Vaughan
September 15, 2008 09:40 AM
Mike Hayakawa, Staff Writer
The Vaughan Italia Shooters suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the North York Astros in Canadian Soccer League action Sunday at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York.
At the same time, the Shooters still managed to clinch a playoff berth by the end of the weekend.
Vaughan sits in third place overall with 35 points (11-5-2 record, second in the International Division).
The Trois Rivières Attak, leaders of the National Division, are first in the overall point standings race with a 12-3-4 mark for 40 points while the Serbian White Eagles are second.
The win over the Shooters assured North York of a playoff berth and are seeded fourth.
In Sunday’s match, the Astros’ Go Nagaoke scored the game-winning marker at the 87-minute mark after smashing the ball from about seven yards inside the right post.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the match on a goal by Selvin Lammie.
But the Italia Shooters came back to tie the game at the 20-minute mark on a goal by midfielder Luca Zucal.
At the 45-minute mark, Richard Asante was shown a red card while Gerard Ladivou got one at the 89-minute mark.
The Italia Shooters resume league play Friday against International Division-leading Serbian White Eagles at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium at 8 p.m.
The Italia Shooters then play at St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School Sunday against Toronto FC Academy at 4 p.m.