September 22, 2018 USL Toronto FC II--Bethlehem Steel FC vs Toronto FC II game review (from bethlehemsteelfc.com)
Bethlehem Steel FC Turns in Complete Performance in Win over Toronto FC II By Bethlehem Steel FC Communications, 09/22/18, 7:30PM EDT Faris scores quickest goal in club history as the Steel FC sets single-season wins record at home and overall Propelled by the quickest goal in club history, Bethlehem Steel FC returned to its winning ways with a 4-0 shutout of Toronto FC II in the club’s annual #GoGold match for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The win was a team performance from start to finish as four different goalscorers filled the stat sheet and two others players added assists. Goalkeeper Jake McGuire collected his fourth clean sheet of the season. With the victory, Steel FC remains above the playoff line in the USL’s Eastern Conference while also setting a new single-season mark for overall wins and wins at Goodman Stadium. “Pleased to keep a clean sheet, that’s what we talked about all week. We wanted to make sure that we shut down a team that’s been one of the hottest in the league in terms of producing goals and I think we accomplished that. We could have limited their chances a little bit more but that would be nitpicking. We started the youngest team that we’ve ever started in a league match and we won 4-0 against a team that drew at New York 3-3, 4-3 at Cincinnati; they are no pushover. Really happy with the effort, the energy and the concentration level of the performance today.” Playing in front of their home crowd and families from the PCFLV along with its youngest starting XI in club history, Steel FC jumped out front early as Faris found the back of the net just 61 seconds into the contest. Collecting a through pass from Prosper Chiluya, the 18-year-old shielded off a defender before firing past the keeper for his second career goal. After finishing the opening half with just a one-goal lead, Steel FC responded with an explosive second half with three goals. Much like the opening 45 minutes, Steel FC struck early as Michee Ngalina doubled the club’s lead with his fifth of the season. Collecting a weight-pass from Brenden Aaronson, Ngalina raced into the box and fired inside the far post for the fast start. Steel FC continued to push for more and earned another scoring opportunity in the 57th minute. After Matt Mahoney intercepted a Toronto FC II defender at the edge of the box, the 23-year-old was taken down inside the box and earned Steel FC a corner. Team captain James Chambers stepped up to the penalty spot and converted with a calm, right-footed blast inside the left corner. The home side wrapped up the offensive display with an instant impact from substitute Chris Nanco. Entering in the 75th minute, the Canadian needed just 28 seconds to find the back of the net, finishing off a pass from Ngalina. Bethlehem Steel FC now turns its attention to its final road swing of the regular season, capping off the slate at Ottawa Fury FC and Indy Eleven. The trip begins on Sunday, September 30, in Ottawa in a potential playoff knockout contest. Kick off from TD Place Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m. MATCH RECAP Bethlehem Steel FC 4, Toronto FC II 0 Goodman Stadium Bethlehem, PA. MATCH STATS Shots: 18-14 (Bethlehem) Shots on goal: 10-2 (Bethlehem) Corners: 6-6 Saves: 6-2 (Toronto) SCORING SUMMARY BST – 2’ Faris (Prosper Chiluya) BST – 48’ Michee Ngalina (Brenden Aaronson) BST – 57’ James Chambers (Penalty kick) BST – 75’ Chris Nanco (Michee Ngalina) DISCIPLINE SUMMARY TOR – 36’ Terique Mohammed (Yellow Card) BST – 52’ Brandon Aubrey (Yellow Card) BETHLEHEM STEEL FC STARTING XI Jake McGuire; Prosper Chiluya, Brandon Aubrey, Ben Ofeimu, Matt Mahoney; James Chambers, Anthony Fontana; Santi Moar (Omar Holness 80’), Brenden Aaronson (Drew Skundrich 72’), Michee Ngalina; Faris (Chris Nanco 74’). Substitutes not used: Tomas Romero, AJ Paterson, Mike Catalano, Aidan Apodaca. TORONTO FC II STARTING XI Caleb Patterson-Sewell; Terique Mohammed, Robert Boskovic, Kyle Bjornethun (Shaan Hundal 80’), Tim Kubel; Liam Fraser, Noble Okello, Tsubasa Endoh (Jordan Faria 62’), Matthew Srbely, Ryan Telfer (Malyk Hamilton 59’); Ayo Akinola. Substitutes not used: Borja Angoitia, Dante Campbell, Malyk Hamilton, Malik Johnson. MATCH OFFICIALS Officials: Bardhly Pashaj (Referee), Ben Pilgrim (Assistant Referee), Zeno Gyuho Cho (Assistant Referee), Hugo Menguy (Fourth Official). LVHN TEAM NOTES With the win Saturday, Bethlehem established a new single-season wins record with 13. The victory is also the club’s seventh at Goodman Stadium, a new single-season mark as well. Steel FC’s four goals are tied for the most in a single match and the fifth occurrence overall. The three goals in the second half also tied the most for a single half and was the third occurrence. Faris’ strike 61 seconds into the match was the earliest goal in Steel FC history, surpassing Adam Najem’s fifth-minute goal scored at New York Red Bulls II in 2017. The goal was the 18-year-old’s second goal of his professional career. On Faris’ goal, defender Prosper Chiluya earned his second assist of the season. Michee Ngalina moved into second on the club’s 2018 scoring list with his fifth goal of the season. Ngalina also collected an assist later in the match for his second overall. It marked the first time in his career that he had scored and assisted in a single match. James Chambers converted from the penalty spot for the second-consecutive match. Chambers strike was his fourth goal of 2018 and puts him in a tie for second on the club’s all-time goals list with 12. Chris Nanco needed just 28 seconds from appearance to goal, breaking Faris’ record for shortest field time for a goal. Nanco’s strike set a new single-season scoring high for him with five and nine career goals with Steel FC. Goalkeeper Jake McGuire picked up his fourth shutout of 2018 and the ninth of his Steel FC career, tying teammate John McCarthy for most in club history.
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