October 6, 2017 USL Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Bethlehem Steel FC game recap (by Rocket Robin)

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Results and details of the Friday October 6, 2017 USL game between Toronto FC II and Bethlehem Steel FC
played at Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 7:30pm.

Toronto FC II (all red, white names and numbers)

................40 Mark Pais
.......52 Julian Dunn-Johnson...42 Mitchell Taintor (cpt)...35 Lars Eckenrode
46 Jordan McCarary...50 Matthew Srbely...36 Brian James...20 Sergio Camargo...58 Anthony Osorio
.............67 Daniel DaSilva...64 Shaan Hundal

Subs:...80 Angelo Cavalluzzo (gk)...45 Luca Uccello (mid)...54 Ryan Telfer (fwd)...55 Aidan Daniels (mid)
...56 Malik Johnson (mid)...59 Noble Okello Ayo (def)...77 Brandon Onkony (def)
team officials: head coach Jason Bent

Bethlehem Steel FC (all white, navy numbers)

.................29 Jake McGuire
19 Aaron Jones...15 Joshua Yaro...26 Auston Trusty...44 Charles Reymann
21 Derrick Jones...46 James Chambers...24 Adam Najem...37 Chris Nanco
...........36 Seku Conneh...38 Santi Moar

Subs:...64 Tomas Romero (gk)...40 Josh Heard (mid)...42 Hugh Roberts (def)...48 Matthew Mahoney (def)
...49 Yosef Samuel (mid)...63 Brenden Aaronson (mid)
team officials:...head coach Brendon Burke

Team officials:...referee David Barrie...referee's assistants Melissa Snedden and Filip Dujic
...fourth official Armando Pereira...(teal shirts, black shorts and socks)

First Half:...game starts 7:39pm...TFC defends north end. It's dark and cool with no real breeze.
Just as the game starts, the rain starts to spit.
2 min...BS Nanco rolls ball from right along TFC 12 yard line is unplayed.
2 min...BS Chambers low 25 yard shot from left as he falls is wide right.
3 min...BS Chambers low blast up middle from 25 yards through players is wide left.
6 min...TFC Dunn-Johnson stops cross from right inside box.
8 min...BS Conneh is injured in collision at BS 40 yards well away from play.
11 min...BS Conner is tapped pass and 25 yard shot down middle well over net.
15 min...TFC McCrary long run up right and sends low cross behind charging players and trailing TFC Camargo
shoots low 20 yarder wide left of post.
16 min...BS player is tapped back pass and has 15 yard shot deflect off defender for cornerkick.
16 min...BS Jones cornerkick from right wins another cornerkick.
17 min...BS Jones cornerkick from right is over box and cleared.
17 min...BS Yaro steals ball off TFC Hundal on run inside BS box.
18 min...BSFC Santi Moar GOAL...BSFC defender on left side sends long low pass forward from 75 yards
that TFC Julian Dunn-Johnson slides to but misses at 45 yard line and Moar receives at 35 yards
and runs down left with zig zags to cut towards middle. When near end line he takes 12 yard shot around
TFC Mitch Taintor and ball hits foot of retreating TFC Lars Eckenrode and pops into top center of net
with goalie Mark Pais kneeling on the left post.
21 min...BSFC Santi Moar GOAL...BSFC player passes forward in middle from 65 yards to BSFC
Seku Conneh on center line who taps ball to BSFC Adam Najem who runs forward to TFC 28 yard line
and rolls pass forward to Moar. Moar is a step ahead of retreating TFC Julian Dunn-Johnson and
takes 15 yard tough angle shot from left into top right corner of net with goalie guarding left post.
22 min...BS player's shot from 30 yards in middle is low and wide left.
25 min...BS player's low 28 yard shot up middle is wide right.
26 min...BS Nanco has shot from right edge of box blocked.
27 min...TFC DaSilva rolls through ball pass up middle from 35 yards to TFC Hundal but BS Yaro gets back to check
him off ball at 15 yards and dribble away.
29 min...TFC McCrary run up right and low cross finds TFC Camargo at 20 yards and he blasts shot up middle over net
and back fence.
32 min...BS Uccello trailing on play gets pass at 25 yards and forward and right but play is broken up at 5 yards
on right. He should have shot.
35 min...TFC McCrary rush to rescue pass on right end line but cross is behind net.
40 min...TFC Hundal is tapped through ball pass but defender pokes ball off him for goalie to grab at 15 yards.
40 min...TFC McCrary finishes pressure with 15 yards shot that's tpped for throw-in.
42 min...BS Nanco 15 yard shot from left is wide right.
43 min...BS Nanco is given pass and runs in from 25 yards on right and shoots wide right.
46 min...BS player's throw-in from right corner flag to edge of box and halftime whistle blows as two players battle.
46 min...half ends 8:25pm.

