Season | 2023 |
---|---|
Dates | May 28 – September 16 (regular season) September 23 – October 7 (playoffs)[a] |
Regular season champions | Scarborough SC (2nd title) |
Matches played | 42 |
Goals scored | 190 (4.52 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Serhiy Ivlyev (13) |
Biggest home win | Serbian White Eagles 9–2 Weston United (August 26, 2023) |
Biggest away win | Weston United 1–9 Dynamo Toronto (July 22, 2023) |
Longest winning run | 5 matches Scarborough SC Toronto Falcons |
Longest unbeaten run | 6 matches Toronto Dynamo |
Longest winless run | 12 matches Ooty Black Pearl |
Longest losing run | 12 matches Ooty Black Pearl |
← 2022 2024 → |
The 2023 Canadian Soccer League season was the 26th season under the Canadian Soccer League name. The season commenced on May 28, 2023, with a tribute match while the regular season officially began on May 28, 2023. The season would conclude on September 16, 2023, with Scarborough SC winning their second regular season title.[1]
Originally a postseason was scheduled to occur around late September till early October but was canceled after the completion of the regular season.[2] Reasons for the cancelation varied from a lack of available playing venues to financial reasons.[2]
Summary
[edit]The regular season began in late May 2023 with seven teams vying for the league title and a playoff berth.[3][4] It became evident early on that the primary contenders for the regular season title would either be Scarborough SC or the Serbian White Eagles.[5][6] The Serbs strongly started the campaign in a winning fashion by initially producing a three-game undefeated streak until succumbing to Hamilton City in the early stages of the competition.[5] Despite the loss, the defending divisional champions would later regain the lead in the standings from Scarborough.[7]
On the Scarborough front, the team also had an impressive run in the early stages.[5] The eastern Toronto side also managed an undefeated run even usurping the top position from Serbia, when the original result of a controversial loss to debutant Dynamo Toronto was reversed in Scarborough's favor.[5] The club further benefited from a victory over the Serbs in their first encounter.[8] However, the lead was only temporary as the Serbs would regain leadership in the standings on a technicality.[7] This technicality stemmed from their original match where Scarborough failed to provide the proper documents regarding an acquired import.[7] Shortly after the disciplinary committee reversed the decision in Serbia's favor.[7]
Following the controversial match, the situation would remain the same throughout the majority of the season with the White Eagles holding the lead and with Scarborough trailing behind.[9] Ultimately, the winner of the regular season title would be decided on the final match of the season.[10] Before the final match, Serbia had a two-point advantage over Scarborough and required only a victory or a draw to secure the title.[10] In the final week of the competition, Scarborough managed to defeat the western Toronto side and claim their second divisional title.[1] Monetary issues among member clubs were the reason for the cancelation of the postseason as some members failed to fulfill their financial dues to the league.[1]
Changes from 2022
[edit]League membership increased to seven clubs with the addition of three expansion clubs.[11][4] The expansion sides included Dynamo Toronto FC, Ooty Black Pearl FC, and Weston United FC.[11] The acceptance of Dynamo Toronto marked the league's return to the city of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area.[12] Ooty Black Pearl and Weston United are both ethnic association clubs representing the Indian and Brazilian communities in the Greater Toronto Area.[13][14] The two departing clubs were defending champions FC Continentals which requested a year-long hiatus and York Region Shooters.[11][5]
Hamilton City became a single entity once more as they previously fielded a hybrid team during the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] Brantford Galaxy was originally scheduled to compete but withdrew just before the commencement of the season.[11][15]
The league commenced with the Royal CSL Cup, a tribute match in honor of former league announcer Enio Perruzza who died in 2021.[11][16] All league matches were played in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto with the first half played at Mattamy Sports Park and the remainder at the Paramount Centre fields.[11][6]
Teams
[edit]Team | City | Stadium | Manager |
---|---|---|---|
Dynamo Toronto FC | Brampton, Ontario | Mattamy Sports Park | Wais Azizi[17] |
Hamilton City | Hamilton, Ontario | Saša Vuković[6] | |
Ooty Black Pearl FC | Toronto, Ontario | Anto Santhosh[18] | |
Scarborough SC | Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough) | Zoran Knežević | |
Serbian White Eagles | Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) | Uroš Stamatović | |
