September 16, 2017 USL Toronto FC II--Harrisburg City Islanders vs Toronto FC II game recap (from uslsoccer.com)
Mensah’s Brace Leads Harrisburg Past TFC II By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/16/17, 8:59PM EDT Ghanaian leads City Islanders back from early deficit in 2-1 win HARRISBURG, Pa. – Ropapa Mensah scored a pair of goals as the Harrisburg City Islanders rallied from a first-half deficit to take a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC II on Saturday night at FNB Field. The City Islanders went close early as Cardel Benbow flashed a shot wide of the near post from the right side of the penalty area in the third minute, but Toronto took the lead in the 14th minute as Shaan Hundal put away the rebound of Malik Johnson’s initial shot from close range. Harrisburg carried much of the play in the first half, however, and Frederick Opoku had a shot deflected wide of the left post in the 31st minute. Toronto’s chances were more limited, but the visitors went close to doubling their lead nine minutes before the break as Ryan Telfer’s header from a free kick went just wide of the left post. The City Islanders equalized in first-half stoppage time as Mensah lifted home a finish that just eluded TFC II goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo, and Mensah struck again five minutes into the second half to put Harrisburg ahead with a low shot to the left corner after a good cut-back by Benbow. Toronto almost hit back quickly as a shot by Johnson was deflected wide of the right post, while Mensah almost claimed his hat trick in the 65th minute, only to slide his finish wide of the left post. Harrisburg continued to look the more likely to add to its lead in the final 20 minutes, too, as Toronto ended the contest with only three efforts on target which allowed the City Islanders to walk away with the victory. Scoring: 14’ – TOR – Shaan Hundal 45+’ – HAR – Ropapa Mensah (Pedro Ribeiro) 50’ – HAR – Ropapa Mensah (Cardel Benbow) •#HARvTOR: Full Match and Opta Box Score Three Things That Matter: •1. Ropapa Mensah has shown flashes of what he can produce in his first season for the City Islanders, and with a two-goal performance on Saturday night again took the spotlight with a pair of good finishes to lead the City Islanders to victory. The 20-year-old Ghanaian was a regular threat alongside stellar performance alongside him by Cardel Benbow, who provided a good assist on the game-winning goal, as Harrisburg put together an entertaining, attacking performance for their home fans. •2. Harrisburg had threatened regularly over the course of the first half, recording 12 shots in the opening 45 minutes, and it was finally rewarded with almost the final kick before the break as Frederick Opoku managed to get on the end of Pedro Ribeiro’s flicked header to get his finish just high enough to elude TFC II goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo. The City Islanders’ drive despite the disappointment of Wednesday night’s late draw with Cincinnati was exactly the reaction Head Coach Bill Becher and his coaching staff would have been hoping for. •3. Toronto FC II was already eliminated from playoff contention, but was still hoping to put in a strong finish to the season. An early goal by Shaan Hundal, the USL 20 Under 20 selection’s third of the season, gave the side a bright start despite Harrisburg’s early pressure, but the side was unable to control the City Islanders’ attack well enough, and unable to produce enough chances in the second half to have a chance at an equalizer as another game slipped away. USLSoccer.com Man of the Match Ropapa Mensah, Harrisburg City Islanders – Mensah’s two-goal performance led the City Islanders to a victory that washed away the disappointing late ending on Wednesday night in another bright display. Upcoming Games: Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Ottawa Fury FC – September 27, 6:30 p.m. ET, FNB Field Toronto FC II vs. Louisville City FC – September 27, 7:30 p.m. ET, Ontario Soccer Centre
.
.