2020 Canadian Soccer League season

Canadian Soccer League

Season	2020
Dates	August 15 – October 3 (regular season) October 10 – October 17 (playoffs)
Champions	Scarborough SC (First Division regular season) FC Vorkuta (First Division playoffs, 2nd title)
Matches played	20
Goals scored	82 (4.1 per match)
Top goalscorer	Moussa Limane (7)
Biggest home win	Scarborough SC 7–2 Hamilton City SC (August 22, 2020)
Biggest away win	Brantford Galaxy 2–5 FC Vorkuta (September 5, 2020)
Longest winning run	4 matches Scarborough SC
Longest unbeaten run	5 matches FC Vorkuta
Longest winless run	7 matches Brantford Galaxy
Longest losing run	7 matches Brantford Galaxy
← 2019 2021 →

The 2020 Canadian Soccer League season was the 23rd season under the Canadian Soccer League name. The season commenced on August 15, 2020, and concluded with the CSL Championship final on October 17, 2020. ^[1] FC Vorkuta defeated the reigning champions Scarborough SC at Racco Park in Vaughan, Ontario, and secured their second championship. While Scarborough made their fourth consecutive appearance to the championship final and claimed their first divisional title. ^[2]

As the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the opening of the season the league ultimately released a modified shorten schedule which began in early August with the matches taking place within Toronto at Esther Shiner Stadium, and Centennial Park Stadium except for the championship final being moved to Racco Park at Concord/Thornhill Regional Park in Vaughan, Ontario.

Summary

The events throughout the regular season resembled the previous season with the main theme being Scarborough SC and FC Vorkuta competing for the divisional and championship titles. As both teams were tied in points the title was decided on the final match of the season with Scarborough receiving their first division title by accumulating the most wins in the league's tie-breaker rules. ^[3] In a bid to successfully defend their championship title the eastern Toronto side made adjustments to the roster with the acquirement of additional imports. ^[4] The additions proved successful as Scarborough remain competitive and primarily battled with Vorkuta for the top spot and held the position for the final four weeks of the campaign. ^[5] Their rivalry would conclude in the CSL Championship final with Vorkuta securing their second championship title. ^[6]

Vorkuta managed to retain their core veteran imports with former general manager Denys Yanchuk serving as the head coach. ^[7] As a result, Vorkuta was a consistent challenger with the strongest defensive record and shifted between the first and second positions throughout the regular season. ^[5] The Vaughan-based team earned their dividends in the championship final where they defeated reigning champions, Scarborough. ^[7] Included in that race for the divisional title was Hamilton City SC, where the Steeltown club held the third position for the majority of the season with only a single point difference in claiming the title. ^[8] Though Hamilton secured a postseason berth the organization was prevented by the league from participating after finishing in a Not-in-Good Standing state. ^[9]

The final playoff berth was secured by the Serbian White Eagles, which marked their fifteenth consecutive season of clinching a playoff berth since their return to the professional scene in 2006. The western Toronto side produced the best offensive record in the regular season but was eliminated in the first round of the championship playoffs to Vorkuta. ^[10] For the second consecutive season, Brantford Galaxy concluded the season at the bottom of the standings and managed to dodge a winless season by winning their final match of the season. ^[11]

Changes from 2019

On March 29, 2020, the CSL released a tentative match schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[1] Following recommendations from health officials, the schedule was prolonged for another month with the intention of fulfilling the entire season by scheduling matches on the weekdays. ^[12] On July 8, 2020, the league announced their schedule with the commencement of the league beginning in early August with seven teams returning from the previous season. ^{[13] [4]} All the matches were scheduled to take place at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario with Kingsman SC, FC Ukraine United, and SC Waterloo Region not participating for the season. ^{[13] [14] [15]} The schedule was postponed for another week with the season starting on August 15, 2020. ^[16]

On June 27, 2020, the league officially released its 2020 schedule and confirmed the kickoff date for August 15, 2020, with all matches being played at Esther Shiner Stadium in August, and the remaining months at Centennial Park Stadium. ^[17] Originally CSC Mississauga and SC Real Mississauga were announced as participating teams but were not included in the revised schedule.

