Defender Franco Ruscetta headed the opening goal for Italia Shooters in the win over Toronto Croatia, Mario Pupic tied the score 1-1 at 25 minutes for the home side and Pupic scored again, a goal from the penalty spot for a 2-1 Croatia lead at the interval.
Forward Jason De Thomasis struck the equalizer for Italia five minutes into the second half, Hayden Fitzwilliams put Croatia 3-2 up at 86 minutes and just as the game was looking like a home side victory Italia struck twice – midfielder Chris Turner at 93 minutes and Ruscetta, his second of the match at 95 minutes – a 4-3 Italia victory.
Croatia’s Ante Brkic was shown a red card at 80 minutes. Italia lead its division with a 9-3-1 WLT record for 28 points and Croatia slips to third position in the International Division with a 6-3-4 record for 22 points.
North York Astros were full marks for their second win in less than a week and an important one it was against a tenacious London City looking for a victory in front of home fans. London took the lead at 25 minutes when Andrew Loague scored his first of two goals at 25 minutes – his 7th of the season, but Selvin Lammie tied it up for the Astros five minutes later – his 8th of the season. Carlos Zeballos made it 2-1 for North York at 37 minutes, Lammie struck his second and 9th of the season at 45 minutes, the visitors’ Jonathan Hurtis increased the Astros’ lead to 4-1 at 46 minutes and London scored two from Jorge Cota (4-2) and Loague again for a 4-3 final score in favour of North York Astros.
The Astros improve to 6-5-2 for 20 points and a clear second in the standings while London City are at 0-12-1 for one point.
Serbian White Eagles were stretched early by TFC Academy but won 2-1 at Centennial Stadium. The academy side scored first, a goal by forward Adrian Pena at 26 minutes, Serbia tied the score 1-1 on a goal by Milos Scepanovic, the score at halftime and Dragan Radovic found the net for the Serbia winner at 49 minutes, his 9th of the season.
Serbian White Eagles move into second position in the International Division with the win, they now have a 7-3-2 record for 23 points, while TFC Academy are at 4-8-1 for 13 points.
It was entertaining soccer by Portugal FC and Brampton Lions at Lamport Stadium even though the game did not produce a winner. Helio Pereira opened the scoring for Portugal at 21 minutes for a 1-0 score at halftime, but Lions’ midfielder Orlin Chalmers tied the game 1-1 at the 67th minute mark, the final score.
Brampton played the last 30 minutes with 10 men after Denny Velastegui was ejected at the 60th minute mark for serious foul play.
Portugal are now at 4-4-3 for 15 points in the International Division, while Brampton have a 4-4-5 record for 17 points in the National Division.
Teams now take a two-week break in the regular season schedule and will resume with three games in the CSL on Friday, August 8.