Halftime Entertainment: There's an "Around The World Challenge" between three contestants taking four shots
at a mini net from different angles including one shot over a signboard as an obstacle.

Second Half:...starts 8:42pm.
47 min...TFC Camargo dribbles down left cutting towards middle but 22 yard shot bends well wide right.
49 min...TFC Taintor threads threw ball pass to TFC Camargo on left side of box but defender gets back to block
his shot.
50 min...TFC Camargo cornerkick from left is cleared from box but TFC James following up at 22 yards to blast shot
up middle through players tat goalie catches.
51 min...TFC DaSilva gets forward pass from TFC James and his 15 yard shot tips off BS defender Reymann for cornerkick.
51 min...TFC Srbely cornerkick from right has defender flicked from right across box that goalie catches.
52 min...BSFC Derrick Jones GOAL...Derrick Jones cross from 45 yards is over to right where BSFC player
at TFC 35 yard line runs forward on right. He centers pass forward to BSFC Adam Najem just inside right
side of box. Najem turns and rolls centering pass to Derrick Jones who was diagonally charging over from left
with TFC Julian Dunn-Johnson behind him and from 8 yards even with right post fires shot forward low into
center of net just over sliding goalie at 5 yards.
53 min...BS Nanco set up with pass and shoots well over net and back fence.
54 min...TFC Dunn-Johnson breaks up short BS pass in TFC box.
56 min...TFC Osorio cross from 28 yards on left is cleared by defender as over TFC player's head.
57 min...BS Moar flicks 12 yarder on left endline and deflects over sprawling defender and goalie smothered.
57 min...BS Moar rolls 10 yarder iinto net but is called offside.
58 min...TFC McCrary finishes pressure with 10 yard blast from right that hits goalie at 2 yards and
is cleared.
60 min...TFC Shaan Hundal GOAL...TFC Anthony Osorio long run on left and low cross from 22 yards
is blocked by BSFC Aaron Jones. Osorio gets possession back and crosses into box from left edge
and Hundal chests ball at 8 yards in line with left post and takes midair shot that hits BSFC Charles Reymann
in the back. Hundal then rolls 7 yarder into right corner of net with goalie Jake McGuire guarding left post.
63 min...TFC Osorio cross from 30 yards on left has TFC DaSilva head 10 yarder that goalie catches under bar overhead.
64 min...TFC sub...Uccello replaces DaSilva.
65 min...TFC Osorio 40 yard cross from left has goalie run forward and left to catch in front of TFC Hundal.
65 min...BS sub...Roberts replaces Chambers.
67 min...BS Nanco long run to get ball on right and cross into 6 yard box wins cornerkick off defender.
67 min...BS Jones cornerkick from right is partially cleared. BS Yaro then takes shot well over net.
68 min...BS player's low 28 yard shot from left is bounced to goalie.
70 min...TFC sub...Okello replaces James.
71 min...TFC McCrary is given pass at 18 yards on right and he shoots wide right.
73 min...BS Najem on give and go pass with BS player is called offside at 22 yards.
76 min...BS sub...Samuel replaces Nanco.
77 min...TFC Camargo is tapped back a pass and his 30 yard shot from left is just wide right of net.
78 min...TFC McCrary cornerkick from left is headed away by first defender and eventual recross is also cleared.
79 min...BS players fast break out and shot from 8 yards is deflected for cornerkick.
79 min...BS Jones cornerkick from right is headed away. Jones works ball back upfield and wins another cornerkick.
80 min...BSFC Seku Conneh GOAL...BSFC Aaron Jones takes cornerkick from right that's popped away
by TFC player in crowd of players in box. BSFC Joshua Yaro at 22 yards on right pops header forward and
BSFC Aaron Jones at 18 yards with back to goal flicks header forward and centered for charging Conneh
to shoot 12 yarder low to left side of net freezing goalie in middle.
82 min...BS Moar is given pass at 25 yards on left and has shot under pressure stopped by goalie.
83 min...BS player shoots 25 yarder from left wide right.
84 min...TFC sub...Telfer replaces Camargo.
84 min...BS Yaro gets back to break up low cross from right into BS box at 10 yards and prevent TFC tap-in.
86 min...BS Jones 30 yard freekick from left is high and wide left.
87 min...BS sub...Aaronson replaces Conneh.
87 min...TFC Shaan Hundal GOAL...TFC Luca Uccello rolls pass forward on left from 50 yard line and
TFC Ryan Telfer runs down left sideline with retreating BSFC Joshua Yaro in his way. Telfer at left end line
rolls centering pass and Hundal at 8 yards with BSFC Auston Trusty having fallen shoots forward that
sprawling goalie gets arm to but ball deflects into left side of net.
89 min...BS Aaronson dekes defender at 6 yards and gets pass from right post and BS Samuel has 8 yard shot blocked.
90 min...TFC Osorio cross from 35 yards on left has TFC Uccello leap and head 10 yarder well over net.
91 min...TFC Hundal intercepts goalie clearance at 35 yards. His short pass to TFC Srbely who shoots 22 yarder
from rght is wide left of net.
94 min...game ends 9:31pm.

