2020 Canadian Soccer League season

The events throughout the regular season resembled the previous season, with the main theme being Scarborough SC and FC Vorkuta competing for the divisional and championship titles. As both teams were tied in points, the title was decided on the final match of the season, with Scarborough receiving their first division title by accumulating the most wins in the league's tie-breaker rules.{{Cite web|last=Stanchev|first=Stancho|date=October 14, 2020|title=К. Димитров-Брежанеца отново спечели редовния сезон на канадската лига|url=https://struma.bg/%d0%ba-%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%b8%d1%82%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2-%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b5%d1%86%d0%b0-%d0%be%d1%82%d0%bd%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%be-%d1%81%d0%bf%d0%b5%d1%87%d0%b5%d0%bb%d0%b8-%d1%80/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Вестник СТРУМА|language=bg-BG|trans-title=K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa again won the regular season of the Canadian league}} In a bid to successfully defend their championship title, the eastern Toronto side made adjustments to the roster with the acquisition of additional imports. The additions proved successful as Scarborough remained competitive and primarily battled with Vorkuta for the top spot and held the position for the final four weeks of the campaign.{{Cite web|last=Stanchev|first=Stancho|date=September 3, 2020|title=Мениджър от Брежани изведе "Скарбъро" до стратегически успех в канадския втори ешелон|url=https://struma.bg/%d0%bc%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b8%d0%b4%d0%b6%d1%8a%d1%80-%d0%be%d1%82-%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b8-%d0%b8%d0%b7%d0%b2%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%b5-%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b1%d1%8a%d1%80%d0%be/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Вестник СТРУМА|language=bg-BG|trans-title=Brezani manager leads Scarborough to strategic success in Canadian second tier}} Their rivalry would conclude in the CSL Championship final with Vorkuta securing their second championship title.{{Cite web|last=Stanchev|first=Stancho|date=October 30, 2020|title=Брежанецът К. Димитров и подопечните му сдадоха титлата в Канада, привикаха на пожар ексорлето Кр. Бибишков, но не го пуснаха на терена|url=https://struma.bg/%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b5%d1%86%d1%8a%d1%82-%d0%ba-%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%b8%d1%82%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2-%d0%b8-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%be%d0%bf%d0%b5%d1%87%d0%bd%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%b5-%d0%bc/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Вестник СТРУМА|language=bg-BG|trans-title=Brezhanets K. Dimitrov and his wards handed over the title in Canada, summoned the exorcist Kr. Bibishkov, but they did not let him on the field}}

Vorkuta managed to retain their core veteran imports with former general manager Denys Yanchuk serving as the head coach.{{Cite web|last=Rosip|first=Dmitry|date=November 8, 2020|title=Клуб в Канаде назвали в память о жертвах сталинских лагерей. Его создал юрист из России|url=https://www.championat.com/football/article-4183611-rossijskij-jurist-sozdal-v-kanade-futbolnyj-klub-vorkuta.html|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.championat.com|language=ru|trans-title=The club in Canada was named in memory of the victims of the Stalinist camps. It was created by a lawyer from Russia}} As a result, Vorkuta was a consistent challenger with the strongest defensive record and shifted between the first and second positions throughout the regular season. The Vaughan-based team earned their dividends in the championship final, where they defeated reigning champions, Scarborough. Included in that race for the divisional title was Hamilton City, where the Steeltown club held the third position for the majority of the season, with only a single point difference in claiming the title.{{Cite web|last=Stanchev|first=Stancho|date=September 24, 2020|title=Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров понесе първа загуба в Канада за сезона|url=https://struma.bg/%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bd%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b8%d1%8f%d1%82-%d0%bc%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b8%d0%b4%d0%b6%d1%8a%d1%80-%d0%ba-%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%b8%d1%82%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b5/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Вестник СТРУМА|language=bg-BG|trans-title=Brezani manager K. Dimitrov suffered his first loss in Canada this season}} Though Hamilton secured a postseason berth, the organization was prevented by the league from participating after finishing in a Not-in-Good Standing state.

The final playoff berth was secured by the Serbian White Eagles, which marked their fifteenth consecutive season of clinching a playoff berth since their return to the professional scene in 2006. The western Toronto side produced the best offensive record in the regular season but was eliminated in the first round of the championship playoffs by Vorkuta.{{Cite web|last=Adamson|first=Stan|date=October 10, 2020|title=OVERTIME VICTORY PUTS VORKUTA IN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL – Canadian Soccer League|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/overtime-victory-puts-vorkuta-in-championship-final/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=canadiansoccerleague.ca|language=en-US}} For the second consecutive season, Brantford Galaxy concluded the season at the bottom of the standings and managed to dodge a winless season by winning their final match of the season.

