A 3 Horse Race Emerges for the regular season crown in the CPFL

Coming into this past weekend, Toronto Boca Juniors were atop the Canadian Premier Futsal League Standings, but after a remarkable 2nd half collapse on Saturday evening, a new club has taken over the reigns for the first time this season.

On Friday night at Seneca College, a huge tilt between Real Toronto and Brampton City United opened up the weekend’s action. Both teams had played earlier in the season which Brampton won 5-3, but a replay was ordered when Real appealed citing clock and match time issues.

Both squads went hard towards each other’s goals in the opening frame with each team exchanging a pair of goals while some excellent efforts in goal by keepers Roy Blanche (Brampton) and Bobby Tsipas (Real) prevented further tally to the scoreline.

The 2nd half would see a more meticulous set play focus with new Brampton acquisition Alvaro Yaques showcasing plenty of patience at back in order to dissect the rare gaps that Real’s tough defence allowed.

It would be in the last minute when it was tied 5-5 that Brampton would break out with the game winner scored by Brampton player Daniel Chamale. Real would then put former national selection Desmond Humphrey, who had a phenomenal performance on defence, in goal in order to utilize him as the 5th attacker. Real would come very close and a controversial call that would have resulted in a penalty for them was denied. Brampton then countered with a long cross court chip with 15 seconds left to put the game out of reach with a hard-earned 7-5 win and more importantly moved into first place.

Alvaro Yaques was named Man of the Match.

A Real Toronto player (blue) tries to go through TBJ

Real would slip to third in the table as a result but would have a chance to gain valuable points the following evening when they visited Toronto Boca Juniors at Seneca College.

The rough encounter would prove negative midway through the 1st half as Real fouled out quick but TBJ could not capitalize on a pair of 2nd penalty spot kicks – one of which was stopped by Tsipas with a solid left foot save. With TBJ forward Sergio Marchant scoring a hat trick and Real’s talisman Alex Tessari scoring a pair, it was a unusually high-scoring affair with the game tied 6 a piece at the half.

The high scoring would continue in the 2nd half as both squads played a more open style in order to avoid foul trouble and TBJ went on an onslaught scoring 5 straight goals to go up 11-6 and the game seemingly within their grasp. Real, having no substitutions left on the bench due to illness, look tired but would score a pair of quick goals around the 10 minute mark of the half to bring it within three. TBJ, clearly frustrated with allowing the last pair, started to argue with one another and Real would take advantage of the animosity and would remarkably complete the comeback with another 4 goals to cap the 13-11 victory.

Alex Tessari was named Man of the Match with a grinding performance which saw him net 5 goals in addition to a series of assists. It was a huge win for Real as they then moved into a tie for 2nd place with TBJ on 18 points, just a single point away from Brampton who sit on top with 19.

In other CPFL action this past weekend, Barrie Futsal Club would get the monkey off their back with their first win of the season over Scarborough Atletico with a 11-9 victory while London Athletic moved into 4th place with a convincing with 15-9 victory over Mississauga Eagles.

Edwin Guitierrez (Barrie) and teenager David Millan (London) were named Men of the Match in each respective game.

For all the standings and schedule, visit the CPFL section here