April 17, 2016 Toronto FC II--Toronto FC II vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds (by Rocket Robin)

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Result and details of the USL game between Toronto FC II and Pittsburgh Riverhounds of Sunday April 17, 2016 held at Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan at 4:00pm.

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

................25 Alex Bono
32 Wesley Charpie...6 Nick Hagglund...34 Skylar Thomas (cpt)...58 Anthony Osorio
56 Malik Johnson...37 Adam Bouchard...36 Brian James...48 Raheem Edwards
.........64 Shaan Hundal...55 Aidan Daniels

Subs:...30 Filippo Di Bennardo (gk)...15 Eriq Zavaleta (mid)...20 Chris Mannella (mid)...31 Sal Bernal (mid)
...49 Martin Davis (mid)...51 Robert Boskovic (def)...61 Bubacarr Jobe (mid)
team officials:...head coach Jason Bent

Pittsburgh Riverhounds (all yellow, black names and numbers)

.................1 Hunter Gilstrap
23 Nick Kolarac...6 Conor Branson...13 Willie Hunt...4 Jordan Murrell
25 Marshall Hollingsworth...7 Stephen Okai...8 Mike Green (cpt)...27 Romeo Parkes
..............9 Zak Boggs...11 Corey Hertzog

Subs:...18 Mauricio Vargas (gk)...2 Caleb Postlewait (def)...3 Karsten Smith (def)...16 Ryan Dodson (fwd)
...16 Isaiah Schafer (def)...21 James Bissue (mid)...26 Ben Swanson (mid)
team officials:...head coach Mark Steffens

Game officials:...referee Yusri Rudolf...referee's assistants Joe Fletcher and Peter Pendli ...fourth official David Barrie...teal shirts, black shorts and socks

1st Half:...game starts 4:14pm...TFC defends south end on this warm afternoon with a bright sun in the west.
3 min...PRP Murrell cornerkick from right has TFC Thomas head away.
4 min...TFC Bouchard slides to stop rolling cross at 3 yards in TFC box and clears.
4 min...TFC defender heads away long throw-in from left at 8 yards in box.
5 min...PRH Parkes breaks through on left and rolls 12 yard shot that's wide left of post.
7 min...TFC Edwards rush on left against PRH Kolarac but rolls ball over end line.
8 min...PRH Green chips ball from 55 yards and PRH Hertzog pops one touch kick at 15 yards on left that goalie catches at 6 yards.
10 min...TFC Edwards wins freekick on left edge of box on sliding tackle.
.......PRH YELLOW card...Hunt earns it for his sliding tackle on last play.
11 min...TFC II Nick Hagglund GOAL...TFC Raheem Edwards cornerkick from left has Hagglund in middle of box leap in between a crowd of players and head 8 yarder into top left corner of net.
14 min...PRH Hertzog slips in TFC box but can't win Penalty kick. PRH Okai cross from right end line but bends ball out before it curls back into play.
16 min...PRH players clear TFC Osorio rolling cross into box.
17 min...TFC Edwards beats defender on left and rolls ball along 6 yard line and PRP Hunt slides to stop it.
17 min...PRH Hertzog shoots one-touch pass from PRH Boggs at 10 yards wide right of net.
18 min...TFC Edwards rush on left and cross on left has goal fly forward to catch but fumbles but has time to crawl over and smother ball.
20 min...TFC Edwards rolls pass forward to TFC player shot chips 8 yarder from left that goalie catches near left post. PRH Green is injured in a collision of players.
24 min...PRH Hertzog tap back on edge of TFC box and PRH Hollingsworth fires 20 yard shot over net.
25 min...TFC Osorio cross from 25 yards on left is headed away.
26 min...TFC Edwards 30 yard freekick from far left has ball bounced around in crowd in box and into net but goale is called back.
27 min...PRH goalie out to 20 yards to clear high bouncer before TFC Hundal can get to it.
28 min...PFH player crosses 25 yarder from right well high and wide left of net.
30 min...TFC Osorio chips ball from 55 yards on left and TFC Hundal pops 22 yard shot in middle that goalie catches at 6 yards.
34 min...PRH Kolarac cross from 25 yards on right is around defender and over net.
35 min...TFC Edwards midair one-touch shot from 28 yards is well wide left and over net.
37 min...PRP Murrell 40 yard freekick fromright has goalie step forward and catch in crowd of players.
38 min...TFC Thomas heads away cross from left at 8 yards.
39 min...TFC Edwards low shot from 18 yards deflects off defender.
39 min...TFC Edwards cornerkick from right is over players in box and bounces wide left for goalkick.
40 min...PRH Romeo Parkes GOAL...Parkes rushes up the right from 60 yards and cuts towards middle and taps ball over to PRH Marshall Hollingsworth at 25 yards and he rolls ball forward for Parkes to shoot 15 yarder up middle into left corner of net beyond diving goalie Alex Bono.
41 min...TFC Johnson shot from 22 yards is wide right but he wins cornerkick.
42 min...PRH sub...Swanson replaces Kolarac.
42 min...TFC Edwards cornerkick fromright is caught by goalie.
44 min...TFC Edwards taps ball over to TFC James who blasts 25 yarder up middle wide left of post.
45 min...PRH Hollingsworth rush on left and crosses over goalie and players in box and PRH Boggs gets to it near end line on right and passes back downfield but defenders able to stop PRH rush into right side of box.
46 min...TFC Hundal rolls centering cross after run into box on right but defender boots clearance.
46 min...half ends 5:00pm.

