111th Spectator Cup Final

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Spectator Cup final pits
Vicano vs. Croatia

THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR -

It will be Hamilton Croatia and Brantford Vicano in tomorrow's 111th Spectator Cup.

And while the 7 p.m. game at Brian Timmis Stadium seems uneven at first blush, Hamilton Croatia president Mark Vuksan says fans should ignore the fact the Brantford team plays in a soccer league a tier down.

"Brantford defeated a very good Serbia team from a high level, the Ontario Soccer League, 3-1 in the Cup semifinals," he pointed out.

Croatia, which plays in the Regional Soccer League, has a 6-2-2 record, while Vicano of the Hamilton & District League went 9-2-2.

Croatia beat Sparta 3-0 in the other semifinal, but lost linchpin midfielder Jamie Dodds due to three yellow cards.

"He's the quarterback of the team and was with Toronto Lynx USL as an all-star last year."

They'll have to rely on another midfielder, Antonio Zupan, and a stingy defence that allowed just eight goals in 10 games.

Goalie Ante Brala was another key figure.

Brantford, meantime, will likely be without excellent young striker Jack Przednowek, who is on scholarship at a U.S. college.

EYES ON THE BALL

STEP LIVELY. Tom Bilic, of Hamilton Croatia, keeps his knees up and his eyes on the ball at a practice for the Spectator Cup on Aug. 15. The action was next door to the Centre for Inland Waters on Eastport Drive.