1990 Canadian Soccer League season

The Kitchener Spirit and London Lasers joined the Canadian Soccer League as an expansion teams for the 1990 season, with both joining the East Division.{{cite web|url=https://funwhileitlasted.net/canadian-soccer-league-1987-1992/|work=Fun While it Lasted|title=Canadian Soccer League (1987-1992)}}{{cite web|url=https://soccerhistoryusa.org/ASHA/csl.html|title=Canadian Soccer League I|first=Dave|last=Litterer|work=Soccer History USA}} Meanwhile, the Calgary Strikers folded following the 1989 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1989.html#CSL|title=The Year in American Soccer 1989|work=American Soccer History Archives|first=David|last=Litterer|date=May 30, 2008|accessdate=May 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303113622/http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1989.html#CSL|archive-date=March 3, 2009|url-status=dead}}

As a result of those team changes, the league had a seven-team East Division and a four-team West Division. Consequently, the league did not have a balanced home and away schedule between conferences. West Division teams played each other four times each, twice each home and away, while playing the East Division teams twice, once each home and away. Eastern Division teams played other East Division teams three times, while playing the West Division teams twice, once each home and away.

The playoff format was also modified with eight teams (five from the East and three from the West) now qualifying for the post-season, as opposed to six in the previous years. The fifth place team from the East would cross over and play in the West Division playoff bracket. In addition, the playoff format was changed from an aggregate score system to a total points system. Teams would play a two-game series, with teams earning two points for a victory, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss, regardless of the score. If the teams were tied on points (e.g. each team won a game, or both games were ties), then the first tiebreaker was the teams playing a thirty-minute mini-game. If the mini-game resolved nothing, then penalty kicks were used as the second tiebreaker. In the mini-game, each team named a new lineup, could include three more substitutes and re-activate any players who sat out of Game Two for caution accumulation. Game Two home teams, the higher seeds, had an advantage as they had their entire 22-man active list available while away teams often traveled with as few as 14 players for economic reasons. The playoff final remained a one-off match, as in previous years, hosted by the top seed, or team with the best league record, in 1990.

Vancouver won their third consecutive West Division title, while Toronto won their second East Division title in a row. Once again, Vancouver and Hamilton met in the finals for the third consecutive season, with Vancouver winning the title for the third time in a row.

As 1989 league champions, the Vancouver 86ers competed in the North American Club Championship against the champions of the American Professional Soccer League, the Maryland Bays. Vancouver defeated Maryland 3–2 in the final played in Burnaby to capture the title.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-09-27-1990270046-story.html|title=Bays beaten in overtime, 3-2, in North American title game Mobilio's goal lifts Vancouver|date=September 27, 1990|first=Iain|last=MacIntyre|work=The Baltimore Sun}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ottawafury.com/ottawa_soccer_history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207100031/http://www.ottawafury.com/ottawa_soccer_history|archive-date=February 7, 2012|title=Canadian Soccer History|url-status=dead|work=Ottawa Fury SC}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|team1=TOR |team2=MON |team3=HAM |team4=KIT |team5=NYR |team6=OTT |team7=LON

|result1=PO |result2=PO |result3=PO |result4=PO |result5=PO

|win_TOR=18 |draw_TOR=3 |loss_TOR=5 |gf_TOR=52 |ga_TOR=15 |status_TOR= |name_TOR=Toronto Blizzard

|win_MON=13 |draw_MON=11 |loss_MON=2 |gf_MON=30 |ga_MON=12 |status_MON= |name_MON=Montreal Supra

|win_HAM=10 |draw_HAM=9 |loss_HAM=7 |gf_HAM=44 |ga_HAM=35 |status_HAM= |name_HAM=Hamilton Steelers

|win_KIT=8 |draw_KIT=7 |loss_KIT=11 |gf_KIT=30 |ga_KIT=36 |status_KIT= |name_KIT=Kitchener Spirit

|win_NYR=7 |draw_NYR=9 |loss_NYR=10 |gf_NYR=34 |ga_NYR=36 |status_NYR= |name_NYR=North York Rockets

