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Results and details of the Wednesday July 8, 2015 USL Pro game between Toronto FC II and Pittsburgh Riverhounds played at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 8:00pm.
Toronto FC II (all red, white names and numbers)
................25 Alex Bono
54 Gabriel Boakye...33 Skylar Thomas (cpt)...46 Daniel Fabrizi...44 Mark-Anthony Kaye
45 Luca Uccello...63 Liam Fraser...56 Malik Johnson...39 Marco Nunes
...........22 Jordan Hamilton...42 Massimo Mirabelli
Subs:...30 Fillipo DiBennardo (gk)...35 Edwin Rivas (fwd)...36 Marcus Godinho (fwd)...43 Mark Serjeant (mid)...58 Anthony Osorio (mid)
...59 Emeka Ononye (def)...62 Stefan Vukovic (fwd)
team officials:...head coach Jason Bent
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (all black, white sides, names and numbers)
................30 Calle Brown
19 William Hunt...21 Fejiro Okiomah...3 Anthony Arena...5 Sterling Flunder
10 Kevin Kerr...7 Stephen Okai...16 Daniel Earls (cpt)...6 Robert Vincent
...............8 Michael Green...9 Miroslav Cabrilo
Subs:...24 Ryan Hulings (gk)...14 Seth C'deBaca (mid)...17 Drew Russell (def)...20 Matthew Dallman (mid)...22 Matshidosa Moloto (mid)
...28 Vinicius Dantas (fwd)...18 Boris Zivanovic (--)
team officials:...head coach Mark Steffens
Game officials:...referee Justin Tasev...assistant referee Peter Pendli and Ben Jacobs...fourth Mike Stenbring
...(teal shirts, black shorts and socks)
In a pre-game ceremony Ontario Soccer Association president Ron Smale and Vaugan mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua are introduced to open the 'new' facility.
1st Half:...game starts 8:12pm...TFC defends north end on this hazy and mild evening.
50 sec...PR Okai 25 yard low shot up middle has goalie stop.
2 min...PR Okiomah clears ball off TFC Johnson at 15 yards and ball bounces back to PR goalie.
4 min...PR Vincent low cross from 20 yards on left is stopped and cleared in box.
6 min...PR goalie out to 15 yards on left to swat ball away from TFC Hamilton preventing him getting to 50 yard pass up left wing.
7 min...PR players work out short cornerkick from left and PR Green has cross blocked.
8 min...Riverhounds Kevin Kerr GOAL...PR Michael Green long throw-in from left has
PR Miroslav Cabrilo just inside left edge of box at 8 yard line flick header with back to box
across box and ball drops for PR Fejiro Okiomah to tap ball across from 8 yards on left
to Kerr who boots in 7 yarder up middle into center of net just under bar.
10 min...PR player's 30 yard cross from right has PR Cabrilo leap over defender and head 12 yarder that goalie catches.
13 min...TFC Thomas makes key clearance at TFC 10 yards to clear PR Kerr cross from 25 yards on right.
14 min...PR Green on give and go has 15 yard shot blocked by TFC Uccello.
14 min...PR Hunt from right blasts partial clearance from 22 yards well high and wide left of net.
16 min...PR Cabrilo has 10 yard shot up middle blocked by defender after he was rolled cross and other forward dummies.
18 min...TFC Boakye 40 yard freekick from right is kicked crossfield and backwards to defender!
21 min...PR Vincent cross from 25 yards on left has PR Kerr not able to redirect header at 8 yards.
22 min...PR Earls cornerkick from right has ball headed across 6 yard box from right but ball is cleared.
23 min...The supporters sing the 'Danny Dichio' song. This makes sense as he is here in attendance.
23 min...TFC Hamilton chips ball from 22 yards down right and over end lines as no one is there.
26 min...TFC Nunes 25 yard freekick from right end line has PR defender pop up header wide left for cornerkick.
