in the 5-month long campaign, a 2-0 loss to Canadian Lions on October 5. The unbeaten streak included an international tournament triumph in Europe over Croatian teams from Austria, Germany, Australia, the United States and France. Toronto Croatia players won two major individual honours with Tihomir Maletic, a 24 year old goalscorer winning the Rookie of the Year Award. He arrived in Canada in 2006 after scoring 36 goals for Croatian second division team Osijek. Toronto Croatia captain Domagoj Sain won Defender of the Year honours after being recognized as a big reason for his team’s success in the season just ended. Sain was announced as the European tournament’s MVP following the final game in Zagreb on June 30 and was invited to trial with Croatian club Hadjuk.
The league’s Fair Play Award went to Quebec-based Trois-Rivieres Attak. Serbian White Eagles were honoured following their International Division title win and they were also the championship finalist, losing a 2-game total goals finale to Toronto Croatia. Serbian Eagles’ 55 goals in the regular season topped all other CSL teams and their 45 points was the most in both divisions. Joe Fletcher of St. Catharines, Ontario was voted the league’s top referee in 2007. Referee Silviu Petrescu was acknowledged at the gathering for his FIFA U-20 World Cup officiating and World Army games in India and referee Steve DePiero for his U-20 World Cup games.
The CSL played more than 130 league, cup and playoff games in 2007 and continued a trend which began in 2006 of increased attendances throughout its stadiums. Emphasis on expansion in both the National Division and International Division will continue into 2008.
Toronto Croatia capped a remarkable season with a 2-game, total goals Canadian Soccer League championship victory over Serbian White Eagles following a scoreless tie in the second game of the CSL final played at Esther Shiner Stadium Sunday. Croatia were almost assured of the title win following a 4-1 win in the first leg of the final played at the same ground 24 hours earlier. In that game, Croatia midfielder Jonathan Bustamante struck two goals, while forward Mario Pupic and Hayden Fitzwilliams each scored singles. Defender Dragorad Milicevic scored the lone Serbian White Eagles goal.
But while goals were in abundance in the first game, it soon became clear in Sunday’s game that if Serbia were to score, they would have to work for it while the Croatian defence stood firm in an attempt to keep Serbia off the scoresheet. They succeeded time and again throughout the 90 minutes. Serbian Eagles did have chances, but the normally potent forwards Gabriel Pop and Sasa Viciknez failed to find the net on several occasions.
The single game CSL Championship became two games when the league decided to have a two-leg total goals series with Croatia fans attending the first game and Serbian White Eagles supporters attending Sunday’s clash. The separation follows games involving these two teams in 2006 when fans became disruptive and close to being violent. The Toronto Croatia championship win comes following a season during which the Mississauga-based club was defeated just once, a 2-0 loss to Canadian Lions on October 5. The team traveled to Europe in June to win an inaugural tournament for Croatian teams from the Austria, Germany, Australia the United States and France. The Canadian team went undefeated in winning the trophy in Zagreb on June 30. Toronto Croatia won the CPSL championship in 2000 and 2004, but the club is best known for winning the North American championship as Metros Croatia in 1976. At that time the team attracted several world soccer stars, including Portuguese superstar Eusébio. In 2006, the club celebrated 50 years in Canadian professional soccer.
Midfielder Jonathan Bustamante led Toronto Croatia with two goals in a 4-1 defeat of Serbian White Eagles in the first of a two-game total goals CSL Championship Final played at Esther Shiner Stadium Saturday. Bustamante headed the first goal at 13 minutes, but Serbian White Eagles tied the game one minute later with a volley by defender Dragorad Milicevic from 40 yards.
Forward Mario Pupic put Toronto Croatia 2-1 up with a drive from a similar distance at the other end and Bustamante scored his second, also a long range effort, just on half-time for a 3-1 lead at the interval. Croatia’s Hayden Fitwilliams completed the scoring when he beat Serbian goalkeeper George Radan at the 70th minute mark to put Croatia in a commanding position going into the second of the two-game series back at Esther Shiner Stadium on Sunday.
