March 28, 2015 USL Pro Match Recap: FC Montreal vs Toronto FC II (from torontofc.ca)
Match Recap: TFC II vs. FC Montreal
TFC II draw first blood in '401 Derby' with a 2-0 win
March 28, 2015
Kamal Hylton
torontofc.ca
MONTREAL, QC - A first professional goal from TFC II debutant Marcos Nunes and an own goal
from FC Montreal’s John Dinkota saw the Reds draw first blood in the USL’s ‘401 Derby’
with a 2-0 win on enemy turf.
Nunes opening his account in the 37th minutes, latching onto a Molham Babouli free kick
just outside the area. The team added to the lead the 71st minute, substitute Raheem Edwards
run into the area and shot taking a deflection off Dinkota for an insurance goal that sealed
a historic win for the club.
Pace and Space
The pace was rockey to start off, both teams feeling the emotion and jitters of the derby,
but the gameplan was clear. FC MTL were content with slowing play down and be more be deliberate
in their build up, playing sweeping balls from the back through Chakib Hocine and
midfielder/captain Nazim Belguendouz ito the Victor N’Diaye. The young forward was one
of the more dangerous players for hosts, running at the TFC II defence and hitting shots
of the post on two occasions.TFC II’at a faster pace, getting the ball to the likes
of Mark-Anthony Kaye, Molham Babouli and Marcos Nunes. Even with the changes in the
starting XI from last week, the pressing game carried itself over from the Charleston game
resulting in set pieces and good attacking opprotunitess.
The two most dangerous set pieces in the first half coming off the foot of acting captain
Babouli, one resulting in the goal resulting in the 37th min goal and the other a shot off
the cross bar just before halftime.
New Kid on the Block
Nunes couldn’t have started his TFC II career any better, signing a contract just before
the trip to Montreal and capping it off with a a goal. Babouli playing in a cross and
the new signing tapping it home, capping off a first half where he was very active and
engaged during what was a disjointed first half with fouls, stoppages and bookings.
Overall it was a good performance from the new signing before coming off in the 88th minute,
he was able to combine with Babouli, Kaye and Luca Uccello on attacking runs and showed
his pace - a part of his game that has been a signature of his since joining the academy.
Dealing with Absences
It can be difficult for any team to come together as a conhesive unit after so many key
players have left the squad, wether for national team call ups or first team call ups.
However Jason Bent’s men dealt with it well, players like Babouli, Kaye, midfielder
Manny Aparicio and goalkeeper Alex Bono stepped up in a leadership role and young players
like Nunes were able to feed off that. It will be interesting to see how this group grows
throughout its travels, gelling after a big road win and clean sheet against its rivals.
TFC II’s next game will be against New York Red Bulls II at Red Bull Arena, catch the game
at 9:45PM ET via livestream on torontofc.ca/live.
Game Summery:
Scoring
TFC II – Marcos Nunes 37’
TFC II – John Dinkota (OG) 71’
Misconduct
FCM – Chakib-Nazim Hocine 22’ (caution)
FCM – John Dinkota 31’ (caution)
FCM – Nazim Belguendouz 45’ (caution)
TFC II – Mark Serjeant 63’ (caution)
FCM – Mitchel Bringolf 73’ (caution)
TFC II – Alex Bono 89’ (caution)
Records
Toronto FC II: 1-1-0 3pts.
FC Montreal: 0-1-0 0pts.
Lineups
Toronto FC II –
Alex Bono;
Wesley Charpie (Mateo Restrepo 89’), Daniel Fabrizi, Adam Bouchard, Mark Serjeant (Marcus Godinho 64’);
Luca Uccello, Marcos Nunes (Rahim Thorpe 88’), Manuel Aparicio (Martin Davis 68’), Massimo Mirabelli (Raheem Edwards 64’);
Mark Anthony Kaye, Mo Babouli ©
Substitutes Not Used: Filippo Di Bennardo, Jordan Montoya
FC Montreal –
Yann-Alexandre Fillion;
Bangala John Dinkota (Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 77’), Mitchel Bringolf, Chakib-Nazim Hocine (Janouk Charbonneau 72’), Hassoun Camara;
Nazim Belguendouz ©, Jonathan Vallee (Louis Béland-Goyette 57’), Alessandro Riggi (Mastanabal Kacher 55’),
Fabio Livio Morelli, Yacine Ait-Slimane (Kevin Ovidio Luarca 72’);
Victor Omar Ndiaye
Substitutes Not Used: David Paulmin, Zachary Sukunda
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