Toronto Falcons | Toronto, Ontario | Maksym Rohovskyi[19] | |
Weston United FC | Toronto, Ontario (York) | Wallace Reis[20] |
Standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scarborough SC (X) | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 37 | 9 | +28 | 28 | |
2 | Serbian White Eagles | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 18 | +24 | 27 | |
3 | Toronto Falcons | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 9 | +23 | 25 | |
4 | Dynamo Toronto FC | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 33 | 22 | +11 | 19 | |
5 | Hamilton City | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 33 | −13 | 16 | |
6 | Weston United FC | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 49 | −37 | 5 | |
7 | Ooty Black Pearl | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 50 | −36 | 2 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) head-to-head points; 4) goal differential; 5) most goals
(X) Regular season champion
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров изведе канадския „Скарбъро" до нова титла в редовния сезон" [Brezhan manager K. Dimitrov led the Canadian Scarborough to a new title in the regular season]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 29 September 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Second Place for Serbian White Eagles". serbianwhiteagles.ca. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "Футболіст із Закарпаття забив гол у дебютному матчі чемпіонату Канади" [A football player from Transcarpathia scored a goal in the debut match of the Canadian championship]. sport.rayon.in.ua (in Ukrainian). 31 May 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Василь Пиняшко забиває за "Динамо" - Ужгородський футболіст відзначився у першому турі канадської футбольної ліги за свій новий клуб із Торонто" [Vasyl Pynashko scores for "Dynamo" - The Uzhhorod football player excelled in the first round of the Canadian Football League for his new club from Toronto]. lobda.at.ua (in Ukrainian). 30 June 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Брежански мениджър смени треньора и подсили „Скарбъро" с трио от елита на Ямайка" [Brezhanski manager replaced the coach and strengthened Scarborough with a trio of Jamaica's elite]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 19 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Футболен мениджър от Брежани с нова победа в Торонто" [Football manager from Brezani with another victory in Toronto]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 2 August 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Брежанският мениджър на „Скарбъро" К. Димитров: Искат да ни смачкат, но в плейофите ще докажем кой е №1" [Scarborough's Brezhan manager K. Dimitrov: They want to crush us, but in the playoffs we will prove who is #1]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 21 August 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "„Скарбъро" на К. Димитров-Брежанеца взе дербито на върха срещу „Сръбските бели орли"" [K. Dimitrov - Brezhanetsa's Scarborough took the summit derby against the Serbian White Eagles]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 22 July 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Анулирана победа и непланирана загуба от новак отдалечиха К. Димитров-Брежанеца и хората му от лидерската позиция в Канада" [An annulled victory and an unplanned loss by a rookie kept K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa and his men from the leadership position in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b "К. Димитров-Брежанеца изведе „Скарбъро" до най-голямата победа в Канада" [K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa led Scarborough to the biggest victory in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 13 September 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Adamson, Stan (9 May 2023). "Enio Perruzza Tribute Will Kickoff CSL Season". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Adamson, Stan (24 April 2023). "FC Dynamo Toronto in CSL". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Adamson, Stan (6 May 2023). "Ooty Black Pearl FC has plenty to offer". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Adamson, Stan (20 March 2023). "Weston United FC brings a Brazilian touch". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Adamson, Stan (22 May 2023). "CSL Set for Regular Season Kickoff". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ Vujcic, Djuradj (24 May 2023). "SWE Finish Second in First Ever Royal CSL Cup". serbianwhiteagles.ca. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ "2023 Dynamo Toronto FC roster". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "2023 Ooty Black Pearl roster". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Adamson, Stan (12 May 2023). "Confidence is High with Contrasting SWE and Toronto Falcons". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "2023 Weston United FC roster". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.