27 min...TFC Nunes cornerkick from left is short and tapped back and Nunes cross bounces wide right of goal as TFC player can't keep it in play.
29 min...PR YELLOW card...Earls earns it for knocking over TFC Uccello at TFC 50 yard line injurying him.
30 min...PR Vincent 35 yard freekick from left has TFC goalie jump to punch forward at 10 yards in crowd of players.
31 min...PR Flunder 25 yard cross from left bounces to charging goalie at 8 yards.
33 min...TFC Nunes low 25 yard shot from left deflects off defender's leg and rolls to goalie.
35 min...PR Green long throw-in from right has PR 21 pop up header on right edge of block and defenders clear in middle of box.
36 min...TFC Kaye dribbles by one defender and 25 yard shot from left is wide left of goal.
38 min...PR Vincent 25 yard freekick from left has nearest defender block at 10 yards and start fast break out.
41 min...PR Green flicks ball forward and PR Vincent quick one-touch 8 yard midair shot down middle is over net.
44 min...PR Vincent 35 yard freekick from left has TFC Fabrizi head away at 15 yards in center of box.
45 min...half ends 8:57pm as no time was answered.
Halftime entertainment: Two kids kick a ball from inside the penalty spot to knock a ball off one of three pylons on the goalline.
2nd Half:...starts 9:14pm.
45 min...TFC Hamilton is injured in run down right side.
47 min...TFC Fabrizi checks PR Kerr off ball on run to 8 yards on left.
49 min...TFC Nunes rush down left and rolls centering pass but defenders clear.
50 min...PR Green taps over ball and PR Vincent shoots roller from 18 yards wide right of net.
51 min...PR Kerr cross from right through 6 yard box and defender jabs with leg and clears.
52 min...PR Green receives short pass and turns and scissor kick from 15 yards wide right from left.
53 min...PR Cabrilo checked off ball by two defenders at 15 yards after run up left.
55 min...PR Green long dribble up middle but checked off ball on edge of box.
57 min...TFC Kaye has 15 shot is blocked on left.
57 min...TFC Uccello low cross along right end line is picked up by goalie.
58 min...One of the light stands blows off in south east corner near the cornerflag.
60 min...TFC Boakye is injured at TFC 25 yard line.
62 min...TFC Mirabelli is called on another offside.
62 min...TFC Thomas pushes over PR Kerr on edge of box for freekick.
63 min...PR Vincent rolls 20 yard freekick from left that goalie smothers.
64 min...PR sub...Dallman replaces Okai.
65 min...PR Dallman cross from right has TFC Thomas kick ball away.
65 min...PR Green cornerkick from right has PR Vincent bend 20 yarder from right is wide left of net,
66 min...TFC Hamilton turns and fires 30 yard shot is high and wide left as TFC Uccello lies injured on the right.
67 min...TFC sub...Vukovic replaces Johnson.
.........TFC sub...Osorio replaces Nunes.
.........PR sub...Russell replaces Cabrilo.
72 min...TFC Uccello is checked off ball at 10 yards on left by defender.
74 min...TFC Fraser chip from 40 yards finds TFC Hamilton offside at 15 yards.
78 min...TFC Vukovic can't get control of cross at 18 yards in center and defenders clear ball.
79 min...PR YELLOW card...Russell earns it for checking TFC Fabrizi inside TFC box on sliding tackle.
81 min...PR 17 rush to left end line and cross from 10 yards has goalie dive forward to catch.
81 min...TFC sub...Rivas replaces Hamilton.
82 min...PR Vincent cornerkick from left is short and when he gets pass back rolls 20 yard ball that's tipped for another cornerkick.
83 min...PR Vincent cornerkick from left has PR player pop up header. PR Green cross from 12 yards on left has goalie catch.
84 min...PR Vincent must leave field for treatment after winning freekick near center circle.
85 min...PR Dallman chips pass from 30 yards on right that bounces to goalie.
