June 29, 2014 League 1 Ontario--Toronto FC Academy vs Sigma FC (from League 1 Ontario website)

  
Toronto FCA 3 - Sigma FC 0
. Tue Jul 1 
Written By: Rollins, Duane  

Three first half goals were all Toronto FC Academy would need in a decisive 3-0 win over Sigma 
Academy at Downsview. 

The win keeps TFCA undefeated on the year, just two points behind first place Vaughan Azzuri. 
The young Reds are now four points clear of Sigma, who remain fourth on seven points.

Malholm Babouli was the story of the game, the striker scored a brace and was seemingly 
everywhere throughout the contest.

TFCA head coach Michael Stefano gave praise to the player.

"He's got that killer instinct," he said. "Canada's not known for scoring goals at the 
highest level but we're seeing with (Babouli) that if you give these guys a chance they 
can produce."

Stefano described Babouli has having an "unteachable" instinct around the net and that 
he has made vast improvements linking up with his teammates this year.

As good as Babouli was, it was Christopher Manella that provided the goal of the game 
in the the eleventh minute with a thirty-yard free kick that blasted through the wall 
and into the top corner of the net. 

It was all TFCA for the next ten minutes. Cranking up the pressure in the blistering 
38C humidity, it took just four more minutes to get the second.

Some nice interplay between Mark Anthony Kaye and Babouli sent the striker in alone 
against the keeper, where he calmly finished to give the young Reds the two goal lead.

It would take the rest of the half to grab a third, but Babouli would capitalize 
on some loose play by Sigma to beat his defender and go one-on-one with the keeper 
from eight-yards out to score deep in stoppage time.

Although TFCA continued to control the play in the second half there would be no more 
scoring. It's likely the hot temperature played a role, with the referee mandating 
two water breaks during the contest.

For his part, Babouli deflected credit for the win.

"It's down to the coaching staff," he said. "They work hard all week to prepare 
us and you can see the results every week."

The striker made his goal of graduating to the senior team clear, but stressed that 
all of his focus is on League1 now.

"I hope (signing a MLS homegrown contract) happens soon, but I can't fully control 
that," he said. "All I can do is keep working hard and hope to impress."

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