A two-game championship was decided earlier this week following concerns of a repeat of two regular season league games in 2006 when opposing fans of Toronto Croatia and Serbian White Eagles clashed at Lamport Stadium in Toronto and Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. There was damage to seats and the playing surface at the Hamilton game.
Today’s game was restricted to Toronto Croatia fans only and Sunday is Serbian Eagles' day when the teams meet again at 3 p.m.
It will take two games to win this year’s CSL Championship. The previous one game affair has become a 2-leg total goals aggregate championship with both games at Esther Shiner Stadium this coming Saturday and Sunday. The first game will be for Toronto Croatia fans only, no Serbians allowed. And it’s restricted entry on Sunday. That’s Serbia day with no Toronto Croatia fans allowed in the stadium.
The change in format is seen as the answer to the CSL’s attempt to accommodate with safety the unusually high number of fans interested in seeing Serbian White Eagles and Toronto Croatia clash for the title. The two teams met last year and there were problems, twice. The first time at Lamport Stadium in Toronto’s west end and at the return match played at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. But that was largely overcome this year when the two regular season league games were used to separate the fans – Serbia’s home game restricted to Serbian fans on September 14 and it was Croatia’s turn on October 2. The experiment was successful with both games well attended and well played. The smaller community stadiums are just not big enough, so the league attempted to put this year’s one-game championship in the BMO Field where all fans could witness the same game yet be separated using the two main stands. But Toronto FC’s home ground is closed for a bubble installation for the upcoming indoor soccer season.
Toronto Croatia will take the first leg on Saturday, a 5 p.m. kickoff at Esther Shiner and Serbian White Eagles have been handed Sunday’s game, which starts at 3 p.m. Security will be the order of the day, on both days. All fans will be checked at the entrance for flares, fireworks and anything else that might spell trouble. Any fan support showing signs of hostility will be ejected from the ground. There will be a strong security and police presence.
“It’s our hope that next season we can return to having all fans join together to see what are great games on the field, but we’re just not there yet,” explained league commissioner Cary Kaplan when the decision came down Tuesday. In semifinal games played last weekend, Serbian White Eagles defeated Trois-Rivieres Attak 2-1 and Toronto Croatia edged St. Catharines Wolves, 3-2.
Current CSL champions Italia Shooters were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Toronto Croatia took a big step toward the CSL Championship with a slim 3-2 victory over St. Catharines Wolves on Saturday, the first of two weekend semifinals being played at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York.
The Croatia win will be followed by a second semifinal on Sunday when Serbian While Eagles take on the high flying Trois-Rivieres Attak making a bid for the CSL title in their inaugural year.
Forward Hayden Fitzwilliams opened the scoring for Croatia when he beat goalkeeper Claudio Perri at the 13th minute mark following several attacks on the St. Catharines goal assisted by a strong wind out of the west.
The wind again played a part in the second Croatia goal which came at 28 minutes when two attempts to score were deflected by two St. Catharines’ players including defender Geoff Attard who was credited with an own goal, giving Toronto Croatia a 2-0 lead.
St. Catharines’ defender Danny Gallagher reduced the lead to 2-1 when he took a pass from Arnaldo Magnotta to beat Croatia goalkeeper Marko Culjak with a shot just inside the right post from 8 yards, but Croatia went 3-1 up almost on half-time with a goal by Tihomir Maletic, who took a cross from the left wing to score from 10 yards.
St. Catharines’ midfielder Arnoldo Magnotta reduced the lead to 3-2 with a well placed penalty kick just inside the post and well out of reach of goalkeeper Culjak following a hand ball by a Croatia defender at the 59th minute mark and despite a number of spirited attacks on the Croatia goal in an attempt to draw even, the Toronto team held on to advance to the final.
Toronto Croatia went the entire regular season with just one defeat, finishing second to Serbian White Eagles in the International Division and in a tournament held in Croatia early in the season won a first-year European championship for Croatian clubs based in several European countries.
Sunday’s Serbian White Eagles vs. Trois-Rivieres Attak semifinal at Esther Shiner Stadium will kickoff at 5 p.m.