Final Score:...Toronto FC II...2...Bethlehem Steel FC...4...

Attendance was not announced but the USL website lists it as 647. 
The threat of rain possibly killed a lot of the walk up crowd. 
It started to rain right after the national anthems but stopped before 
the 10 minute mark and didn't rain again until overnight.

Man of the Match (who is always at TFC II player) was announced 
as Shaan Hundal and with his two goals was an obvious choice. He was 
paired up with Daniel DaSilva who was playing only his second USL game 
and his first start and the pair were dangerous together.

Referee David Barrie gave out no cards in this game and players weren't 
begging for Penalty kicks so just a few routine fouls.

Noble Okello made his first appearance in USL subbing on at 70 minutes 
replacing Brian James (who now has dyed his hair blonde). Okello is the
last of the three pro-contract signees (September 15) to make 
an appearance as Julian Dunn-Johnson is a starter on defence and 
Rocco Romeo gets some time.

Dunn-Johnson I have praised in my reports before and tonight after 
the game as well in front of his family. Now high MLS draft choice 
Brandon Aubrey is not even on the bench. However watching the goals 
replayed and his part in them, I better hold back my applause at least 
for this week.

Mark Pais was TFC's goalie and didn't look that great. Maybe it's because 
Angelo Cavalluzzo who must be considered #1 has makes such spectacular 
saves that are often hyped as 'Save of the Week' are commonplace, 
it had me wondering, 'Could Cavalluzzo have stopped that?'.

BSFC almost turned this into a rout at 57 minutes when Santi Moar had 
what would have been his third goal called back for offside then Hundal 
scored three minutes later and the result was in doubt. Injury time 
had TFC with a few chances to close. 90 minutes had TFC Anthony Osorio 
(very common play this game) cross from 35 yards on the left that had 
TFC Luca Uccello leap and head a 10 yarder over the net. 91 minutes had 
Hundal intercept the goalie's clearance at 35 yards, give a short pass 
to TFC Matthew Srbely who shot a 22 yarder from the right wide left 
of the net.

