Scoring drought ends in time for the HNNS Tournament

Jason Shannon scored twice to get the offence back on track.

Frank Perin — “It was just what the doctor ordered.” To some it’s an overused cliche. To Hamilton on Friday, it was North York. Jason Shannon scored twice and Melford James Jr. recorded the shutout as Hamilton Croatia routed the Astros 5-0.

Shannon opened the scoring at the 18th minute with a long shot – it may have been a cross pegged for Preston Corporal – that floated up and over the head of Astros goalkeeper Nelson Zamora. It was Croatia’s first goal in 242 minutes.

The Hamilton striker doubled the lead when he took a through-ball in alone, stepped around a sprawling Zamora, and calmly slotted in into the back of the net.

Former Chicago Fire MLS draft pick Melford James Jr. was sound when called upon in his first game in goal for the home side.

Daniel Niksic made it 3-0 at 62 minutes when he rocketed a shot past the keeper from just inside the penalty area after a beautiful build-up in the midfield which included touches from Adam Leggett, Boris Vurdelja and Danny Jirta.

Jerko Grubisic made it 4-0 at 76 minutes and Aidan O’Keefe struck his 11th of the season for a 5-0 lead at 82 minutes to round out the scoring.

It was the second time Hamilton “Bundy’d” the opposition this season (winning by a five-count), and the fourth time they have scored five or more goals in a game.

Hamilton’s next action is the HNNS Tournament on Labour Day weekend. Three games are scheduled for Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. against Oakville Livno. Games are taking place at Ridley College in St. Catherine’s.

Hamilton goalless since August 4th

Supporters have begun to grow anxious in the wake of Croatia's recent slide.

Frank Perin — Portugal FC made amends for a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Hamilton Croatia on July 10 with a decisive 2-0 victory at Brian Timmis Stadium on Friday night.

Former Toronto FC striker Andrea Lombardo struck at 20 minutes, then again in the 88th minute for his 4th and 5th goals of the season.

Croatia came close to tying the game in the second half. On two seperate occasions, strikers Preston Corporal and Jerko Grubisic hit the post and crossbar respectively, but Hamilton could not find the netting behind goalie Mike Silva.

Referee Justin Tavis was kept busy in the game.

He sent off Croatia midfielder Jamie Dodds with an arguable direct red card for an apparent dangerous tackle. He later dismissed the visitors’ Dominic Antonini after showing him a second caution late in the game.

Croatia hopes to break their current slide with a home game Friday against North York.

In their previous outing they lost midfielder Victor Gallo to a second yellow card, and eventually lost the game, 3-0, at Saputo Stadium against the Montreal Impact Academy last Saturday.

Hamilton Croatia hope to take advantage of the Astros, who have lost their past nine games and have only scored five goals in that span.

Kickoff is 9 p.m. at Brian Timmis Stadium.

One game called, the other postponed

The two Croatia's escorted onto the field with flags and youth teams prior to Friday's game.

Toronto Croatia took a 1-0 lead against FC Hamilton Croatia on a goal after just one minute of play by Tihomir Maletic, his 10th of the season.

Following a hard-fought, well played first half the game was abandoned following an incident between a player and the referee just before the half-time whistle at Brian Timmis Stadium.

The result will not immediately be included in the standings and the league is expected to decide if the game is considered played or if a replay is necessary.

Sunday’s game against Milltown FC was postponed hours before kickoff following a thunderstorm at Brian Timmis Stadium that left part of the ground under water. The game will be rescheduled.

Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/

Croatia splits mini road trip

The White Eagles continued their pursuit of the CSL league title with an important 1-0 victory over Hamilton Croatia, while in one other game played Friday night, London City moved off the cellar position in the standings with a 2-1 win over St. Catharines Wolves.

It was the Eagles’ 11th game without a loss and an improvement on their already outstanding goal differential with only seven goals conceded in the 12 games played so far this season.

Eagles’ Shawn Brown appeared to be the most dangerous forward on the field and he struck the only goal of the game at the 24th minute, a game with few opportunities for goals as both teams defended well throughout.

After a win on Wednesday in St. Catherines, this loss drops Hamilton Croatia to third position in the standings with a 7-4-5 record for 26 points.

Source: http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/

McKay records his fourth shutout of the season

Muggy conditions blanket the field at Club Roma.

Frank Perin — Hamilton Croatia kept their league leading offence on pace with a 3-0 victory over the struggling St. Catharines Wolves in the only match in the Canadian Soccer League Wednesday night.

In the overcast conditions at St. Catharines the home side showed some early promise but were thwarted by the solid play of Hamilton goalkeeper Cameron McKay, which allowed for the visitors to open the scoring.

John “Alvin” Hudson found the left corner of the net from a corner kick in the 22nd minute. It was the defender’s second goal of the season.

The Steeltowners doubled their lead just over 10 minutes later.

Striker Aidan O’Keefe scored from 20 yards, a shot that Wolves’ goalkeeper Claudio Perri got a hand to but failed to prevent from finding the back of the net. It was the Irishman’s fourth goal in two games against St. Catherine’s, and his tenth of the season, which puts the first year CSL striker one back in the league scoring race.

Hamilton Croatia went further ahead in the second frame. Outside midfielder John Reilly collected a lovely give-and-go from O’Keefe on the right wing and his one-timer beat Perri on his right side in the 73rd minute.

Both teams looked sluggish in the final 20 minutes but Croatia defended well and the 3-0 score held to the final whistle.

Croatia also made all five of the allowed substitutions in trying to keep their legs fresh for Friday’s visit to Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke for a clash with the White Eagles. The Eagles are undefeated since May 28 and have conceded just 7 goals in their 11 games played.