|win_OTT=2 |draw_OTT=9 |loss_OTT=15 |gf_OTT=21 |ga_OTT=49 |status_OTT= |name_OTT=Ottawa Intrepid

|win_LON=2 |draw_LON=7 |loss_LON=17 |gf_LON=26 |ga_LON=68 |status_LON= |name_LON=London Lasers

|winpoints=2 |drawpoints=1 |res_col_header=Q

|col_PO=green1 |text_PO=Playoffs

|update=complete |source=[http://cansha.coffeecup.com/csl8792.html Canadian Soccer History Archives] [https://pdfhost.io/v/EeW7zqx3u_1990_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1990 CSL Stats]

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|team1=VAN |team2=VIC |team3=WIN |team4=EDM

|result1=PO |result2=PO |result3=PO

|win_VAN=17 |draw_VAN=6 |loss_VAN=3 |gf_VAN=69 |ga_VAN=26 |status_VAN=O |name_VAN=Vancouver 86ers

|win_VIC=12 |draw_VIC=7 |loss_VIC=7 |gf_VIC=42 |ga_VIC=32 |status_VIC= |name_VIC=Victoria Vistas

|win_WIN=7 |draw_WIN=8 |loss_WIN=11 |gf_WIN=22 |ga_WIN=37 |status_WIN= |name_WIN=Winnipeg Fury

|win_EDM=6 |draw_EDM=6 |loss_EDM=14 |gf_EDM=20 |ga_EDM=44 |status_EDM= |name_EDM=Edmonton Brick Men

|winpoints=2 |drawpoints=1 |res_col_header=Q

|col_PO=green1 |text_PO=Playoffs

|update=complete |source=[http://cansha.coffeecup.com/csl8792.html Canadian Soccer History Archives] [https://pdfhost.io/v/EeW7zqx3u_1990_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1990 CSL Stats]

}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|team1=VAN |team2=TOR |team3=MON |team4=VIC |team5=HAM |team6=KIT |team7=NYR | |team8=WIN |team9=EDM |team10=OTT |team11=LON

|result1=LC

|win_VAN=17 |draw_VAN=6 |loss_VAN=3 |gf_VAN=69 |ga_VAN=26 |status_VAN=O |name_VAN=Vancouver 86ers

|win_VIC=12 |draw_VIC=7 |loss_VIC=7 |gf_VIC=42 |ga_VIC=32 |status_VIC= |name_VIC=Victoria Vistas

|win_WIN=7 |draw_WIN=8 |loss_WIN=11 |gf_WIN=22 |ga_WIN=37 |status_WIN= |name_WIN=Winnipeg Fury

|win_EDM=6 |draw_EDM=6 |loss_EDM=14 |gf_EDM=20 |ga_EDM=44 |status_EDM= |name_EDM=Edmonton Brick Men

|win_TOR=18 |draw_TOR=3 |loss_TOR=5 |gf_TOR=52 |ga_TOR=15 |status_TOR= |name_TOR=Toronto Blizzard

|win_MON=13 |draw_MON=11 |loss_MON=2 |gf_MON=30 |ga_MON=12 |status_MON= |name_MON=Montreal Supra

|win_HAM=10 |draw_HAM=9 |loss_HAM=7 |gf_HAM=44 |ga_HAM=35 |status_HAM= |name_HAM=Hamilton Steelers

|win_KIT=8 |draw_KIT=7 |loss_KIT=11 |gf_KIT=30 |ga_KIT=36 |status_KIT= |name_KIT=Kitchener Spirit

|win_NYR=7 |draw_NYR=9 |loss_NYR=10 |gf_NYR=34 |ga_NYR=36 |status_NYR= |name_NYR=North York Rockets

|win_OTT=2 |draw_OTT=9 |loss_OTT=15 |gf_OTT=21 |ga_OTT=49 |status_OTT= |name_OTT=Ottawa Intrepid

|win_LON=2 |draw_LON=7 |loss_LON=17 |gf_LON=26 |ga_LON=68 |status_LON= |name_LON=London Lasers

|winpoints=2 |drawpoints=1 |res_col_header=Q

|col_LC=green1

|update=complete |source=[http://cansha.coffeecup.com/csl8792.html Canadian Soccer History Archives] [https://pdfhost.io/v/EeW7zqx3u_1990_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1990 CSL Stats]

}}

The playoffs were conducted with a total points system. Teams earned two points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The team with the most points following the two-game series advanced. If the teams were tied on points, they played a 30-minute mini-game for a bonus point, followed by a penalty shootout if the mini-game remained tied.

