July 26, 2009 CSL TFC Academy vs Portugal FC (from TorontoFC.ca media release)
Academy tie with Portugal FC in CSL
Reds learn lessons after blowing two goal lead
07/27/2009 09:51 AM
TorontoFC.ca
TFC Academy's Senior Team tied 2-2 with Portugal FC in the Canadian Soccer League on Sunday in an ill tempered match that saw TFC lose a two goal lead and finish the game with nine men.
TFC started the match in positive fashion and Allando Matheson missed a header from close range from a corner kick in just the 2nd minute. Justin Maheu went close in the 23rd minute when he shifted the ball quickly at the top of box and fired a shot that just sailed over the crossbar.
Portugal FC tested Reds' keeper Soitiri Varlokostas just before the half hour mark when midfielder Kevin McIntosh shot from long range but Varlokostas made a good save low to his right. Then in the 33rd minute James Stamopoulos tried his luck from 30 yards but the Portugal goalkeeper kept it out.
The deadlock was broken soon after when Stamopoulos threaded a delightful through ball to Justin Maheu who side stepped the defender and got his shot off forcing the goalkeeper into a reaction save, but the rebound fell for Josh Janniere who followed up the play and scored to give TFC a 1-0 lead. Just three minutes later Stamopoulos found some space and decided to shoot from 35 yards. He buried it in the bottom corner to double the Academy's lead going into the halftime interval.
The game began to turn on its head in the second half when TFC's Allando Matheson and Portugal FC captain Giovanni Annissi were both sent off for violent conduct. TFC Academy had a wonderful opportunity to increase the lead when they were awarded a penalty kick after a Portugal FC defender handled the ball in the box. Up stepped the confident Stamopoulos to strike a low hard shot but the substitute goalkeeper kept it out.
TFC Academy's afternoon went from bad to worse when Varlokostas inadvertently hit a pass back straight to the opposition striker. The striker evaded Varlokostas and attempted to roll the ball into the open goal when Daniel DiBiago stopped a clear goal scoring opportunity. The referee pointed to the spot and also sent off DiBiago in the 85th minute. Portugal FC's player coach Danny Amaral stepped up and scored from the spot to make it 2-1. With only five minutes remaining, TFC Academy were desperately trying to hold onto the lead despite being down to nine men, but in the 90th minute Danny Amaral once again punished TFC with a diving header that found the corner of the goal to draw Portugal FC level. The referee blew the whistle shortly after and the game ended 2-2.
"Today our players learned several lessons," said TFC Academy Senior Team Head Coach Jason Bent. "Last season we played North York Astros and despite being down to ten man, we managed to take a 3-1 lead, however with 10 minutes to go we conceded three goals and lost the match 4-3. Today we made criminal mistakes at a critical juncture of the game and ultimately from a winning position we managed to throw away the game."
"Our players learned harsh lessons again today and I only hope come the end of the season we are not reflecting on this performance in the same manner in which we reflected on the 4-3 defeat last season. We will bounce back but this particular result certainly hurts all those involved with TFC Academy. We are trying to develop a winning mentality, and learning how to close out games from winning positions is part and parcel of player and team development," explained Bent.
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