Serbia in a squeaker

Serbian White Eagles will meet Toronto Croatia in the CSL Championship Final following a 2-1 Serbia victory over Trois-Rivieres Attak in a squeaker at Esther Shiner Stadium Sunday.

Although the Eagles went into the second half leading 2-0, which could have been 3-0 had striker Sasa Viciknez capitalized on a late first half penalty, the Quebec team came back with a vengeance to raid the Serbia goal time and again in the second half in an effort to get on level terms and a chance at FIFA penalty kicks to decide the outcome.

But even when referee Isaac Raymond added six minutes of added time, a gallant Attak with the second highest number of goals scored this season, could not find the net just one more time and the final whistle signaled an end to their 2007 campaign.

Forward Zoran Kokot opened the scoring for Serbian White Eagles after just six minutes and defender Dragorad Milicevic made it 2-0 twenty minutes later. With seconds remaining in the first half, Trois-Rivieres ‘keeper Jon Paul Piques fouled in the penalty area and Pop sent the wind-assisted shot high and wide.

It was soon clear the Attak intended to dominate the second half and except for an occasional breakaway or counter attack by Serbia, the Trois-Rivieres team certainly had most of the play and it was rewarded at 84 minutes when Nicolas Lesage took a cross from Sita Tati Motondo to put the ball into the net. It was Lesage’s  20th of the season and he leads the goalscoring title.

The goal set the stage for what turned into a rousing finish which ended 2-1 at the 96th minute mark.

Serbian White Eagles will now meet Toronto Croatia in the CSL Championship Final, the venue for which is expected to be announced late Monday.