Halftime Entertainment: Dwayne De Rosario leads two teams from his soccer camps in a race to erect a plastic net each from sponsor EznetPlay.

2nd Half:...starts 5:17pm.
47 min...TFC Johnson wins cornerkick on deflection off defender on 12 yard shot from right.
47 min...PRH Parkes heads away TFC Edwards cornerkick from right.
50 min...PRH Hertzog rush on left and short pass to PRH Parkes who runs along edge of TFC box and taps pass back and a PRH player has shot from 22 yards deflect off defender on edge of box for cornerkick on right.
51 min...PRH Murrell cornerkick from right is over players in box to PRH Hunt who crosses from left over players in box but PRH player saves on right end line and rolls to 12 yard line and PRH Okai fires shot over net.
52 min...PRH Hertzog one-touches ball into 12 yard shot wide right of post.
53 min...PRH Boggs is set up by a long crossfield pass but TFC goalie charges forward to beat him and kick ball away on edge of box.
54 min...TFC Raheem Edwards rushes into PRH box on left near end line getting past PRH defender Mike Green who turns and pulls him down. Referee Yusri Rudolf signals for a Penalty kick.
55 min...TFC Raheem Edwards GOAL...Edwards blasts Penalty kick low to right corner of net beyond diving goalie Hunter Gilstrap.
57 min...TFC Johnson taps ball to TFC Edwards who shoots rug burner wide left that dies before crossing endline.
61 min...TFC Johnson long run up right into PRP box but pass is intercepted.
62 min...TFC sub...Zavaleta replaces Thomas.
63 min...TFC goalie out to edge of box to beat two PRP players to ball and clear.
64 min...TFC Johnson is injured at center line by PRP Parkes tackle.
66 min...TFC sub...Mannella replaces Bouchard.
.........TFC sub...Jobe replaces Charpie.
66 min...TFC Edwards wins cornerkick after rush down left and low cross from 12 yards deflects off PRH defender for cornerkick.
67 min...PRH sub...Postlewait replaces Boggs.
.........PRH sub...Schafer replaces Green.
68 min...TFC Edwards cornerkick from left has TFC Zavaleta leap at 8 yards in crowd of players but heads ball into ground.
69 min...PRH Parkes rush on left cutting to center and backheels to PRH Hollingsworth who bends 20 yard shot wide right.
71 min...TFC sub...Bernal replaces Hundal.
72 min...PRH Murrell 33 yard freekick from right has goalie punch ball forward but offside flag is up.
73 min...TFC goalie runs out of box to beat PRH Parkes at 20 yards then another PRH player at 30 yards and sends long pass to TFC Edwards on left at PRH 30 yard line who wins cornerkick.
74 min...TFC Edwards cornerkick from left has TFC Zavaleta head 5 yarder wide left of net.
75 min...PRH YELLOW card...Swanson earns it for sliding tackle at PRH 40 yard line.
78 min...TFC defenders clear ball at 6 yards in loose ball in box.
80 min...PRH Parkes bends 28 yard freekick from left at goalie catches in front of PRH player on right post waiting to head ball in.
81 min...PRH Schafer from 40 yards crosses forward and into middle and off crossbar. PRH Hollingsworth at 25 yard line sends ball forward that deflects for PRH Okai follows up with low 15 yarder wide right of post.
82 min...TFC sub...Boskovic replaces Daniels.
83 min...TFC YELLOW card...Edwards earns it for not giving 10 yards on PRH freekick near center line.
84 min...PRH sub...Smith replaces Okai.
86 min...TFC Johnson wins freekick near left cornerflag.
89 min...PRH Murrell 30 yard freekick on far right to middle of box is cleared. PRH Parkes chips 35 yarder from right is into box that goalie punches forward. PRH Murrell bicycle kick from 15 yards in crowd of players is wide right of net.
90 min...TFC YELLOW card...Boskovic earns it for tackle on PRH Parkes at TFC 20 yard line who was rushing past him.
91 min...PRH Conor Branson GOAL...PRH Romeo Parkes on left and PRH Jordan Murrell on right line up for freekick up middle on edge of box. Parkes steps over the ball and Branson charges up behind Parkes and blasts low 20 yarder into left corner of net beyond diving goalie.
92 min...PRH Hertzog wins cornerkick on right on deflection off defender on cross.
92 min...PRH Murrell cornerkick from right has goalie catch then bowls ball roward and TFC players quck pass finds TFC Bernal rushes up left and passes to TFC Jobe who runs forward on sharp angle and shoots 10 yarder from right and goalie punches ball away for cornerkick on right.
93 min...TFC Edwards high cornerkick from right has defenders clear ball forward. TFC Jobe chips ball from 30 yards on right into left side of box and TFC Boskovic gets away low 15 yard shot that's past goalie and between legs of TFC Hagglund screening defender but defender clears ball from line.
94 min...PRH Parkes rush up on left and 10 yard shot has goalie slide to block on left post at 4 yards.
94 min...game ends 6:06pm.