{{8TeamBracket

| RD1=Quarter-finals

| RD2=Semi-finals

| RD3=Final

| legs=2/2/1

| aggregate=y

| boldwinner=high

| score-width=40

|RD1-group1 = West Division

|RD1-group2 = East Division

| RD1-seed1=1W

| RD1-team1=Vancouver 86ers

| RD1-score1-1= 2

| RD1-score1-2= 2

| RD1-score1-3= 4 PTS

| RD1-seed2=5E

| RD1-team2= North York Rockets

| RD1-score2-1= 0

| RD1-score2-2= 1

| RD1-score2-3= 0 PTS

| RD1-seed3=2W

| RD1-team3= Victoria Vistas {{pso}}

| RD1-score3-1= 1

| RD1-score3-2= 3 (5)

| RD1-score3-3= 2+1 PTS

| RD1-seed4=3W

| RD1-team4= Winnipeg Fury

| RD1-score4-1= 4

| RD1-score4-2= 2 (4)

| RD1-score4-3= 2 PTS

| RD1-seed5=2E

| RD1-team5= Montreal Supra

| RD1-score5-1= 1

| RD1-score5-2= 0

| RD1-score5-3= 0 PTS

| RD1-seed6=3E

| RD1-team6= Hamilton Steelers

| RD1-score6-1= 2

| RD1-score6-2= 1

| RD1-score6-3= 4 PTS

| RD1-seed7=1E

| RD1-team7= Toronto Blizzard

| RD1-score7-1= 1

| RD1-score7-2= 1 (3)

| RD1-score7-3= 2 PTS

| RD1-seed8=4E

| RD1-team8= Kitchener Spirit {{pso}}

| RD1-score8-1= 2

| RD1-score8-2= 0 (4)

| RD1-score8-3= 2+1 PTS

| RD2-seed1=1W

| RD2-team1=Vancouver 86ers

| RD2-score1-1= 2

| RD2-score1-2= 6

| RD2-score1-3= 3 PTS

| RD2-seed2=2W

| RD2-team2= Victoria Vistas

| RD2-score2-1= 2

| RD2-score2-2= 1

| RD2-score2-3= 1 PTS

| RD2-seed3=3E

| RD2-team3= Hamilton Steelers

| RD2-score3-1= 1

| RD2-score3-2= 3

| RD2-score3-3= 3 PTS

| RD2-seed4=4E

| RD2-team4= Kitchener Spirit

| RD2-score4-1= 0

| RD2-score4-2= 3

| RD2-score4-3= 1 PTS

| RD3-seed1=1W

| RD3-team1=Vancouver 86ers

| RD3-score1= 6

| RD3-seed2=3E

| RD3-team2= Hamilton Steelers

| RD3-score2= 1

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 12, 1990

|time=

|team1= North York Rockets

|score= 0–2

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Ormsby|first=Mary|date=September 13, 1990|title=Explosive 86ers win playoff opener; Blizzard one down|page=F10|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

|team2= Vancouver 86ers

|goals1=

|goals2= Mitchell {{goal|8}}
Catliff {{goal|85}}

|stadium= Esther Shiner Stadium

|location= North York, Ontario

|attendance= 1000

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 16, 1990

|time=

|team1= Vancouver 86ers

|score= 2–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Stinson|first=Dan|date=September 17, 1990|title=Rocket coach says 86ers won't be denied third title|page=27|work=Vancouver Sun}} Report]

|team2= North York Rockets

|goals1= Catliff {{goal|19}}
Evans {{goal|47}}

|goals2= Enrico Todesco {{goal|78}}

|stadium= Swangard Stadium

|location= Vancouver, British Columbia

|attendance= 3340

|referee=

}}

Vancouver 86ers won the series 4–0 on points.