Venues for the two semifinal games leading to the CSL Championship have been announced by the Canadian Soccer League for this coming weekend, October 20 and 21. St. Catharines Wolves will meet Toronto Croatia at Esther Shiner Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a 4 p.m. kickoff and Serbian White Eagles will clash with Trois-Rivieres Attak on the same ground the following day, a 5 p.m. start. St. Catharines won the National Division, then defeated Canadian Lions in the quarterfinals, a penalty kick victory following 120 minutes of scoreless soccer. Toronto Croatia, their opposition in the upcoming semifinals, came from a 2-0 first half deficit to beat North York Astros 4-2 in the quarterfinals. Toronto Croatia have lost just one game during their entire 2007 campaign. Serbian White Eagles advanced with a 2-1 win over Windsor Border Stars last Sunday, while the Attak knocked out last year’s CSL champions Italia Shooters, a 3-0 result at Trois-Rivieres on Saturday afternoon. Serbian Eagles wracked up more points than any other CSL team in the regular season just ended, a total of 45 to win the International Division, while their opposition this weekend, Trois-Rivieres Attak, have already won the Open Canada Cup and are making a strong bid to take the other half of the CSL double in their inaugural year.
Saturday October 20, Esther Shiner Stadium at 4 p.m. St.Catharines Wolves vs. Toronto Croatia
Sunday October 21, Esther Shiner Stadium at 5 p.m. Serbian White Eagles vs. Trois-Rivières Attak
OCT 14th TORONTO CROATIA vs ASTROS 4:2
Croatia in semis
Toronto Croatia came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 4-2 over North York Astros at The Hershey Centre in Mississauga. The Astros took a deserved lead on a goal at 17 minutes by midfielder Gill Vainshtein and forward Selvin Lammie made it 2-0 10 minutes later.
Croatia fought to get back into the game in the second half and it was Mario Pupic who scored at 64 minutes to narrow the lead at 2-1 and Hayden Fitzwilliams struck at 90 minutes for a 2-2 tie, taking the game into overtime. Fitzwilliams scored again five minutes into overtime and Pupic sealed the win with a goal at 105 minutes for a 4-2 final score.
The semifinals bring together Serbian White Eagles and Trois-Rivieres Attak, while St. Catharines Wolves will play Toronto Croatia. These games will be played at Esther Shiner Stadium, one game each on Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21 with the kickoff times to be announced on Monday, October 15.
It’s been almost five months since the CSL kicked off its 2007 campaign on May 11 and with just five days to go to the end of the regular season the International Division title is still undecided following a 2-2 exciting deadlock between Toronto Croatia and Serbian White Eagles, played before 1,823 pro-Croatian fans at Centennial Stadium Tuesday night. The Croatia vs. Serbia clash was highly anticipated return match between two teams that produced a 1-1 thrilling tie in the first game on September 13.
Mario Kulis opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Croatia at 11 minutes and forward Sasa Viciknez tied the game 1-1 for the Serbians at the 33rd minute mark. In a game which became physical as the first half progressed, Zoran Kokot put Serbian White Eagles in front at 39 minutes, a 2-1 score at the interval. Toronto Croatia returned to score a quick tying goal by Tom Ples, he found the net at 47 minutes and the 2-2 tie held to the final whistle.
Serbian White Eagles remain on top with a 13-5-3 WLT record for 42 points, that’s still a single point in front of Toronto Croatia with a still unbeaten 10-0-11 record for 41 points. Italia Shooters are a close third with 11-4-6 record and 39 points and with each team having one game remaining, the top position in the International Division will go to Serbia or Toronto Croatia. Italia will finish second or third. The CSL regular season resumes with three games on Friday night and the season ends with two games on Sunday.
An 8-0 win by still unbeaten Toronto Croatia over London City and a 4-2 loss by Serbian White Eagles to Trois-Rivieres Attak pushes the conference titles into the last week of the regular CSL season and the final standings still very much up in the air.
Croatia totally dominated London City at the Hershey Centre with a 6-0 lead at the interval and two more added in the second half. Midfielder Boris Tomac led Croatia with a hat-trick, he scored at 15, 63 and 74 minutes, Tommy Ples struck twice with the opener at 7 minutes and one minute before half-time, while singles went to Hayden Fitzwilliams (22 minutes), Tohimir Maletic (31 minutes) and Mario Pupic at 38 minutes.
