Wisconsin Soccer Central

Jason Willan (Franklin), Ross Van Osdol (UW-Milwaukee) and Ramon "Choko" Alvarado (Franklin) scored second-half goals as Croatian Eagles topped host Milwaukee Sport Club 3-1 in a semifinal of the Wisconsin Amateur Cup on Saturday afternoon at Schwabenhof in Menomonee Falls.

The Croatians advance to play at Bavarian SC in the state final at 8 p.m. next Saturday in Glendale. The Bavarians (6-2-1), who lead the Wisconsin Soccer Leagues Major Division by one point over the Eagles (5-0-3), received a semifinal bye and home-field advantage for the final as the reigning state Amateur Cup champions.

A berth in the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region II tournament will be on the line in the third meeting of the season between the teams – the Croatians won the previous two games, 2-0 in a league match last September and 1-0 in the Wisconsin Open Cup final last November.

Saturday's semifinal was the second match between the Croatians and Sport Club in six days, as the sides drew 1-1 in a Major Division game last Sunday at Schwabenhof. 

After the 41-year-old Willan opened the scoring in the 50th minute, Van Osdol doubled the Eagles' lead a quarter of an hour later. Steve Sperl (Wauwatosa West/UW-Milwaukee) pulled Sport Club within one when he scored in the 90th, but Alvarado sealed the victory with an insurance goal in the second minute of stoppage time.