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 12, 1990

|time=

|team1= Winnipeg Fury

|score= 4–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Bender|first=Jim|date=September 13, 1990|title=Fury on Pitch|page=47|work=Winnipeg Sun}} Report]

|team2= Victoria Vistas

|goals1= Mike Mosher {{goal|26}}
Cambridge {{goal|70}}
Holness {{goal|86}}
Dave Foley {{goal|87}}

|goals2= Bridge {{goal}}

|stadium= Winnipeg Stadium

|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba

|attendance= 1155

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 15, 1990

|time=

|team1= Victoria Vistas

|score= 3–0

|scorenote=(Match Voided){{refn|group=note|Winnipeg protested the result of the original second leg due to the fielding of an ineligible player, Geoff Aunger (who should have been suspended due to yellow card accumulation and who scored the winning goal in extra time), that the league office failed to communicate to the teams involved or match officials. The CSL league office mandated a last minute replay of the second leg on Thursday, September 20, 1990 in Winnipeg}}

|aet= yes

|report= [{{Cite news|date=September 16, 1990|title=Vistas storm back to eliminate Fury|page=55|work=Winnipeg Sun}} Report]

|team2= Winnipeg Fury

|goals1= David Ravenhill {{goal|69}}
Ken Andrews {{goal|76}}
Aunger {{goal|98}}

|goals2=

|stadium= Royal Athletic Park

|location= Victoria, British Columbia

|attendance= 1980

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 20, 1990

|time=

|team1= Winnipeg Fury

|score= 2–3

|aet= yes

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Bender|first=Jim|date=September 21, 1990|title=CSL joke gets a punchline|page=45|work=Winnipeg Sun}} Report]

|team2= Victoria Vistas

|goals1= Nocita {{goal|85}}
Dave Foley {{goal|105}}

|goals2= Rick Jaskins {{goal|56}}
Steve Cecchi {{goal|87||97}}

|stadium= Winnipeg Stadium

|location= Winnipeg, Manitoba

|attendance= 839

|referee=

|penaltyscore = 4–5

}}

Victoria Vistas won the series in a shootout, after the series was tied 2–2 on points.

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 12, 1990

|time=

|team1= Hamilton Steelers

|score= 2–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Lovegrove|first=Don|date=September 13, 1990|title=Supra loses playoff opener to Steelers|page=C1|work=Montreal Gazette}} Report]

|team2= Montreal Supra

|goals1= Fashanu {{goal|55||84}}

|goals2= Keith {{goal|83}}

|stadium= Brian Timmis Stadium

|location=Hamilton, Ontario

|attendance= 2650

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 15, 1990

|time=

|team1= Montreal Supra

|score= 0–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Randy|date=September 16, 1990|title=Supra's season ends abruptly; Punchless offence fails to match Fashanu's goal|page=C1|work=Montreal Gazette}} Report]

|team2= Hamilton Steelers

|goals1=

|goals2= Fashanu {{goal|82}}

|stadium= Claude Robilliard Stadium

|location= Montreal, Quebec

|attendance= 1573

|referee=

}}

Hamilton Steelers won the series 4–0 on points.

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 12, 1990

|time=

|team1= Kitchener Spirit

|score= 2–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Ormsby|first=Mary|date=September 14, 1990|title=GM blasts 'spoiled' Blizzard for 'shameful' effort|page=F6|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

|team2= Toronto Blizzard

|goals1= Colville {{goal|43}}
Hunter Madeley {{goal|47}}

|goals2= Peschisolido {{goal|29}}

|stadium= Centennial Stadium

|location= Kitchener, Ontario

|attendance= 1029

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 16, 1990

|time=

|team1= Toronto Blizzard

|score= 1–0

|aet= yes

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Ormsby|first=Mary|date=September 17, 1990|title=Blizzard bow out in shootout|page=D3|work=Toronto Star}} Report]

|team2= Kitchener Spirit

|goals1= Eck {{goal|82}}

|goals2=

|stadium= Centennial Park Stadium

|location= Etobicoke, Ontario

|attendance= 2960

|referee= Bernie Huxter

|penalties1 = Gray {{pengoal}}
Marco Antonucci {{pengoal}}
Pignatiello {{pengoal}}
Fenwick {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore = 3–4

|penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Piękoś
{{pengoal}} Ferguson
{{pengoal}} Scott
{{pengoal}} Woody Bailey