On March 29, 2020, the CSL released a tentative match schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following recommendations from health officials, the schedule was prolonged for another month to fulfill the entire season by scheduling matches on weekdays.{{Cite web|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-season-kickoff-delay-extended-to-june-29/|title=CSL SEASON KICKOFF DELAY EXTENDED TO JUNE 29 – Canadian Soccer League|last=Adamson|first=Stan|date=April 18, 2020|language=en-US|access-date=April 18, 2020}} On July 8, 2020, the league announced its schedule, with the commencement of the league beginning in early August, with seven teams returning from the previous season.{{Cite web |last=Adamson |first=Stan |date=8 July 2020 |title=CSL Aims to Complete Brief 2020 Season Through to Championship |url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-aim-to-complete-a-brief-2020-season-through-to-championship/ |access-date=10 July 2020 |website=canadiansoccerleague.ca |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Stanchev|first=Stancho|date=August 13, 2020|title=Двойна радост споходи в Канада брежанеца К. Димитров в навечерието на новия футболен сезон|trans-title=Double joy came to Canada's K. Dimitrov from Brezhnev on the eve of the new football season|url=https://struma.bg/%d0%b4%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b9%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82-%d1%81%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%85%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%b8-%d0%b2-%d0%ba%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%b0-%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b0%d0%bd/|access-date=2020-09-07|website=Вестник СТРУМА|language=bg-BG}} All the matches were scheduled to take place at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, with Kingsman SC, FC Ukraine United, and SC Waterloo Region not participating for the season.{{Cite web|date=August 1, 2020|title=FC UKRAINE UNITED TEAMS WILL NOT PLAY IN 2020 OUTDOOR SEASON|url=https://www.fcukraineunited.com/single-post/2020/08/01/FC-UKRAINE-UNITED-TEAMS-WILL-NOT-PLAY-IN-2020-OUTDOOR-SEASON|access-date=2020-10-01|website=fcukraineunited|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=February 12, 2021|title=Жизнь футбольной "Воркуты" из Канады: не делят русских и украинцев, платят почти среднюю зарплату по стране, на логотипе – колючая проволока|trans-title=The life of the football "Vorkuta" from Canada: Russians and Ukrainians are not divided, they pay almost the average salary in the country, there is barbed wire on the logo|url=https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/his_foot/2887979.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212173832/https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/his_foot/2887979.html |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-14|website=Sports.ru|language=ru}} The schedule was postponed for another week, with the season starting on August 15, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Adamson|first=Stan|date=August 6, 2020|title=VORKUTA'S FADI SALBACK TRIALS IN UKRAINE……CSL kickoff delayed until August 15 – Canadian Soccer League|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/vorkutas-fadi-salback-trials-in-ukraine-csl-kickoff-delayed-until-august-15/|access-date=2020-08-07|website=canadiansoccerleague.ca|language=en-US}}

On June 27, 2020, the league officially released its 2020 schedule and confirmed the kickoff date for August 15, 2020, with all matches being played at Esther Shiner Stadium in August, and the remaining months at Centennial Park Stadium.{{Cite web|last=Adamson|first=Stan|date=August 11, 2020|title=CSL NEW SEASON KICKOFF SET FOR SATURDAY – Canadian Soccer League|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-new-season-kickoff-set-for-saturday/|access-date=2020-08-11|language=en-US}} Originally CSC Mississauga and SC Real Mississauga were announced as participating teams but were not included in the revised schedule.

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Southern Ontario|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of First Division teams outside of Toronto for the 2020 CSL season.
10px First Division

|places=

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.16|long=-80.25 |label=Brantford |position=bottom|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.25 |long=-79.86 |label=Hamilton |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.816111 |long=-79.424444 |label=Vaughan |position=left|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Southern Ontario||lat=43.64 |long=-79.42 |label=TORONTO |position=right|mark=Red pog.svg}}

}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Location map+|Canada Toronto|width=400 |float=center|caption=Location of First Division teams in Toronto for the 2020 CSL season.
10px First Division

|places=

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.694 |long=-79.265 |label=Scarborough |position=right|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.65 |long=-79.58 |label=Serbian White Eagles |position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Canada Toronto||lat=43.772167|long=-79.602513 |label=FC Vorkuta |position=top|mark=Blue pog.svg}}