Teams

Team	City	Stadium	Manager
Brantford Galaxy	Brantford, Ontario	Esther Shiner Stadium Centennial Park Stadium	Saša Vidović [11]
FC Vorkuta	Vaughan, Ontario (Woodbridge)	Esther Shiner Stadium Centennial Park Stadium	Denys Yanchuk [18]
Hamilton City SC	Hamilton, Ontario (Stoney Creek)	Esther Shiner Stadium Centennial Park Stadium	Sasa Vukovic [19]
Scarborough SC	Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough)	Esther Shiner Stadium Centennial Park Stadium	Zoran Rajović [20]
Serbian White Eagles	Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke)	Esther Shiner Stadium Centennial Park Stadium	Uroš Stamatović [21]

Coaching changes

Team	Outgoing coach	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Position in table	Incoming coach	Date of appointment
Brantford Galaxy	Milan Prpa [22]	Replaced	October 3, 2020	5th in October	Saša Vidović [11]	October 3, 2020

Brantford Hamilton Vaughan TORONTO class=notpageimage| Location of First Division teams outside of Toronto for the 2020 CSL season. First Division

Scarborough Serbian White Eagles FC Vorkuta class=notpageimage| Location of First Division teams in Toronto for the 2020 CSL season. First Division

Standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Scarborough SC (C)	8	5	0	3	18	16	+2	15	Playoffs
2	FC Vorkuta (O)	8	4	3	1	16	8	+8	15
3	Hamilton City SC	8	4	2	2	19	19	0	14	Ineligible for Playoffs [note 1]
4	Serbian White Eagles	8	3	1	4	20	16	+4	10	Playoffs
5	Brantford Galaxy	8	1	0	7	9	23	−14	3

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

1. Hamilton finished the season in a Not-in-Good Standing and were removed from the playoffs

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Brantford Galaxy	5	4	5	5	5	5	5	5
FC Vorkuta	2	1	2	1	2	2	3	2
Hamilton City SC	1	3	3	3	3	3	2	3
Scarborough SC	3	2	1	2	1	1	1	1
Serbian White Eagles	4	5	4	4	4	4	4	4

Source:

Playoffs

Three teams advanced to the playoffs. Third seed Hamilton City ended the season in "Not-in-Good Standing", which resulted in their disqualification from the playoffs. [9] The CSL Championship final was originally scheduled to take place at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, but due to further provincial government restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic the venue was moved to Racco Park at Concord/Thornhill Regional Park in Vaughan, Ontario. ^[23]

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

Semifinal

FC Vorkuta v Serbian White Eagles

October 10, 2020	FC Vorkuta	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Serbian White Eagles	Toronto, Ontario
14:00	Temniuk 70' Melnyk 107'	Report	Vukomanovic 37'	Stadium: Centennial Park Stadium

Finals

Scarborough SC v FC Vorkuta

October 17, 2020	Scarborough SC	1–2	FC Vorkuta	Vaughan, Ontario
15:00	Angel Angelov 40'	Report	Borovskyi 56' Chornomaz 70'	Stadium: Racco Park Referee: Braden K.

Season statistics

Goals

Rank	Player	Club	Goals [24]
1	Moussa Limane	Scarborough SC	7
2	Luke Rankin	Hamilton City SC	6
3	Dusan Kovacevic	Serbian White Eagles	5
	Mykola Temniuk	FC Vorkuta
4	Misel Klisara	Serbian White Eagles	4
5	Arsen Platis	Hamilton City SC	3

Hat-tricks

Player	Club	Against	Result	Date
Moussa Limane	Scarborough SC	Hamilton City SC	7–2 (H)	22 August 2020
Luke Rankin [25]	Hamilton City SC	Serbian White Eagles	4–3 (A)	5 September 2020
Dusan Kovacevic [26]	Serbian White Eagles	Scarborough SC	3–0 (H)	19 September 2020