Toronto Croatia have an impressive 10-0-10 WLT record for 40 points, just one point behind the division leaders Serbian White Eagles with their13-5-2 record for 41 points following Friday’s loss. The tight race for the title comes just three days before these two team come together for their return match on Tuesday.
Toronto Croatia maintained their unbeaten record, now stretched to 19 games and it was Robert Grnja who put Croatia in the lead at 73 minutes at Centennial Stadium and another victory looked likely until Alex Arbelo tied the game for Portuguese Supra with just three minutes remaining.
Croatia have a 9-0-10 record for 37 points, while Portuguese Supra improve to 4-12-4 for 16 points and still seeking a playoff spot.
Toronto Croatia were close to dominating their game with Portuguese Supra at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga and it was midfielder Jonathon Bustamante who opened the scoring for Croatia at the 10th minute mark. The home side missed a number of good opportunities to increase their lead and it was forward Hugo Herrera who eventually found the net at 67 minutes for a 2-0 score which was the final result.
Toronto Croatia continue without a loss following 18 games and more than four months of competition and now have a 9-0-9 record for 36 points, good for a second place tie with Italia Shooters in the International Division. Portuguese Supra remain at 15 points having played 19 games for a 4-12-3 record, one of five teams battling for two remaining playoff positions.
SEP 13th SERBIAN WHITE EAGLES vs TORONTO CROATIA 1:1
Centennial thriller CROATIA STREAK INTACT FOLLOWING 1:1 TIE WITH SERBIAN EAGLES
Toronto Croatia are still unbeaten, but only just as they fought to a 1-1 tie with International Division leaders Serbian White Eagles in a well-attended thriller at Centennial Stadium at Etobicoke Thursday night.
The two longstanding rivals put on a fast-paced entertaining game for a paid attendance of 1,615, the first time the two teams have met since September 24, 2006 when the Eagles defeated Croatia 3-0 at Lamport Stadium and this followed a 3-1 Serbian White Eagles victory at Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton two weeks earlier.
But things are considerably different this year with Toronto Croatia without a loss in 17 regular season league games, interrupted early in the season when the squad traveled to Europe to go undefeated and emerge winners in an international tournament. This campaign has to considered one of the most successful since Croatia launched their professional soccer team in 1956.
Midfielder Boris Tomac put Toronto Croatia in front at 23 minutes when he finished a good passing play started by Hayden Fitzwilliams, a goal that just about represented the play with the Croatia having a slight edge through to the 1-0 interval.
But Serbian White Eagles picked up the pace in the second half and it took just 15 minutes for a number of raids on the Croatia goal to pay off with Gabriel Pop slotting the ball inside the Croatia post to the left of goalkeeper George Azcurra. It was Pop’s 12th goal of the season.
Both teams went on to the attack as the half progressed and several untidy challenges brought yellow cards from referee Isaac Raymond. Serbia’s Nenad Stojcic came closest to scoring when he struck the Croatia cross bar and in the final 10 minutes Pop almost scored his second. He came within a whisker of handing the Croatian side its first defeat in the well-played encounter, described by Kris Fernandes, the advertising director for the nationally distributed Inside Soccer Magazine as being “the best game I have seen in a while”.
Serbian White Eagles emerge from the 1-1 tie with a 11-4-2 WLT record for 35 points, still good for top position, while Toronto Croatia are at 8-0-9 for 33 points and the two teams are separated in the standings by Italia Shooters with 33 points from 18 games.
Thursday’s two teams will come together again on Tuesday, October 2, a Toronto Croatia home game against Serbian White Eagles back at Centennial Stadium, an 8.15 p.m. kickoff.
CROATIA PRESERVES UNBEATEN STREAK WITH SCORELESS TIE
Croatia kept their unbeaten record intact with the 0-0 tie at The Soccer Centre, a game that was also important to the International Division title. Carmelo Benzi in goal for Italia Shooters and George Azcurra for Croatia, were both solid in preserving the tie.