}}

{{Col-end}}

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

|show_limit=5

|team1=SCA |team2=FCV |team3=HAM |team4=SWE |team5=BRA

|win_SCA=5 |draw_SCA=0 |loss_SCA=3 |gf_SCA=18 |ga_SCA=16 |name_SCA=Scarborough SC|status_SCA=C

|win_FCV=4 |draw_FCV=3 |loss_FCV=1 |gf_FCV=16 |ga_FCV=8 |name_FCV=FC Vorkuta |status_FCV=O

|win_HAM=4 |draw_HAM=2 |loss_HAM=2 |gf_HAM=19 |ga_HAM=19 |name_HAM=Hamilton City SC

|win_SWE=3 |draw_SWE=1 |loss_SWE=4 |gf_SWE=20 |ga_SWE=16 |name_SWE=Serbian White Eagles

|win_BRA=1 |draw_BRA=0 |loss_BRA=7 |gf_BRA=9 |ga_BRA=23 |name_BRA=Brantford Galaxy

|col_Q=green1|col_D=red1|text_Q=Playoffs|text_D=Ineligible for Playoffs{{refn|group=note|Hamilton finished the season in a Not-in-Good Standing and were removed from the playoffs}}

|result1=Q|result2=Q|result3=D|result4=Q

|update=complete |source=[https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-standings-history/ Canadian Soccer League]

|class_rules=1) points; 2) total wins; 3) head-to-head points; 4) goal differential; 5) most goals

}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{#invoke:sports rbr table|table|sortable=y|legendpos=br

|team1= Brantford Galaxy

| pos1= 5/4/5/5/5/5/5/5

|team2= FC Vorkuta

| pos2= 2/1/2/1/2/2/3/2

|team3= Hamilton City SC

| pos3= 1/3/3/3/3/3/2/3

|team4= Scarborough SC

| pos4= 3/2/1/2/1/1/1/1

|team5= Serbian White Eagles

| pos5= 4/5/4/4/4/4/4/4

| color_1 = 1st

| color_2 = 2nd

| color_3 = 3rd

|update=complete

|source=[http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/2020-csl-first-division-standings/]

|date=August 2020

}}

Three teams advanced to the playoffs. Third seed Hamilton City ended the season in "Not-in-Good Standing", which resulted in their disqualification from the playoffs.{{Cite web|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/three-teams-bid-for-csl-championship-semifinal-saturday/|title=Three Teams Bid for CSL Championship…….Semifinal Saturday|first=Stan|last=Adamson|date=October 9, 2020|work=Canadian Soccer League}} The CSL Championship final was originally scheduled to take place at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, but due to further provincial government restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the venue was moved to Racco Park at Concord/Thornhill Regional Park in Vaughan, Ontario.{{Cite web|last=Adamson|first=Stan|date=October 15, 2020|title=IMPRESSIVE VORKUTA AND SCARBOROUGH WELL MATCHED FOR CSL FINAL – Canadian Soccer League|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/impressive-vorkuta-and-scarborough-well-matched-for-csl-final/|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Canadian Soccer League|language=en-US}}

{{3TeamBracket|

|RD1-seed1 = 2

|RD1-team1 = FC Vorkuta

|RD1-score1 = 2

|RD1-seed2 = 4

|RD1-team2 = Serbian White Eagles

|RD1-score2 = 1

|RD2-seed1 = 1

|RD2-team1 = Scarborough SC

|RD2-score1 = 1

|RD2-seed2 = 2

|RD2-team2 = FC Vorkuta

|RD2-score2 = 2

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=October 10, 2020

|time= 14:00

|team1=FC Vorkuta

|score=2–1

|aet=yes

|report= [http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/overtime-victory-puts-vorkuta-in-championship-final/ Report]

|team2=Serbian White Eagles

|goals1= Temnyuk {{goal|70}}
Melnyk {{goal|107}}

|goals2= Vukomanović {{goal|37}}

|stadium= Centennial Park Stadium

|location= Toronto, Ontario

|attendance=

|referee=

}}

{{Football box collapsible

|date=October 17, 2020

|time= 15:00

|team1=Scarborough SC

|score= 1–2

|aet=

|report= [http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/16643-2/ Report]

|team2= FC Vorkuta

|goals1= Angel Angelov {{goal|40}}

|goals2= Borovskyi {{goal|56}}
Chornomaz {{goal|70}}

|stadium= Racco Park

|location=Vaughan, Ontario

|attendance=

|referee= Braden K.

}}

==Season statistics==

===Hat-tricks===

{{Reflist}}

{{Canadian Soccer League}}

{{2020 in Canadian soccer}}

Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) seasons

Category:2020 domestic association football leagues

Canadian Soccer League