March 14, 2007 Toronto FC beat University of Notre Dame (from Toronto FC Media Relations)

03/14/2007 2:06PM
Toronto FC blank the Fighting Irish
Toronto FC Media Relations

Toronto FC played their second last game at the IMG Academies in Bradenton on Wednesday morning, beating Notre Dame 3-0.

TFC got off to a very quick start when Alecko Eskandarian was fouled in the box, resulting in a penalty. The former D.C United man took the shot himself and effortlessly put it into the back of the net beating the Fighting Irish keeper to his left, up high.

Eskandarian had another chance before the first half ended when A.J Gray rolled a nice pass in front - his shot right at the keeper, and it was stopped.

Starting Goalkeeper Greg Sutton was not tested in the first half, and after 45 it was a 1-0 lead for Toronto at the half.

The second half saw one substitution made by Toronto, Stephen Lumley entering for Adam Braz - as Head Coach Mo Johnston left his veterans on for the first 15 minutes of the second frame as he did in the previous game.

Toronto was awarded a free kick in the 54th, Jose Cancela floated it in to the top corner, untouched for his second goal of the preseason to make it 2-0.

Just four minutes later, Sutton, using great vision, sent a high ball straight to an unmarked Eskandarian in Notre Dame's half. Eskey, with great control played a perfect pass to Paulo Nagamura who fired it low - and he found the far corner of the goal to put Toronto in front 3-0.

At the 60 minute mark, 6 substitutions were made by Toronto, including Goalkeeper Jon Busch in for Sutton.

Substitute Joey Melo - had a good chance to put 4 on the board, going one on one with the Notre Dame keeper - but his effort was saved.

Busch made a great save late to preserve the shutout for Toronto as their preseason record now stands at 8-1-1.

Still a few minor injuries leaving a number of players sitting on the bench for this game...Carl Robinson (ankle), Conor Casey (quad), Marco Reda (quad), Jamaal Smith (ankle), Richard Asante (heat exhaustion), Maurice Edu (pelvic), Ronnie O'Brien (knee), and Abbe Ibrahim (hip flexor) all did not participate with their minor knocks.

One new face joined camp Wednesday as Canadian, and Toronto native David Guzman arrived for a trial. Guzman, is a former University of Louisville Midifielder.

Toronto will be back on the practice field this afternoon, and have one more game left here in Bradenton before leaving for South Carolina and the Carolina Cup Challenge on Monday. They open the tournament Saturday March 24th, against defending MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo.

Friday afternoon at 3pm, Toronto will play IMG Academy for their final game in Florida.

Toronto FC Starting XI: GK - Greg Sutton, D - Jim Brennan, D - Andrew Boyens, D - Chris Pozniak, D - Adam Braz, MF - Maycoll Canizalez, MF - Jose Cancela, MF - Paulo Nagamura , MF - A.J Gray, F - Edson Buddle, F - Alecko Eskandarian

Substitutes Used: GK - Jon Busch, D - Stephen Lumley, MF - Tyler Hemming, MF - David Guzman, MF - Joey Melo, F - Andrea Lombardo

(Jim Brennan, Andrew Boyens, Chris Pozniak, and Paulo Nagamura all played the full 90 minutes)

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