}}

Kitchener Spirit won the series in a shootout, after the series was tied 2–2 on points.

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 22, 1990

|time=

|team1= Victoria Vistas

|score= 2–2

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Keating|first=Jack|date=September 23, 1990|title=Vistas show flair in tie with 86ers|page=9|work=The Province}} Report]

|team2= Vancouver 86ers

|goals1= Evans {{goal}}
Steve Cecchi {{goal|82}}

|goals2= Mobilio {{goal|27}}
Evans {{goal|28}}

|stadium= Royal Athletic Park

|location=Victoria, British Columbia

|attendance= 3775

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 30, 1990

|time=

|team1= Vancouver 86ers

|score= 6–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|last=Stinson|first=Dan|date=October 1, 1990|title=86ers roar to CSL's title game|page=19|work=Vancouver Sun}} Report]

|team2= Victoria Vistas

|goals1= Mobilio {{goal}}, {{goal}}
Mitchell {{goal}}
Evans {{goal}}
McKinty {{goal}}
Sammy Saundh {{goal}}

|goals2= Aunger {{goal}}

|stadium= Swangard Stadium

|location=Vancouver, British Columbia

|attendance= 5883

|referee=

}}

Vancouver 86ers won the series 3–1 on points.

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 22, 1990

|time=

|team1= Kitchener Spirit

|score= 0–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|date=September 24, 1990|title=Hopes for Kitchener sink in East|page=34|work=The Province}} Report]

|team2= Hamilton Steelers

|goals1=

|goals2= John Coyle {{goal|72}}

|stadium= Centennial Stadium

|location=Kitchener, Ontario

|attendance= 1325

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=September 30, 1990

|time=

|team1= Hamilton Steelers

|score= 3–3

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|date=October 1, 1990|title=The Spirit was willing but Steelers weren't weak|page=C3|work=Vancouver Sun}} Report]

|team2= Kitchener Spirit

|goals1= Fashanu {{goal|12}}
Billy Domazetis {{goal|29||52}}

|goals2= Hardley Scott {{goal|7}}
Mike Carter {{goal|61}}
Scott {{goal|68}}

|stadium= Brian Timmis Stadium

|location=Hamilton, Ontario

|attendance= 1956

|referee=

}}

Hamilton Steelers won the series 3–1 on points.

{{Football box collapsible

|date= October 8, 1990

|time= 19:30

|team1= Vancouver 86ers

|score= 6–1

|aet=

|report= [{{Cite news|date=October 9, 1990|title=86ers romp to third CSL title|page=15|work=Nanaimo Daily News}}{{Cite book|last=Jose|first=Colin|title=On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario|publisher=Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2001|location=Vaughan, Ontario|pages=130, 133}} Report]

|team2= Hamilton Steelers

|goals1= Catliff {{goal}}, {{goal}}, {{goal}}
Evans {{goal}}
Mitchell {{goal}}
Mobilio {{goal}}

|goals2= Billy Domazetis {{goal}}

|stadium= Swangard Stadium

|location=Vancouver, British Columbia

|attendance= 6348

|referee= Tony Evangelista

}}

The following awards and nominations were awarded for the 1990 season.

Reserves

Front office

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vVcaiqoaufxngges_8tVFa_YWyJQ3APl/view Canadian Soccer League 1991 Media Guide and Statistics]
• [https://pdfhost.io/v/EeW7zqx3u_1990_CSL_Statspdf.pdf 1990 CSL Stats]

{{Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)}}

Canadian Soccer League

Category:Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) seasons