October 5, 2017 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Bethlehem Steel FC game preview (from bethlehemsteelfc.com)

   
Bethlehem Steel FC Begins Final Road Swing In Toronto
By Bethlehem Steel FC Communications, 10/05/17, 9:15AM EDT 

Steel FC opens October looking for season sweep and playoff position

Game Notes 

Riding a five-match unbeaten streak that lasted all of September, Bethlehem Steel FC will look to continue 
its strong run of form as it begins its final regular season road trip this weekend. Steel FC will play 
its penultimate road match at Toronto FC II on Friday, October 6. Kickoff from the Ontario Soccer Centre 
is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and fans can watch the match both YouTube and on the club’s website.

With the final month of the regular season here, Steel FC finds itself in control of their own destiny 
with three matches remaining and only one point out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. While other 
matches could assist Steel FC’s bid for the club’s first playoff season, Bethlehem Steel FC head coach 
Brendan Burke said the club is only focused on their own tasks.

“I view our three games as crucial to our playoff chances,” Burke said. “If we don’t get points 
and multiple points over those three games and win one or even two games then I think the results 
[of other matches] become a moot point. Obviously, I think that all of the other matches are important 
and matter to us but it’s in our hands and that is the most important thing going into Friday night.”

Steel FC is coming off one of its busiest stretches of the season, with the club playing three matches 
in a seven-day span. Over the stretch, Steel FC maintained its unbeaten streak, downing in-state rival 
Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 3-2, before battling USL-newcomer Tampa Bay Rowdies twice in a four-day span. 
Over the stretch, Steel FC forwards Cory Burke and Seku Conneh led the offense, combining for five goals 
to tie the duo atop of the club’s lead with nine goals scored this season.

“We’re very pleased to have gotten results in all three games, we were really focused on the Pittsburgh 
match and I think getting a point out of each of the Tampa Bay games could prove crucial in the end 
if we end up making it into the playoffs,” Burke said. “Really happy with the way the team performed 
and the number of players that were involved in those performances.”

Friday’s contest will be the third and final meeting between the two MLS-affiliate squads, with Steel FC 
looking for the regular-season sweep. Steel FC downed Toronto FC II at BMO Field on May 13, 1-0, 
after Cory Burke converted a penalty kick early in the first half. With the lead, the Steel FC defense 
and goalkeeper Jake McGuire protected it, with the keeper making seven saves. Three months later 
at Goodman Stadium, Steel FC’s offense turned in one of its best performances of the season as Burke, 
James Chambers and Chris Nanco found the back of the net in the 3-1 victory.

Despite the club’s record that has them at the bottom of the USL’s Eastern Conference, Toronto FC II 
isn’t being overlooked by the club according to Burke.

“It’s always a danger to underestimate a team that sits below you in the table, we don’t have that 
luxury which is great from my standpoint because our players know that we can’t afford to underestimate 
anyone in these last three games and need to take maximum points from every game that we can. I think 
Toronto does an excellent job and with their first team off this week, you could see some heavy hitters 
in the match.”

Toronto FC II pulled off one of the top upsets of the season in their last outing, taking down 
Louisville City FC, the top squad in the east, 1-0 on September 27. Forward Shaan Hundal notching 
the game-winning tally in the 73rd minute while keeper Anthony Cavalluzzo made four crucial saves 
for the upset. This season, forward Jordan Hamilton has paced the Canadian offense with five goals 
while Cavalluzzo has collected 79 saves in net.

back to TFC II 2017 menu

.

.