Final Score: Toronto FC II..........2..........Pittsburgh Riverhounds........2......

Attendance was announced as a sellout of 1200 fans for today's home opener. This looked and sounds good but last year's temporary stands of what looked like Molson Indy scaffolding has been replaced by permanent aluminum benches. The seats stretch the entire length of the west side (sun at our back) this year but there are only nine rows of seats. Other new facilities are a beer tent being installed past the south cornerflag and food trucks being now parked right behind the stands inside the grounds. There are less portapotties than last year. The sound system was dreadful with announcements being too quiet to hear but when I talked to a TFC official after the game she said they were aware of the problem (speaker shorting blowout) and will have things better next week. All fans were given a TFC II rally towel with the team logo and the message "TFC II- Where Reds Are Made".

A two page program like last year was given out. TFC II is really young with unlisted 'old men' of starting defender Nick Hagglund, and midfield sub Eric Zavaleta both slumming it from the MLS side to get some playing time being all of 23. (OK TFC II midfielders Sal Bernal and Brian James are also 23). Forward Jordan Hamilton was seen walking through the stands. None of these players were on the bench in TFC's win against DC United last night. Youngest player was 16 year old Shaan Hundal—a starting forward who played 71 minutes and was subbed off for midfielder Bernal to protect their lead. Hundal certainly didn't look out of place today and I'd expect him back in future games.

PRP Romeo Parkes earned applause after his goal by doing a perfect backflip to celebrate. TFC II Raheem Edwards did the same after his Penalty kick goal right in front of the supporters groups in the south west corner.

Best players were TFC II forward Raheem Edwards who I could see soon moving up to the MLS team playing on the wing sending in crosses, freekicks, and corners or, like today, also deking around defenders to run balls into the box himself. PRH's best player was Romeo Parkes who showed great dribbling skills for a big man and took some great shots.

TFC II goalie Alex Bono was playing almost a sweeper keeper role with him charging either out of or to the edge of the box to make clearances. He was almost caught at 73 minutes when he ran out to 20 yards to beat Romeo Parkes to the ball then had to elude another PRH player at 30 yards ending with him sending a long pass upfield to find Raheem Edwards at the PRH 30 yards line who eventually won a cornerkick.

Best non scoring chance was at 81 minutes with PRH Isaiah Schafer from 40 yards crossed forward and into the middle that had Romeo Parkes shoot an 18 yarder off the bar. PRH Marshall Hollingsworth found the ball at 25 yards and sent the ball forward that deflected for Stephen Okai to send a low 15 yarder wide right of the post.

Best continuous action of the afternoon came in second half of injury time after the tying goal with PRH Jordan Murrell taking a cornerkick from the right the goalie caught and bowled the ball forward and a TFC II player quick pass upfield found Sal Bernal who rushed up the left and passed to Bubacarr Jobe who ran forward and his sharp angled shot from 10 yards near the right end line had the goalie bat wide for a cornerkick. Raheem Edwards too a high cornerkick from the right that the defenders cleared forward. PRH Romeo Parkes rushed up the left and his 10 yard shot had the goalie slide to block on the left post at 4 yards.

Referee Yusri Rudolf gave out two Yellow cards to each team and most including the Penalty kick looked like they were professional fouls for being beaten by your man and lunging for the ball in a game that was never rough.

TFC II remain unbeaten this season with a record of 1 win, 2 ties so far. Riverhounds had lost their only other game this season.

Riverhounds had beaten TFC II in all three meetings last season. They are an independent team rather than one of the 'II' or '2' or 'B' farm team of an MLS squad. They have two Columbus Crew players loaned to them—midfielders Marshall Hollingsworth who started and Ben Swanson who subbed in at 42 minutes. Their best player against TFC II last year (three goals) Rob Vincent joined MLS DC United for this season and Kevin Kerr (two goals) missed this game as he was getting his Green card/work permit this weekend. Last year TFCA alum Tyler Pasher scored one for PRH but he's signed for Swope Park Rangers (Sporting Kansas City's USL team). This year they have TFCA alum Jordan Murrell on defence and he was sending in dangerous crosses, cornerkicks, and freekicks all afternoon. The teams' only other meeting this season is May 21st at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Team ambassador Dwayne De Rosario was at the autograph table for today's game and also provided halftime entertainment supervising groups of his soccer camp kids to race to assemble two plastic nets for sponsor EZnetPlay.

Next Toronto FC II game is next Sunday April 24th at 4:00pm at OSC against new franchise FC Cincinnati who drew 20,497 (USL regular season record) to their home game last night.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

Toronto FC II starters