Serbian White Eagles, St. Catharines Wolves, Italia Shooters and Toronto Croatia have all secured playoff berths following weekend games, which leaves four spots to still be decided by the end of regular season play on October 7.
ITALIA SHOOTERS LOSE, HOLD PRECARIOUS ONE-POINT LEAD Croatia's relentless pursuit
Toronto Croatia continued its unbeaten streak in a relentless pursuit of the International Division title with a 4-0 victory over the leading club and CSL defending champion, Italia Shooters at the Hershey Centre Friday night.
Hugo Herrera opened the scoring for Croatia at 10 minutes and Mario Kulis made it 2-0 from the penalty spot at the 16th minute mark. Midfielder Boris Tomac kept the momentum going for the home side when he made it 3-0 at 53 minutes and forward Tihomir Maletic completed the scoring at 4-0 for Croatia at 62 minutes.
Toronto Croatia have a 8-0-7 WLT record for 31 points, that’s tied for second position with Serbian White Eagles (10-4-1) also at 31 points following their win. Italia Shooters hold a precarious lead at 9-3-5 for 32 points.
Toronto Croatia continued its 2007 unbeaten run with a 5-0 defeat of North York Astros, Canadian Lions surprised Serbian White Eagles, 3-2, and Portuguese Supra beat London City 4-1, three games in the CSL Sunday night.
Croatia forward Tihomir Maletic scored the opening goal in the 5-0 shutout of North York Astros at Esther Shiner Stadium, he found the net after just four minutes to add to his two goals scored when these two teams played to a 2-2 tie at The Hershey Centre on Friday.
Forward Tommy Ples increased Croatia’s lead to 2-0 six minutes later, then struck his second for a 3-0 Croatia lead at the 32nd minute mark. Croatia midfielder Robert Grnja took over the scoring role to find the net at the 37th minute and again at 79 minutes for a 5-0 final score.
Toronto Croatia now have a 7-0-7 WLT record for 28 points, tied with Serbian White Eagles for second spot in the International Division, these teams four points behind leaders and defending CSL champions Italia Shooters with 32 points.
Toronto Croatia held on to their unbeaten record with a 2-2 tie with North York Astros at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. Tihomir Maletic opened the scoring for Croatia at the 8th minute mark for a 1-0 lead at the end of a hard-fought first half.
Diego Maradona tied the score for the Astros at 55 minutes, but Maletic scored his second at 80 minutes to put Toronto Croatia in front. Four minutes later, North York Astros tied the game when forward Selvin Lammie found the net, a 2-2 tie at the final whistle.
Croatia have a 6-0-7 record for 25 points, three behind Serbian White Eagles in the International Division, while North York Astros improve to 3-8-4 for 13 points and fourth in the National Conference.
There were three games in the CSL on Friday night when it took just
one goal at the 10 minute mark to give Toronto Croatia a victory over
Portuguese Supra to continue a remarkable unbeaten run going back to
May 13, while St. Catharines Wolves, driven by a Carlo Arghittu
hat-trick, won 3-1 over Serbian White Eagles. At the Cove Road ground
in London, the visiting Canadian Lions blanked London City 3-0.
It was forward Tihomir Maletic who struck the all important goal for
Croatia at The Hershey Centre to lift the Mississauga-based team to a
6-0-6 WLT record for 24 points and third position in a tight race with
Italia Shooters and Serbia in the competitive International Division.
Two
goals by Toronto Croatia midfielder Hayden Fitzwilliams assured his
team of a 3-0 victory over Windsor Border Stars and the continuation of
a season-long unbeaten streak.
Boris Tomac opened the scoring for Croatia just five minutes after the
opening whistle at the Hershey Centre and it was an even contest for
most of the first half until Fitzwilliams struck twice at 36 minutes
and at the 44th minute mark for a 3-0 score at the interval and the
score at the final whistle.
Toronto Croatia are enjoying one of
their best seasons since winning the Croatian championship for clubs
outside of Croatia early in the season and the Mississauga-based team
has an 11-game unbeaten streak for a 5-0-6 WLT record in the CSL for 21
points and third place in the International Division.