86 min...PR Flunder wins cornerkick from left holding ball near cornerflag.
87 min...PR Flunder is finally checked off ball near left cornerflag but kills a lot of time.
88 min...TFC Fraser shoots 25 yarder wide right from left on bending shot.
91 min...TFC Fraser 55 yard freekick from left is over players and caught by goalie.
93 min...Riverhounds Anthony Arena GOAL...TFC Anthony Osorio takes cornerkick from
right that's over players in box and TFC player gets foot to on left side of box near
end line and rolls ball across box. A PR player pokes ball at 8 yards in line with left
post over to PR Kevin Kerr at 15 yards on right and he starts race upfield. He is
actually behind TFC goalie Alex Bono who has come all the way into the PR box to try
to help in the play. Kerr passes from 60 yards left a through ball forward to
charging Arena ahead of goalie and two defenders and ball bounces to 20 yards
and he gets to it and rolls in 8 yarder from left into open net.
94 min...TFC player's cornerkick from right is over box and TFC Uccello shoots low 30 yarder through
crowd of players that goalie dives to save on left corner 6 yards wide of net then smothers rebound and survives
sliding tackle by TFC Thomas.
95 min....game ends 10:04pm.
Final Score:.....Toronto FC II......0.......Pittsburgh Riverhounds.......2.......
Attendance was announced as 867 on this mild evening. This was the home opener for TFC II at The Ontario Soccer Centre (two other 'home' games were played at BMO Field after MLS games). I had seen these grounds from a distance a month ago and there were no stands...although relating what I saw to a couple beside me and the woman said she had been here Monday and there was only the skeleton built. I do think that these stands are almost identical to the Molson Indy stands that are erected every year at the CNE grounds (the surrounding location of BMO Field).
There were grounds crew with duct tape before the game started applying tape to the joints between the aluminum benches so people didn't rip their pants on the sharp edges. Some others were applying coloured tape to stairs to mark them so people would avoid tripping. The flooring under the benches was plywood. There were no facilities under the stands...maybe 20 portapotties off to the side. No refreshment stands although there was supposed to be food trucks that pulled up after I came through the gates. Dressing rooms were in the main building about 50 yards away.
At 58 minutes one bank of lights shorted out leaving the south east cornerflag area in the dark. The scoreboard was the same as in previous years except that it now has fronting of the TFC II logo and the Ontario Soccer Association. At least the turf was new as was the fencing separating the stands from the field.
I didn't know how the TFC supporters groups would get along with the regular
fans with more children than the usual MLS game. They kept their chants
pretty PG tonight and didn't offend anyone. The PA system was worse with pregame
music of mostly EDM and rap probably not prescreened as one song started up and
dropped an F-bomb and an N-bomb before being pulled after about 30 seconds then
the rest of their rap songs were 'clean' ones by Drake. After the game ended
the supporter groups broke into F-bomb chants about Montreal.
==I received an e-mail to confirm which group was there:
Hi Robin, The only supporter group at the two TFC 2 home games at the
Ontario Soccer Centre were Inebriatti. No Red Patch Boys or U-Sector. A few members
of Kings In The North were at the first TFC 2 game.
Sebastian Giovinco was signing autographs and posing for selfies before the game with a very long line stretching about 30 yards. Danny Dichio who is a coach for one of the TFC youth teams also showed up. Stuart Neely who is coach of the TFC Academy teams in League 1 Ontario and the PDL was on the field before the game helping with the warm ups. TFC II head coach Jason Bent was also there. Their PDL team had travelled to Pittsburgh on Monday night and beaten the Riverhounds U-23 team 1-0. None of the players in that game were in the lineups tonight.
The TFC II team frustrated their fans most of the game with a lot of passing back instead of forward. It may have made their possession stats look better but they had few scoring chances all night and when they finally pressed there was almost always a Riverhound defender to clear or block the ball (a few on leaping karate kicks to prevent break-ins) before the goalie had to get involved.
