# 2023 Canadian Soccer League season

The 2023 Canadian Soccer League season was the 26th season under the Canadian Soccer League name. The season commenced on May 28, 2023, with a tribute match while the regular season officially began on May 28, 2023. The season would conclude on September 16, 2023, with Scarborough SC winning their second regular season title.
Originally a postseason was scheduled to occur around late September till early October but was canceled after the completion of the regular season. Reasons for the cancelation varied from a lack of available playing venues to financial reasons.

## Summary

The regular season began in late May 2023 with seven teams vying for the league title and a playoff berth. It became evident early on that the regular season title's primary contenders would be Scarborough SC or the Serbian White Eagles. The Serbs strongly started the campaign in a winning fashion by initially producing a three-game undefeated streak until succumbing to Hamilton City in the early stages of the competition. Despite the loss, the defending divisional champions would later regain the lead in the standings from Scarborough.
On the Scarborough front, the team also had an impressive run in the early stages. The eastern Toronto side also managed an undefeated run even usurping the top position from Serbia, when the original result of a controversial loss to debutant Dynamo Toronto was reversed in Scarborough's favor. The club further benefited from a victory over the Serbs in their first encounter. However, the lead was only temporary as the Serbs would regain leadership in the standings on a technicality. This technicality stemmed from their original match where Scarborough failed to provide the proper documents regarding an acquired import. Shortly after the disciplinary committee reversed the decision in Serbia's favor.
Following the controversial match, the situation would remain the same throughout the majority of the season with the White Eagles holding the lead and with Scarborough trailing behind. Ultimately, the winner of the regular season title would be decided on the final match of the season. Before the final match, Serbia had a two-point advantage over Scarborough and required only a victory or a draw to secure the title. In the final week of the competition, Scarborough managed to defeat the western Toronto side and claim their second divisional title. Monetary issues among member clubs were the reason for the cancelation of the postseason as some members failed to fulfill their financial dues to the league.

## Changes from 2022

League membership increased to seven clubs with the addition of three expansion clubs. The expansion sides included Dynamo Toronto FC, Ooty Black Pearl FC, and Weston United FC. The acceptance of Dynamo Toronto marked the league's return to the city of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area. Ooty Black Pearl and Weston United are both ethnic association clubs representing the Indian and Brazilian communities in the Greater Toronto Area. The two departing clubs were defending champions FC Continentals which requested a year-long hiatus and York Region Shooters.
Hamilton City became a single entity once more as they previously fielded a hybrid team during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brantford Galaxy was originally scheduled to compete but withdrew just before the commencement of the season.
The league commenced with the Royal CSL Cup, a tribute match in honor of former league announcer Enio Perruzza who died in 2021. All league matches were played in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto with the first half played at Mattamy Sports Park and the remainder at the Paramount Centre fields.

## Teams

| Team | City | Stadium | Manager |
| Dynamo Toronto FC | Brampton, Ontario | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Wais Azizi |
| Hamilton City | Hamilton, Ontario | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Saša Vuković |
| Ooty Black Pearl FC | Toronto, Ontario | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Anto Santhosh |
| Scarborough SC | Toronto, Ontario (Scarborough) | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Zoran Knežević |
| Serbian White Eagles | Toronto, Ontario (Etobicoke) | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Uroš Stamatović |
| Toronto Falcons | Toronto, Ontario | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Maksym Rohovskyi |
| Weston United FC | Toronto, Ontario (York) | Mattamy Sports Park Paramount Centre fields | Wallace Reis |

## Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Scarborough SC (X) | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 37 | 9 | +28 | 28 | Playoff semifinals |
| 2 | Serbian White Eagles | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 18 | +24 | 27 | Playoff semifinals |
| 3 | Toronto Falcons | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 9 | +23 | 25 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 4 | Dynamo Toronto FC | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 33 | 22 | +11 | 19 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 5 | Hamilton City | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 33 | −13 | 16 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 6 | Weston United FC | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 49 | −37 | 5 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 7 | Ooty Black Pearl | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 50 | −36 | 2 | |

## Royal CSL Cup

The Royal CSL Cup was a tribute match in honor of former league announcer Enio Perruzza who died in 2021.