Italia advanced to semis following wins over St. Catharines Wolves. Italia's Geron Duport (21) was prominent
It was the first of two first leg semi-final games scheduled in the CSL the Thanksgiving Day Weekend, a total points home and away aggregate semi-final series leading to the CSL Championship to be played at the BMO Field on October 24.
There were two quick goals in Saturday’s game, the first scored by Italia’s Johan Carrera after just 3 minutes and one minute later Guillaume Heroux struck the equalizer for the Quebec team.
Heroux scored a second to put his side 2-1 up at 25 minutes and Yannik Rome-Gosselin gave the visitors a 3-1 lead at the 38th minute mark.
Heroux was prominent again just before the half-time whistle when he was ejected by referee Matthew Arduini for violent conduct.
Italia fought to get back into the game during the second half, but lost defender Alvaro Yaques at 53 minutes when he was red-carded during an aggressive play with an Trois-Rivieres Attak forward.
Italia Shooters cut the lead to 3-2 when Jason De Thomasis drove the ball through the Trois-Rivieres Attak wall with his free kick at 81 minutes and the home side continued to persevere until Damien Pottindor found the net at 92 minutes for the 3-3 tie.
The return game will be played at Trois-Rivieres on Sunday, October 18, that’s a 3 pm kickoff at Complexe Sportif Alphonse Desjardins.
The second semi-final first leg game scheduled this Thanksgiving Weekend will be played Sunday at Centennial Stadium when Toronto Croatia hosts Serbian White Eagles at 4 pm. The following is a summary of the upcoming games in the CSL playoffs:
Return Game – Semi-final 2nd. Leg
Sunday, October 18, Trois-Riviers 3 pm
Trois-Rivieres Attak vs. Italia Shooters
Tomorrow’s Game:
CSL PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals – 1st Leg
Centennial Stadium 4 pm
Toronto Croatia vs. Serbian White Eagles
Return Game – Semi-final 2nd. Leg
Saturday, October 17, Centennial Stadium 4 pm Serbian White Eagles vs. Toronto Croatia
CSL Championship – Final
Saturday, October 24 BMO Field 5 pm
Trois-Rivieres Attak or Italia Shooters vs. Serbian White Eagles or Toronto Croatia
