2023 Canadian Soccer League season

Canadian Soccer League

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

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 regular season title's primary contenders would 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

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

Team	City	Stadium	Manager
Dynamo Toronto FC	Brampton, Ontario	Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields	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

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Scarborough SC (X)	12	9	1	2	37	9	+28	28	Playoff semifinals
2	Serbian White Eagles	12	9	0	3	42	18	+24	27
3	Toronto Falcons	12	8	1	3	32	9	+23	25	Playoff quarterfinals
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

Source: Canadian Soccer League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) head-to-head points; 4) goal differential; 5) most goals
(X) Regular season champion

Notes

1. ^
   The playoffs did not take place due to financial and venue considerations. ^[2]

References

1. "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.
2. "Second Place for Serbian White Eagles". serbianwhiteagles.ca. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
3. "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.
4. "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.
5. "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.
6. "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.
7. "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.
8. "„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.
9. "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.
10. "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.
11. Adamson, Stan (9 May 2023). "Enio Perruzza Tribute Will Kickoff CSL Season". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
12. Adamson, Stan (24 April 2023). "FC Dynamo Toronto in CSL". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
13. Adamson, Stan (6 May 2023). "Ooty Black Pearl FC has plenty to offer". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
14. Adamson, Stan (20 March 2023). "Weston United FC brings a Brazilian touch". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
15. Adamson, Stan (22 May 2023). "CSL Set for Regular Season Kickoff". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
16. Vujcic, Djuradj (24 May 2023). "SWE Finish Second in First Ever Royal CSL Cup". serbianwhiteagles.ca. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
17. "2023 Dynamo Toronto FC roster". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
18. "2023 Ooty Black Pearl roster". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
19. Adamson, Stan (12 May 2023). "Confidence is High with Contrasting SWE and Toronto Falcons". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
20. "2023 Weston United FC roster". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.