The game #56 against Serbian White Eagles to be played Wed JUL 25th IS POSTPONDED
NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
Tihomir Maletic
JULY 20th TORONTO CROATIA vs TROIS-RIVIERES ATTAK 1:1
TORONTO CROATIA REMAIN UNBEATEN
A fast-paced attractive encounter at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga resulted in a 1-1 tie with forward Tihomir Maletic, newly-signed from Europe, opening the scoring after just four minutes for the home side. Midfielder Ibrahim Baldeh scored a tying goal for the Attak at 41 minutes, a 1-1 tie at half-time. Both sides had serious opportunities to go ahead in the second half, but the score held for the 1-1 tie.
Trois-Rivieres Attak improve their position at the top of the National Division with a 5-3-4 record for 19 points, while Toronto Croatia continue as the only unbeaten team in the CSL with a 4-0-6 record for 18 points.
JULY 13th TORONTO CROATIA vs ST.CATHARINRS WOLVES 2:1
HERRERA GOALS SPELL VICTORY
Two
goals by Toronto Croatia striker Hugo Herrera gave his side a 2-1
victory over St. Catharines Wolves and preserved the Mississauga-based
team’s unbeaten record.
Herrera scored at 13 minutes for a 1-0
lead at the interval at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, then
increased Croatia’s lead to 2-0 at 62 minutes before St. Catharines
midfielder Tony Mermigas reduced the lead at 64 minutes, a 2-1 final.
Toronto Croatia is the only team unbeaten with a 4-0-5 WLT record at
this half way mark in the season, while St. Catharines are at 3-3-2 for
11 points.
A
last minute strike by Canadian Lions’ forward Evan Milward gave his
side a 1-1 tie with Toronto Croatia at Birchmount Stadium, the only
game in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday. Milward lifted the ball over
the oncoming Croatia goalkeeper George Azcurra to score from 20 yards,
just when it appeared the winless Lions were about to suffer their
sixth loss of the season against the only unbeaten side in the league.
It’s the fourth tie for Canadian Lions and repeated a draw with Croatia
on Friday night when the teams tied 2-2 at the Hershey Centre in
Mississauga.
Toronto Croatia midfielder Boris Tomac gave Croatia
a 1-0 lead at the 70th minute mark following a hard fought scoreless
first half and 25 minutes into the second half when both teams failed
with scoring opportunities. Canadian Lions now have an 0-5-4 WLT record
for 4 points at the foot of the International Conference, while Toronto
Croatia maintained their unbeaten record with a 3-0-5 record for 14
points, good for third place in the same division.
JULY 6th TORONTO CROATIA vs CANADIAN LIONS TIE
It was a rough and
tumble affair at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga where the home side
went ahead on a goal by Tommy Ples at 27 minutes for a 1-0 lead at the
interval.
Joe Rini tied the game for Canadian Lions at 57 minutes and
Mario Janjicek put Lions ahead at the 70th minute mark.
Canadian
Lions failed to score from the penalty spot soon after taking the lead
and Hayden Fitzwilliams tied the game for Croatia at 88 minutes. more...
Players of Toronto Croatia win over FC Canberra and become Champions of The 1st. World Football Competition of the Clubs Founded by Croats Outside Homeland. Attended by over 800 fans the scores were: 0:1 Ivanic (35), 1:1 Bedenikovic (48-11m), 2:1 Robert Grnja (74), 3:1 Fran (90+3-11m).
click on the picture for more images from the tournament
Robert Grnja
JUNE 28th - TORONTO CROATIA WINS 2:1 OVER CROAT SAN PEDRO, U.S.A.
In a very close contest played n Stadium Lucko, the only unbeaten team in the Canadian Soccer League Toronto Croatia, prevail over a good team from USA Croatia San Pedro by a score of 2:1.
In ideal condition on the field temperature of 24 degree celzius the Toronto Team, on goals by Robert Grnja and newly acquired Tihomir Maletic, scored the goals to beat Croat San Pedro and secure the top position of the group “A” with 9 points denying the USA team the victory. Croatia San Pedro reinforced the team with players from NSL to booster their chances, but Toronto Croatia played their best game of the three victories in the tournament and prevailed by the final whistle of 2:1 score.
