2021 Canadian Soccer League season

The 2021 Canadian Soccer League season was the 24th season under the Canadian Soccer League name. The season officially commenced on August 28, 2021, and concluded with the CSL Championship final on November 7, 2021, at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. The championship was contested between reigning champions FC Vorkuta, and Scarborough SC with Scarborough defeating Vorkuta for their second title.[1] Vorkuta completed the season with a league double (regular season, and ProSound Cup).

Canadian Soccer League
Season2021
DatesAugust 28 – October 10 (regular season)
October 30 – November 7 (playoffs)
ChampionsFC Vorkuta (regular season)
Scarborough SC (playoffs, 2nd title)
ProSound CupFC Vorkuta
Matches played28
Goals scored89 (3.18 per match)
Top goalscorerWabila Wallace (7)
Biggest home winScarborough SC 6–1 Toronto Tigers
(August 28, 2021)
FC Vorkuta 6–0 Serbian White Eagles
(September 11, 2021)
Biggest away winEuru Futbol Academy 2–4 BGH City FC
(September 4, 2021)
Euru Futbol Academy 0–4 FC Vorkuta
(October 9, 2021)
Longest winning run4 matches
Scarborough SC
FC Vorkuta
Longest unbeaten run7 matches
Scarborough SC
FC Vorkuta
Longest winless run7 matches
Euru Futbol Academy
Longest losing run7 matches
Euru Futbol Academy
← 2020
2022 →

The league was delayed once again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created another modified shortened schedule.[2] The regular season was reformatted into an invitational competition named the ProSound Cup, which featured permanent league members, and invitational clubs.

Summary

The rivalry between title contenders Scarborough SC and FC Vorkuta for league supremacy was renewed throughout the 2021 campaign.[3] As both clubs competed with one another for the league treble and even managed to attract a respectable attendance number in one of their matches.[4] Their rivalry was initially contested throughout the regular season with Vorkuta ultimately laying claim to the regular-season title with a two-point difference between them.[5] Vorkuta aided by their Ukrainian imports, and under the new management of Andrei Malychenkov, and Viktor Raskov managed to control the top spot for the majority of the season by producing an undefeated regular season streak.[6] They found further success by winning the invitational ProSound Cup after defeating their rivals Scarborough in a penalty shootout.[7] The saga of their rivalry would conclude in the CSL Championship final.[1]

Scarborough was also under new management with Mirko Medić being given the head coach position.[8] To remain completive Medić would further refine the roster with new additions.[8] In the opening weeks of the season, Scarborough held the top spot before relinquishing the position permanently to Vorkuta and finished as runner-up.[5] In the opening round of the CSL Championship, the club faced the Serbian White Eagles as Vorkuta was given a bye to the finals.[9] The match resulted in a victory for Scarborough, which marked the club's fifth consecutive championship final appearance.[9] The eastern Toronto side successfully avoided a trophy-less season by defeating reigning champions Vorkuta for their second title.[1]

The third position was contested between Atletico Sporting Toronto, and BGH City FC with Atletico ultimately securing the spot.[5] Atletico Sporting Toronto one of the invitational clubs had an impressive run in the league with the club holding the third position for the majority of the season. Toronto managed to gain a victory over the Serbian White Eagles and held Scarborough to a draw throughout the regular season.[5] BGH City FC was formed after a merger between Brantford Galaxy, and Hamilton City.[10] The team held the third position just once throughout the season and consistently chased Atletico for the position. BGH City secured the final berth to the ProSound Cup but was ineligible to compete in the tournament due to financial issues.[11]

The Serbian White Eagles finished fifth in the standings with a single-point difference between BGH City. The White Eagles were originally managed by Uroš Stamatović, but after a string of poor performances, Zoran Rajović was named his successor.[9] As BGH City was considered ineligible to compete in the ProSound Cup their berth was given to Serbia.[11] The Serbs were defeated in the opening round by Vorkuta.[11] Toronto Tigers another invitational club finished sixth in the standings and were tied with Serbia with only a difference in goals scored. The remaining positions were contested between Euru Futbol Academy, and St. Catharines Hrvat with St. Catharines finishing seventh, and Euru Futbol Academy finishing at the bottom of the standings.[5]