References

1. Adamson, Stan (March 29, 2020). "CSL KICKOFF SET FOR END OF MAY – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
2. Adamson, Stan (October 18, 2020). "VORKUTA RALLY FOR CSL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
3. Stanchev, Stancho (October 14, 2020). "К. Димитров-Брежанеца отново спечели редовния сезон на канадската лига" [K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa again won the regular season of the Canadian league]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved November 26, 2020.
4. Stanchev, Stancho (August 13, 2020). "Двойна радост споходи в Канада брежанеца К. Димитров в навечерието на новия футболен сезон" [Double joy came to Canada's K. Dimitrov from Brezhnev on the eve of the new football season]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved September 7, 2020.
5. Stanchev, Stancho (September 3, 2020). "Мениджър от Брежани изведе "Скарбъро" до стратегически успех в канадския втори ешелон" [Brezani manager leads Scarborough to strategic success in Canadian second tier]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved November 26, 2020.
6. Stanchev, Stancho (October 30, 2020). "Брежанецът К. Димитров и подопечните му сдадоха титлата в Канада, привикаха на пожар ексорлето Кр. Бибишков, но не го пуснаха на терена" [Brezhanets K. Dimitrov and his wards handed over the title in Canada, summoned the exorcist Kr. Bibishkov, but they did not let him on the field]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved November 26, 2020.
7. Rosip, Dmitry (November 8, 2020). "Клуб в Канаде назвали в память о жертвах сталинских лагерей. Его создал юрист из России" [The club in Canada was named in memory of the victims of the Stalinist camps. It was created by a lawyer from Russia]. www.championat.com (in Russian). Retrieved November 26, 2020.
8. Stanchev, Stancho (September 24, 2020). "Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров понесе първа загуба в Канада за сезона" [Brezani manager K. Dimitrov suffered his first loss in Canada this season]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved November 26, 2020.
9. Adamson, Stan (October 9, 2020). "Three Teams Bid for CSL Championship…….Semifinal Saturday". Canadian Soccer League.
10. Adamson, Stan (October 10, 2020). "OVERTIME VICTORY PUTS VORKUTA IN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
11. Adamson, Stan (October 4, 2020). "SCARBOROUGH WINS LEAGUE TITLE……….Brantford 's last game victory – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League . Retrieved October 5, 2020.
12. Adamson, Stan (April 18, 2020). "CSL SEASON KICKOFF DELAY EXTENDED TO JUNE 29 – Canadian Soccer League" . Retrieved April 18, 2020.
13. Adamson, Stan (July 8, 2020). "CSL Aims to Complete Brief 2020 Season Through to Championship". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
14. "FC UKRAINE UNITED TEAMS WILL NOT PLAY IN 2020 OUTDOOR SEASON". fcukraineunited. August 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
15. "Жизнь футбольной "Воркуты" из Канады: не делят русских и украинцев, платят почти среднюю зарплату по стране, на логотипе – колючая проволока" [The life of the football "Vorkuta" from Canada: Russians and Ukrainians are not divided, they pay almost the average salary in the country, there is barbed wire on the logo]. Sports.ru (in Russian). February 12, 2021. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
16. Adamson, Stan (August 6, 2020). "VORKUTA'S FADI SALBACK TRIALS IN UKRAINE……CSL kickoff delayed until August 15 – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
17. Adamson, Stan (August 11, 2020). "CSL NEW SEASON KICKOFF SET FOR SATURDAY – Canadian Soccer League" . Retrieved August 11, 2020.
18. "FC Vorkuta – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
19. "Hamilton City 1 SC – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
20. "Scarborough SC – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
21. "Serbian White Eagles – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
22. "Brantford Galaxy SC – Canadian Soccer League" . Retrieved August 17, 2020.
23. Adamson, Stan (October 15, 2020). "IMPRESSIVE VORKUTA AND SCARBOROUGH WELL MATCHED FOR CSL FINAL – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
24. "2020 Top scorers". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
25. "Luke Rankin - 2019-20 - University of Guelph". gryphons.ca. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
26. "Dusan Kovacevic - Men's Soccer". McMaster University Athletics. Retrieved September 20, 2020.