In the Group “B” the team from Australia, Canberra Croatia, in a surprise victory over Zrinski of Chicago by the score 2:1. Zrinski only needed a tied result to advance but had to taste the defeat and must played for third place finish with Croatia San Pedro. In the championship match Toronto Croatia will clash with Australia Canberra for the all honor to be crowned the best soccer team of Croatians living in other countries in the first Croatian World Cup of Croatian teams world wide.
JUNE 27th - TORONTO CROATIA WINS 9:0 OVER CROATIA ESSEN, GERMANY
Game played today June/27/07 at Inter City Zapresic Stadium in temperature in the mid 20 celzius give the Toronto Croatia an early lead and they scored often for total of nine times on the goaltender of Croatia from Essen, Germany. Tomy Ples lead the way with three goals, Boris Tomac scored two, with singles from Robert Grnja, Hugo Herrera, Tihomir Maletic, Marko Bedenikovic.
With this victory Toronto Croatia in the last game against Croatia San Pedro from USA, to be played on June/28/07, need only a tied result to secure the First place in group A.
In other game in Group A Croatia San Pedro salvage a 1:1 with Gradiscanski Hrvat from Austria, a result giving the USA team a win and a tie in their two games for a total of four Points. They must win their last game to be in the final.
JUNE 24th - TORONTO CROATIA WINS OVER GRADISCANSKI HRVAT 1:0
First
Toronto Croatia game vs Gradiscanski Austria ended with 1:0 for Toronto. Game was very even in
the first half and played at temperature of 25 celizius. 0:0 at a half. In the second half Toronto Croatia had a few chances but goalie from
Hrvat saved the attacks.
At the 37 minute of the second half Marko Badenikovic hit the crossbar on a free kick. Toronto Croatia put the pressure in the last few minutes and another free kick at the 45’. Minutes before the second half end, Marko Bedenikovic found the back of the Hrvat net. Few minutes later the game ended with a 1:0 win for Toronto Croatia. Next game is on the 27th against Croatia Essen from Germany.
Toronto Croatia Team
arrived to Zagreb Airport today early afternoon. After rest and two
days of training, their first match is on June 24, at 9.00PM, right after the
Grand Opening of The 1st World Football Competition of the Clubs Founded by the Croats Outside omeland, at 8.00PM at Stadium Inter City Zapresic. Expected attendance for the opening and the first game of the Group A is
20,000.
Today
evening the Team departed Toronto for Zagreb to participate in the
first world football competition of the clubs founded by the Croats
outside homeland and of the national minorities Zagreb and suburbs of Zagreb, from 25th to 30th of June.
JUNE 13th Toronto - TORONTO CROATIA WIN 1:0 OVER WOLVES
Toronto Croatia midfielder Hayden Fitzwilliams scored the only goal at 22 minutes to give his side a narrow 1-0 victory over St. Catharines Wolves in the only game scheduled in the Canadian Soccer League Wednesday night. more...
JUNE 7th - Toronto - NEWS FROM CSL
As Toronto Croatia
enters the 2007 season, they prepare to face fierce competition not
only within the CSL but also in an upcoming tournament in Croatia. more...
Tomislav Ples
JUNE 2nd Toronto - TORONTO CROATIA WIN 2:0 OVER WINDSOR BORDER STARS
Two first half goals by Toronto Croatia forward Tommy Ples was enough to give his side a 2-0 victory over Windsor Border Stars in the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night. more...
MAY 13th - Trois Riviers - SCORELESS SUNDAY
Toronto Croatia and Trois-Rivieres Attak failed to produce a goal in windy conditions at the University of Quebec Trois-Rivieres. more...
MAY 4th - Toronto - EARLY SEASON TEST
The first world football competition of the clubs founded by the Croats
outside homeland and FIFA approved Toronto Croatia's participation in the tournament - in Zagreb, June 25th-30th. more...
APRIL 26th - Zagreb - FIFA APPROVED TORONTO CROATIA PARTICIPATION IN THE TOURNAMENT
The first world football competition of the clubs founded by the Croats
outside homeland and FIFA approved Toronto Croatia's participation in the tournament - in Zagreb, June 25th-30th.