Changes from 2020

In early 2021, the founder of Coffee Time former league equity owner Tom Michalopoulos, and match announcer Enio Perruzza died during the offseason.[12][13][14] As the season began to mobilize the administration and marketing responsibilities of the league were assigned to a sports management firm named Primetime Sports Marketing Inc.[2] The schedule was released in early August with the season debuting on August 14, 2021, with all matches being scheduled at Centennial Park Stadium.[10] The regular season was reformatted into an invitational competition named the ProSound Cup, with a postseason format for the title.[10][15] Following the conclusion of the ProSound Cup, the CSL member clubs competed in a knockout bracket for the CSL Championship, which was exclusively reserved for permanent league members (without the invitational clubs).[15][10]

The structure of the competition featured league members along with four entries from the amateur level.[10] All league members from the previous season returned except Brantford Galaxy, and Hamilton City, which merged to form BGH City FC.[10] The invitational clubs were Atletico Sporting Toronto, Euru Futbol Academy, St. Catharines Hrvat, and Toronto Tigers.[10][16] The opening of the season was delayed to August 28, 2021, to acquire insurance for the usage of Centennial Park Stadium.[17][16]

Teams
TeamCityStadiumManagerStatus
Atletico Sporting Toronto Toronto, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Ronald Brinez[10] Invitational club
BGH CityBrantford, Ontario & Hamilton, OntarioCentennial Park Stadium Milan Prpa[18] Member Club[note 1]
Euru Futbol Academy Hamilton, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Invitational Club
FC VorkutaVaughan, Ontario (Woodbridge)Centennial Park Stadium Andrei Malychenkov[19]
Viktor Raskov[20]		 Member Club
Scarborough SCToronto, Ontario (Scarborough)Centennial Park Stadium Mirko Medić[21] Member Club
Serbian White EaglesToronto, Ontario (Etobicoke)Centennial Park Stadium Zoran Rajović[22][9] Member Club
St. Catharines Hrvat St. Catharines, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Martin Mamic[10] Invitational Club
Toronto Tigers Toronto, Ontario Centennial Park Stadium Invitational Club

Coaching changes
Team Outgoing coach Manner of
departure		 Date of
vacancy		 Position in table Incoming coach Date of
appointment
Serbian White Eagles Uroš Stamatović[23] Replaced September 18, 2021 8th in September Serbia Zoran Rajović[22] September 18, 2021
  1. BGH City was formed from a merger of member club Brantford Galaxy and Hamilton City, however they did not participate in the CSL Championship reserved for league members at the end of the season

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 FC Vorkuta (C) 7 6 1 0 22 1 +21 19
2 Scarborough SC (O) 7 5 2 0 19 4 +15 17
3 Atletico Sporting Toronto 7 4 1 2 13 6 +7 13
4 BGH City FC 7 3 1 3 10 10 0 10
5 Serbian White Eagles 7 3 0 4 8 16 −8 9
6 Toronto Tigers 7 3 0 4 7 15 −8 9
7 St. Catharines Hrvat 7 1 1 5 6 16 −10 4
8 Euru Futbol Academy 7 0 0 7 4 21 −17 0
Source: Canadian Soccer League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) head-to-head points; 4) goal differential; 5) most goals
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

    Positions by round
    Team ╲ Round1234567
    Atletico Sporting Toronto3733333
    BGH City FC7344444
    Euru Futbol Academy4578888
    FC Vorkuta2211111
    Scarborough SC1122222
    Serbian White Eagles5687665
    St. Catharines Hrvat6465777
    Toronto Tigers8856556
    Source:

    ProSound Cup

    Semifinal
    October 17, 2021 FC Vorkuta 2–1 Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario
    16:00 Ivliev
    Chornomaz     		Report Marko Stajic 66' Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
    Referee: Ramee Arbaji
    October 17, 2021 Scarborough SC 2–0 (a.e.t.) Atletico Sporting Toronto Toronto, Ontario
    18:15 Reid 95'
    Taha Ilyass 118'    		 Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium

