April 1st, 2007 Toronto FC beats Charleston Battery in Carolina Challenge Cup (from Canadian Press)
Toronto FC downs USL's Charleston Battery
CHARLESTON, S.C. (CP) - Toronto FC capped its first pre-season tournament with a 3-0 shutout of the USL Division 1's Charleston Battery on Saturday night. With the win, the MLS expansion club finished second in the four-team Carolina Challenge Cup. Toronto had a 2-1 record after beating Charleston and Red Bull New York, and losing to the Houston Dynamo earlier in the week.
Alecko Eskandarian scored in the third minute and set up the team's second goal by Abbe Ibrahim in the 35th minute. Edson Buddle rounded out the scoring with a 73rd minute strike. Eskandarian and Buddle both had two goals apiece in the tournament.
"We finished our shots off, but they were a lot quicker," said Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston in a statement. "It's a first test for us, we applied ourselves better each game."
In the tournament's other match, the Houston beat New York 2-1 to capture its third straight Carolina Challenge Cup title.
The Carolina Challenge Cup is hosted by the Charleston Battery of United Soccer Leagues Division 1, one level below MLS.
Toronto FC will return home Sunday and resume training at the new BMO Field for the first time Tuesday.
The club opens its inaugural MLS season on the road April 7 versus Chivas USA at Carson, Calif., and does not play its first home game until April 28 against the Kansas City Wizards.
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