March 12, 2007 Toronto FC draw with US U-17 team (from Toronto FC Media Relations)
03/12/2007 3:08PM
Toronto FC draw with U.S. U-17 team
Toronto FC Media Relations
Toronto FC returned to work Monday in Bradenton after a day off and only managed a 0-0 draw with the United States U-17 National squad. The first half saw a few chances by TFC's veterans. Edson Buddle did put one in past the U.S keeper but it was called off-side. Shortly after Carl Robinson made a great pass up to Alecko Eskandarian, but his header was saved.
Head Coach Mo Johnson made an early substitution with A.J Gray coming on for Chris Pozniak in the 24th. However, Pozniak did make it back into the game early in the second half.
Greg Sutton started the game in goal for Toronto and he was rarely tested in his time between the posts.
Second half began with the same starting 11, after 15 minutes into the frame; almost the entire lineup was substituted including the keepers as Jon Busch came in for Sutton.
Andrea Lombardo came close to opening the scoring, but he was very unlucky as his shot hit about 3 posts and managed to stay out. That would have been the 3rd goal in 3 games for the Canadian. Toronto had a late chance to grab the winner as Andrew Boyens spotted Lombardo with a long pass, he sent it over to Hunter West but his shot missed the mark to make it a scoreless finish.
"We played like an expansion team today", said Johnston, "we weren't good enough."
Not in Monday's lineup due to injuries were Marco Reda (quad), Conor Casey (quad), Ronnie O'Brien (knee) and Abbe Ibrahim (hip flexor).
Toronto's record in the preseason now sits at 7-1-1, their next game will be Wednesday March 13th, when they face Notre Dame once again at the IMG Academy complex.
Toronto FC Starting XI: GK - Greg Sutton, D - Jim Brennan, D - Andrew Boyens, D - Chris Pozniak, D - Adam Braz, MF - Maycoll Canizalez, MF - Paulo Nagamura, MF - Carl Robinson, MF - Jose Cancela, F - Edson Buddle, F - Alecko Eskandarian
Substitutes Used: GK - Jon Busch, D - Tyler Hemming, D - Chris Pozniak, D - Stephen Lumley, MF - Richard Asante, MF - Joey Melo, F - Andrea Lombardo, F - Hunter West
(Paulo Nagamura, and Andrew Boyens played the full 90 minutes)
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