    Finals
    October 24, 2021 FC Vorkuta 0–0 (a.e.t.)
    (4–2 p)    		 Scarborough SC Toronto, Ontario
    19:00 Report Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
    Referee: Timur Qayoumi
    Penalties
    Halchuk soccer ball with check mark
    Ivliev soccer ball with check mark
    Solonynko soccer ball with check mark
    Gostiev soccer ball with check mark    		 Marco Johansen soccer ball with check mark
    Reid soccer ball with check mark

    CSL Championship

    After the conclusion of the ProSound Cup featuring the CSL clubs and the invitational clubs, the CSL Championship was held with participation limited to the CSL member clubs.[24]

    Semifinal Final
    1 FC Vorkuta 1
    2 Scarborough SC 7 2 Scarborough SC 4
    5 Serbian White Eagles 5

    Semifinal
    October 30, 2021 Scarborough SC 7–5 (a.e.t.) Serbian White Eagles Toronto, Ontario
    15:00 Dimitrov 24'
    Limane 31', 36'
    Taha Ilyass 71', 109',
    Lukas Risto 101'    		 Report Marko Stajic
    Vladimir Strizovic 33'
    Rajović 60', 79',     		Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium

    Finals
    November 7, 2021 FC Vorkuta 1–4 Scarborough SC Toronto, Ontario
    15:00 Halchuk 79' Report Milos Scepanovic 5', 85'
    Limane 27', 32'    		 Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium
    Referee: Craig Williams

    Season statistics

    Goals
    Rank Player Club Goals[25]
    1 Wabila Wallace Atletico Sporting Toronto 7
    2 Serbia Vladimir Strizovic Serbian White Eagles 5
    Ukraine Mykola Temniuk FC Vorkuta
    3 Ukraine Bohdan Borovskyi FC Vorkuta 4
    Slovenia Gregor Žugelj St. Catharines Hrvat
    4 Taha Ilyass Scarborough SC 3
    Serbia Petar Djordjevic[26] BGH City FC

    Hat-tricks
    Player Club Against Result Date
    Ukraine Bohdan Borovskyi FC Vorkuta Serbian White Eagles 6–0 (H) 11 September 2021
    Slovenia Gregor Žugelj St. Catharines Hrvat Euru Academy 4–1 (H) 14 September 2021
    Serbia Vladimir Strizovic Serbian White Eagles St. Catharines Hrvat 4–1 (H) 18 September 2021

    References
    1. Stanchev, Stancho (November 11, 2021). "Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров изведе "Скарбъро" до втора титла в Канада" [Brzezany manager K. Dimitrov leads Scarborough to second title in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    2. "CSL JOINS WITH PRIMETIME SPORTS MARKETING FOR BRIGHTER FUTURE........2026 World Cup year marks 100th anniversary". Canadian Soccer League. 2021-05-30. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
    3. Stanchev, Stancho (September 25, 2021). "Брежанеца се завърна по канадските терени след проблем със зъбите" [Brezhanets returned to Canada after a tooth problem]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    4. Stanchev, Stancho (September 30, 2021). "Брежански мениджър води от Канада ямайски национал за нашенската Първа лига през зимата" [A manager from Brzezany leads the Jamaican national team from Canada to our First League in the winter]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    5. Stanchev, Stancho (October 12, 2021). "Канадският "Скарбъро" на брежанския мениджър К. Димитров влиза под №2 в битката за титлата" [The Canadian "Scarborough" of the Brzezany manager K. Dimitrov enters the battle for the title under №2]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
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    8. Stanchev, Stancho (September 9, 2021). "Мениджър от Брежани смени наставника на канадския "Скарбъро" и почна сезона с 2 победи" [Manager from Brezani replaced the coach of the Canadian "Scarborough" and started the season with 2 wins]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    9. Stanchev, Stancho (November 4, 2021). "Бивши играчи на "Беласица" и "Литекс" сътвориха голово зрелище в Канада" [Former Belasitsa and Litex players have created a goal in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
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    11. Stanchev, Stancho (October 24, 2021). "Мениджър от Брежани изведе "Скарбъро" до финал в Канада" [A manager from Brezani led Scarborough to the final in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
    12. "Obituary - ANNOUNCER ENIO PERRUZZA ONE OF THE BEST". Canadian Soccer League. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
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