During warm-ups I saw TFC's Sergio Camargo and BSFC Chris Nanco talking 
at the center line. They were both students of Syracuse University. 
Both players seemed to be trying too hard this game. Nanco had a large 
cheering section as he is from Brampton. I checked with him after the 
game that I watched him with League 1 Ontario Sigma FC then he was 
drafted by MLS Philadelphia Union and they placed him in Bethlehem for 
playing time. He had 15 yard shot at 42 minutes sent wide and a 25 yarder 
a minute later that was also wide. 53 minutes had him shoot not just over 
the net but over the back fence. Camargo who has got in to games since 
recovering from a long injury had a few off target shots as well but was 
trusted with some of the cornerkicks.

The MLS team didn't play in the Internatioal break this weekend but there 
were no TFC players dropped down and slumming it. Neither were there 
any player here who played for TFC III last night in L1O action that got 
hammered 5-0 in their game against Sigma FC. Six Canadian starters tonight 
and six of seven players on the bench were Canadian makes me happy!

In TFC II's previous game, a 1-0 upset over first place Louisville FC, 
midfielder Liam Fraser made the USL 'Team of the Week' but because 
he picked up another Yellow card, he missed tonight's game.

About that attendance, I certainly knew they didn't announce it at the game 
and estimated it was slightly smaller than their last home game against 
Louisville when the hottest weekend of the season (even though it was 
already Fall hit the GTA) and tonight the rain warning would dampen crowds, 
I wasn't sure I'd find it on the USL site so asked a TFC official. He said 
he was told not to announce it over the PA but gave me what he remembered 
(actually under by about 20). Ashamed of the attendance? Fine but I said 
wait until next year where they will play at BMO Field and Lamport Stadium 
and they can build off the MLS crowd and the attendance will look like 
it has improved exponentially.

This was the only game in the USL tonight.

The result drops the TFC II record to 6 wins, 18 losses, 7 ties 
for 25 points. They are in fifteenth (last) in the Eastern Conference. 
They are now four points behind Richmond Kickers with one game to go 
so that's where they will finish. Only team worse than them 
is Portland Timbers 2 who are last in the West. Their +/- in goals 
scored/allowed is

Bethlehem's record improves to 12 wins, 11 losses, 7 ties for 43 points 
with two games left. They jump from tenth to a tie for sixth place 
in the East in one night! Eight teams in each Conference make 
the playoffs.

Bethlehem owes some of their standings success to playing TFC as they 
have now won all three games this season. They played at BMO Field 
on May 13 and won 1-0 and in Bethlehem on August 13 and won 3-1. 
Their Jamaican international Cory Burke scored in both those games. 
He did not play tonight because of suspension but he was sitting 
in the section beside me. The team moves on to Rochester to play the 
Rhinos on Tuesday.

MLS directly owned teams are not doing well at all in the USL. 
Seattle Sounders 2, LA Galaxy 2, Vancouver Whitecaps 2, 
and Portland Timbers 2 hold the bottom spots in the West in that 
order. In the East, Orlando City B is eighth and New York Red Bulls 2 
are ninth (after being first last year and winning the playoffs). 
There's talk of moving the MLS B teams down to a new USL third 
division and letting the indie-owned teams stay in the USL top 
division. I don't know of the MLS associate teams like Bethlehem 
who have a looser agreement with Philadelphia Union.

TFC II's final game of the season is next Saturday against 
FC Cincinnati at 7:30pm at the Ontario Soccer Centre. Cincinnati 
are the other team tied for sixth place right now so they will be 
looking desperately for the win. One thing is they be surprised 
by the size of the crowd as TFC II is only drawing 3% of the crowd 
size of Cincinnati home games.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01

Toronto FC II starters