Best reason for the weak play of TFC II is that they had six regulars called up for Canada's Pan Am games team that starts play this week in Hamilton. Molham Babouli is TFC II's leading scorer. Midfielders Chris Mannella (also the team captain) and Manny Aparicio are on the MLS roster too. Jordan Hamilton was about the only offensive threat tonight.
Referee Justin Tasev gave out only two Yellow cards that I counted (both to the Riverhounds) in a game that wasn't rough. Best part was he didn't fall for any lame Penalty kick pleas or many freekick calls on the edge of the box on good challenges by defenders of both teams.
Calle Brown earned the shutout for the Riverhounds, a very easy time, only having to make a few stops.
Riverhounds are one of the few USL Pro teams that do not have an affiliation with an MLS club. Their record improves to 7 wins, 5 losses, 4 ties for 25 points and fifth place. TFC II record falls to 3 wins, 6 losses, 3 ties for 12 points and tenth in the twelve team Eastern Division. Top six make the playoffs.
After the game some players from both teams came over to the fence to chat with people in the stands. Good for me to confirm who set up that second goal as the YouTube video of the game may not show up for a few days. Jay Chapman was in the stands. He got his first start for TFC against Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend. He answered my question that he could still play for TFC II if he got the call. TFC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko (who once played for the Riverhounds) and a woman rep said the stands are only temporary until more permanent ones are installed (I'd expect the off season).
I didn't buy season tickets to this team (although the price is less than one of my 'premier' match MLS games) as there are a few conflicts between TFC and TFC II schedule (I wouldn't have time to get between the two stadiums) but maybe next year. Their next game is Saturday afternoon against Rochester Rhinos (the first place team in the East, a team I saw them play to a 0-0 score at BMO Field after an MLS game). All going well I'll try to be there.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
Scoring Summary PIT – Kevin Kerr 9’ (Fejieo Okiomah) PIT – Anthony Arena 90’ + 3’ Misconduct Summary PIT – Danny Earls 30’ (caution) PIT – Drew Russell 82’ (caution) Records: Toronto FC II: 3-6-3 12pts. Pittsburgh Riverhounds: 7-5-4 25pts. Lineups Toronto FC II – Alex Bono; Mark-Anthony Kaye, Daniel Fabrizi, Skylar Thomas ©, Gabriel Boakye; Luca Uccello, Liam Fraser, Marcos Nunes (Anthony Osorio 70’), Malik Johnson (Stefan Vukovic 70’), Massimo Mirabelli, Jordan Hamilton (Edwin Rivas 83’) Substitutes Not Used: Phil Bernardo, Mark Serjeant, Marcus Godinho, Emeka Okonye Pittsburgh Riverhounds – Calle Brown; William Hunt, Sterling Flundee, Anthony Arena, Fejieo Okiomah; Kevin Kerr, Stephen Okai (Matt Dallman 67’), Danny Earls, Rob Vincent; Michael Green, Meio Cabrilo (Drew Russell 70’) Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Hulings, Seth C’DeBacca, Lebo MoLoto, Boris Zivanovic, Vini Dantas
Toronto FC II starters
Pittsburgh Riverhounds starters
TFC II Massimo Mirabelli (42) and Jordan Hamilton (22) take opening kickoff.
Riverhounds Robert Vincent (6) pushes ball forward on rush up left wing in TFC end with TFC II Gabriel Boakye defending.
TFC II Gabriel Boakye (54) takes throw-in.
Riverhounds Robert Vincent (6) crosses in this freekick.
Riverhounds Michael Green (8) and Miroslav Cabrilo (9) take second half kickoff.
ball popped up
Riverhounds William Hunt (19) takes throw-in.
Riverhounds celebrate their second goal in the 'dark corner' (caused by a bank of lights in the south east end blowing out).
Sebastian Giovinco was signing autographs before the game. He may have drummed up a few more fans to turn up tonight.
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